Laz Authentic Cuisine offers unique Caribbean menus in historic setting

June 30, 2023

At a career crossroads, Diakhia Lezama acted swiftly.

She quit her job in the financial industry and started a business.

After several setbacks, including a fire last year that set back the launch by nearly 12 months, Laz Authentic Cuisine officially opened on June 7.

Located at 48 Main St. N. in Markham, it offers a variety of unique Caribbean menus in a historic dining setting.

“I love cooking, catering and entertaining,” said Lezama who left Trinidad & Tobago in 2000. “It is in my blood and something I enjoy doing.”

There is another reason for switching careers.

“While working in the corporate sector, I and my colleagues went to lunch or dinner at various eateries and they often asked me when I was going to take them to a Caribbean restaurant,” she pointed out. “I created one.”

Laz Authentic Cuisine offers a mouth-watering menu (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

Lezama’s fingerprints are all over the mouth-watering menu.

“I love to be creative in the kitchen,” she said. “I take a bit of all the Caribbean islands and put them in a pot. Even though I am Trinidadian, this is a Caribbean restaurant with a bit of a North American touch. I want to make guests coming here feel welcomed.”

Five years ago, Lezama didn’t envision being her own boss.

“I thought that my nine to five job was going to be what I would do for the rest of my working life,” she said. “But there came a time when I started to hate what I was doing and I knew I could not continue.”

Lezama is following the footsteps of her mother, Edith Lezama-Wilson, who owned a catering business in Trinidad.

“Mom did that until she retired as a school cook,” she noted. “As a grown woman, she went back to cooking school in San Fernando to enhance her culinary skills. She is my foundation. However, I wanted to do this on a different level.”

Despite the pandemic and other challenges, Darren Lezama said his mother was determined to make the business happen.

“I have seen the work she has put in to build this from the ground to where it is right now,” he said. “I am so happy that we have seen the light at the end of the tunnel filled with debris.”

Diakhia Lezama (c) with her mom Edith Lezama-Wilson and son Darren Lezama (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

The menu comprises the Seafood Bacchanal served on Wednesdays, the Laz Caribbean Breakfast on weekends, Caribbean Soup on Saturdays and the Caribbean Sunday lunch of stew chicken; barbecue, jerk and friend chicken; stew pork, beef, fish and oxtail and curry shrimp, crab and lobster.

They are served with the Chef’s choice of white, Spanish or carrot rice; peas & rice; macaroni pie or cou cou.

Lezama co-owns the business with former Toronto Caribbean Carnival Operations Manager and Trinidad & Tobago Carnival Bands Association President Gerard Weekes.

In welcoming Laz Authentic Cuisine to Markham’s original street and one of the province’s oldest communities, Mayor Frank Scarpitti noted that every business on the block enhances the city’s prosperity.

“I am truly excited when a new business opens in our community, but particularly when that business reflects the diversity that we have here in this city,” he said. “We have people who come from every corner of the world, we have a main street that reflects the wonderful heritage of our community and we stand by that heritage by the decisions we make. I think we have something special here that is not available in too many other parts of the world.”

Scarpitti used the occasion to pay tribute to Elizabeth Plashkes who played a huge role in the city’s revitalization.

She died on June 2.

“Elizabeth was an incredible advocate for Main St., revitalizing it,” he added. “She was a great community builder and I want to remember her tonight. She was a big part of what we see here on Main St. and it is in her spirit that I welcome both of you and welcome Laz Authentic Cuisine to this street.”

Markham Village Business Improvement Association Chair Paul Cicchini co-owns, with his wife, The Duchess of Markham pub located across the street from Laz Authentic Cuisine.

“I have been here a long time and have learned a lot of things,” said the entrepreneur. “People will come out and they will support. On this street, there are a lot of small businesses with hardworking people who put their life savings into making their business work. I don’t see anything different here in this building.”

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti and Ward 4 Councillor Karen Rea (l) present a welcome letter to Laz Authentic Cuisine co-owners Diakhia Lezama & Gerard Weekes (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

The Artisan Pubhouse and Eatery was the last business to occupy the spot.

“When this restaurant closed a few years ago, it took life off our street,” added Cicchini. “This is the place that is going to make the noise on the street and will bring that Caribbean feel and vibe that is needed. The more restaurants here, the better because this is a destination.”

Tracey Ramsubagh-Mannette, Trinidad & Tobago’s Acting Consul General in Toronto, attended the opening.

“This in an exceptional vibe here and I feel like I have been transported back to Trinidad & Tobago,” she said. “Due to a history marked by colonization, immigration and indentured labour from Africa, India, China, the Middle East and Europe, Trinidad & Tobago cuisine can easily take you on a culinary world tour, even on one plate.

“Because of that melting pot culture, most people who try our food for the very first time will find something familiar about it and also a little bit different. That is because the people who came often had to adapt their culinary traditions to the locally available ingredients and practices. Over time, they created fusions among themselves and, I daresay, that elevated some of those traditional recipes that did not benefit previously from that Caribbean flavor.  So, the dining experience for us in Trinidad & Tobago is a lot about camaraderie, bringing people together and sharing our warmth and hospitality. I am happy to see that this restaurant is authentic to that experience.”

Markham’s first Reeve, James Speight, owned the two-storey board and batten house built in 1870.

Laz is located at 48 Main St. N. in Markham which is a heritage site (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

It was designated by the City of Markham in 1979 for its heritage value.