Belize Food Heritage Project brings culinary preservation efforts to San Pedro

The Belize Food Heritage Project hosted a three-day workshop at El Fogon Restaurant in San Pedro Town, beginning on October 22nd. The program, which has been taking place across the country, brought together chefs, cultural practitioners, and community members to explore ways to preserve Belize’s rich culinary heritage.
As part of the project, organizers are documenting and cataloging more than 80 traditional Belizean dishes. The program also aims to pursue UNESCO recognition, highlighting the cultural significance of Belizean cuisine and helping ensure these traditions are passed on to future generations.
The Institute for Social and Cultural Research (ISCR), under the National Institute of Culture and History, leads the initiative, with support from UNESCO International Assistance and the Belize Ministry of Culture.
At the San Pedro workshop, participants learned about threats to traditional food practices, including globalization, rapid urbanization, and climate change. ISCR Director Rolando Cocom told The Sun that the workshop also aimed to strengthen the capacity of San Pedro and Caye Caulker residents to document cherished food traditions that are slowly disappearing.
“There is the threat that most of these traditional dishes are not being cooked in their homes because people have been relying on imported or processed food,” he said. Cocom encouraged residents to reconnect with their culinary roots, highlighting the nutritional and social value of preparing meals at home and involving family members in activities such as fishing.
Cocom said preserving Belize’s food heritage is important for its nutritional, economic, and cultural value. He noted that some traditions are at risk and stressed the need to ensure future generations remain familiar with these dishes. He described the project as an ongoing effort to keep Belizean food traditions alive.
On the cayes, diverse cultures contribute to a wide range of culinary traditions, including those rooted in Maya-Mestizo heritage. “With the new cultures from our friends that have come to make these communities their home, it provides a much stronger cultural experience for the visitors,” Cocom said. He added that the islands’ varied food offerings are another attraction for visitors.
The Belize Food Heritage Project thanked the San Pedro Town Council and Caye Caulker Village Council for their support. Experts trained participants and provided cameras and voice recorders to document food traditions on the islands. The program also plans to support school-based activities to engage students in island communities.