Cultural Fusion: Ritho Caribbean Spot and Christine Vancamp Bring a Taste of Asia and Haiti to Bainbridge Island

Two Bainbridge business owners, Ritho Jean Louis and Christine Vancamp, are bringing a new flavor to the area by introducing Asian and Haitian cuisine to the community. Ritho Jean Louis, owner and manager of Ritho Caribbean Spot, has been cooking for his sisters since he was a child and shares his story of how ingredients like tomatoes, corn, and peanuts brought him to Bainbridge during harvest seasons. He noticed a lack of food that resembled his home cuisine, prompting him to open his own restaurant.

On the other hand, Christine Vancamp took a leap of faith by opening an Asian Fusion restaurant at the Bainbridge Marina. She grew up eating Korean dishes like Shoyu chicken, Kalbi, and lumpia, inspired by her grandparents who left Korea for Hawaii in the 1920s. Vancamp cooks alongside her husband and is excited to share her heritage through food with the Bainbridge community.

Both Louis and Vancamp are introducing the locals to dishes that are not typical in the traditional Southern cooking scene. Louis plans to host a corn festival on May 18, where members of the Haitian and Latino community will bring their own twist to a southern tradition. The diversity in cuisine not only offers a unique dining experience but also creates a link between heritage, uniqueness, and progression in a town where racial and ethnic diversity has been less common. By bringing their culinary traditions to Bainbridge