Foodies Lab Chef LaVonte Pope Debuts El Campo Caribbean Fusion

In this episode of The Inquisitive Tongue, host Nanette Wiser chats with LaVante Pope, Chef & Founder of El Campo Caribbean Fusion newly launched at The Foodie Lab in the Warehouse Arts District. Says Pope: I'm LaVante, a chef shaped by two kitchens: the professional ones I trained in and the one I grew up in. Food was always central in our home. My dad and the women in my family laid the foundation, and I carried that legacy with me into my career. I studied culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University in North Miami. Over the past decade, I've worked my way through restaurants and catering operations, eventually leading high-volume kitchens where excellence wasn't optional. Those years sharpened my skills, taught me how to lead under pressure, and gave me a clear vision of the kind of food I wanted to serve. That's where El Campo Caribbean Fusion comes in. It's my way of honoring the flavors of the Caribbean diaspora while bringing something fresh and exciting to the table. Not fancy, but intentional. Rooted in culture, driven by creativity, and designed for flavor. Now based in St. Pete, El Campo is my love letter to the culture that raised me. We serve bold bowls, handhelds, and house cravings that celebrate Caribbean flavors with a playful, streetwise edge. It's food that feels like home, even if it's your first time tasting it.

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