bloodlsandy@gmail.com
On June 5, a unique culinary aroma, vibrant presentations, and a spirited energy filled the FOX5 Washington DC television studio during its LION Lunch Hour segment (Like It Or Not), as Trini-born Gillian de Souza made a guest appearance. The segment, titled Celebrate with Caribbean Caterers, was especially meaningful to her as it took place during Caribbean American Heritage Month.
De Souza captivated the hosts with her energy and delighted their palates with a menu that included her signature pigeon peas and rice, cilantro lime rice, macaroni pie bites, boneless chicken, and fried plantain lightly dusted with thyme or rosemary—elegantly served in cocktail glasses “for an elevated experience”.
Also featured were champagne-infused passion fruit mimosas, non-alcoholic calypso punch, bread pudding with rum sauce presented as a parfait, and grilled salmon with ginger aioli—“simply cooked but taken to next-level flavour with secret sauces”.
The founder and director of Caribbean Caterers—a fine dining and full-service catering company—de Souza proudly noted that she was born and raised in Trinidad, with family roots in Barbados and Saint Lucia. She also took the opportunity to highlight the richness of Trinidad’s people and culture.
De Souza shared that her culinary career didn’t begin in the United States. Her business journey started in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1980s, when she opened a fine-dining vegetarian restaurant after noticing a lack of upscale vegetarian options, despite the country’s large number of Hindus, Muslims, and Christians who observe meatless diets during religious periods.
“I never questioned whether I could do it or how I was going to do it. I just did it,” she said. “Before I knew it, my restaurant had three locations.”
She recalled that dining out wasn’t common—people mostly cooked at home. Her restaurants became popular for special occasions and religious holidays when people needed convenient vegetarian meals. Things were going well, but then the opportunity to migrate to the US arose.
Arriving in the DMV area (DC, Maryland, Virginia), de Souza initially stepped away from food. “I looked at the restaurant scene in DC and said, ‘This is nothing like home.’ The weather was a huge deterrent. So, I did what most people do—I got a job.”
But fate intervened. While attending an event, she met a former customer—an ambassador—who remembered her restaurants and invited her to prepare meals for private diplomatic gatherings. Word spread, and soon she was catering for other ambassadors and foreign ministers.
Torn between a full-time job and growing catering demand, de Souza took the leap in 2001 and officially launched Caribbean Caterers. The path wasn’t easy. One of her early hurdles was securing a licenced commercial kitchen space. She initially operated from a church kitchen in Montgomery County to meet requirements. Her first dedicated space came through a kitchen at an old Econo Lodge hotel in Gaithersburg. But after a few years, the county purchased the property for redevelopment, giving her only 30 days to vacate.
“Through persistence and self-advocacy, I discovered and took advantage of relocation assistance, which ultimately allowed me to purchase the commercial property that houses Caribbean Caterers today. What started as a challenge turned into an opportunity. Owning my space was a game-changer,” she said.
Today, Caribbean Caterers stands as one of the premier full-service catering companies in the region. The company operates out of two locations: the original kitchen and warehouse in North Bethesda, and a sales office with a showroom for event planning. Its clientele includes corporations hosting galas and nonprofit fundraisers. It has also become a leading name in luxury weddings, offering not just food but full experiences with décor, fine-dining setups, and seamless service.
“People come to us because they want an elevated dining experience,” said de Souza. “We create events that are as much about ambiance and hospitality as they are about cuisine.”
She runs the business independently, though her children—one a lawyer, the other a businessman—support her with advice. While not involved in day-to-day operations, she has been intentional about systemising the business to ensure its longevity.
She notes that the catering industry is not for the faint of heart. “It requires a deep commitment—not just to your clients but to your craft and the experience you deliver.”
More than a caterer, de Souza is also a designer. She enjoys leading her team in creating tablescapes, selecting colour palettes, and planning seating arrangements, all as part of her tailored event solutions. “We are not a restaurant. We’re a catering service.”
The dynamic businesswoman is also featured on the cover of Minding Their Own Business: Five Female Leaders From Trinidad and Tobago, an eBook by Trini-American university professor Joanne Kilgour Dowdy.
“With over 20 years in business, Caribbean Caterers continues to thrive—proving that with passion, persistence, and the right mindset, local businesses can grow and create lasting legacies in their communities,” de Souza added.