Local chef selling Caribbean Vibes, heading east for cooking show

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This article was published 13/03/2024 (542 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A local chef is swapping Winnipeg’s underground for the bright lights of Toronto’s film industry — and, possibly, her own TV show.

But first, Melani Bastians is selling Caribbean Vibes.

“Now that I’m talking about it, things are exciting!” she exclaimed, standing behind the counter of her Winnipeg Square eatery.

She listed her business for sale last week. Her countdown has begun — she’s set to move cities in May. From Toronto, the Sri Lankan chef said she’ll be part of a cooking show for a Canadian broadcaster.

Melani isn’t yet allowed to publicly share the show’s name or producer.

She isn’t new to showbiz: in 2021, she competed on Fire Masters, a Food Network program where chefs battle in grilling challenges.

“From there, it just kind of snowballed,” Melani, 45, said.

She considers herself born into the industry. Her father began Taste of Sri Lanka on Ellice Avenue when she was 13 years old; Chef Peter cooked around the world before landing in Winnipeg.

The Bastians have grown Taste of Sri Lanka to three locations in the city.

“I’ve loved cooking since I’ve seen the fire hit the flare pan,” Melani said.

She began as a teenager, peeling potatoes in the family business’ kitchen. In her later teens, she worked Winnipeg Square’s Taste of Sri Lanka.

Marriage drew her to Ontario, where she created a plethora of restaurants — The Green Eatery, Big Texas BBQ, a catering business and Caribbean Vibes.

She stayed in Toronto for 20 years. During that time, she competed in Fire Masters; as a result, she received more attention, she said.

Also in Ontario, Melani began No One Goes Hungry, an organization redirecting healthy food destined for the landfill to people in need.

The foundation says it has distributed more than 250,000 meals since its 2020 founding.

Melani took No One Goes Hungry with her to Winnipeg.

The Sri Lankan chef returned to the Prairies and set up shop in Winnipeg Square last year, to spend more time with her parents.

Initially, the restaurant began as The Green Eatery. It didn’t find its legs — Freshii and Booster Juice are nearby, Melani noted.

In November, she rebranded as Caribbean Vibes. Jerk chicken and oxtail stew fill the menu.

When the opportunity to be on a cooking show came — which she believes is a result of her volunteerism and past performance — she was more than ready to take the chance.

“It’s kind of exciting to get back there,” Melani said.

She expects to film 50 episodes, cooking 30-minute meals, in an operational restaurant. Rachel Ray is her inspiration.

Melani is unsure when the show will air, but she hopes it will prompt bonding over food.

“It’s about adding that extra potato or adding that little bit of extra rice to feed your neighbours, as well as to make sure that everybody is well taken care of,” Melani said.

Dilshan Bastians, Melani’s older brother, expressed pride in his sister. Dilshan operates a Taste of Sri Lanka within the Seasons outlet mall.

“She’s helping the community and bringing things together, connecting the dots,” he said, referencing No One Goes Hungry. “I think it’s amazing that she’s doing the show.”

Melani is a single mom of five girls and an entrepreneur, her brother noted

She wants the next owner of Caribbean Vibes to continue helping with No One Goes Hungry. Currently, food for the program is packaged and stored in the eatery’s freezer before being given to churches and other groups.

Melani is selling her underground business for $110,000.

Her decision to move came before Winnipeg city councillors proposed closing the nearby Portage and Main underground concourse.

Repairing the concourse, which connects to Winnipeg Square, would cost an estimated $73 million. Instead, Winnipeg’s mayor is pushing to open Portage and Main to pedestrians.

Melani has “mixed feelings” about the change. She’s concerned the plan might decrease foot traffic to the food court; still, many customers already travel above ground, crossing at intersections a block away, she said.

“I’m hoping that we can all work through it,” she stated, noting she and fellow business owners hadn’t been consulted by the city.

The news “definitely is not a plus” during the selling process.

Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) said she wants to ensure the city is reaching out to impacted companies.

“I’m going to, in consultation with those businesses, really look at transition and what those businesses need to still be successful,” the property and development committee chair said.

Proposed construction should follow a three-to-five year timeline; it’s “not tomorrow,” Rollins said.

She’s considering pushing for a financial assistance model like Montreal’s, where the city gives subsidies to businesses affected by major construction projects.

Winnipeg has no such model, Rollins noted.

“You want, as a councillor, to retain all your businesses — in fact, to grow them and see them… thrive in their locations,” she said.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com