In light of creating business and work on Bonaire and with love for the island, environment, culture and heritage, we are happy to see a new addition in down town Kralendijk with products all made in Rincon: Touched – Made in Rincon.
Touched is located at Kaya L.D. Gerharts 13, around the corner from the Top Supermarket and is open from 7 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday and 8 am – 4 pm on Saturdays. With its beautifully decorated and painted front, you immediately recognize the look of the traditional houses on Bonaire. The charismatic Shahaira Cicilia Figaroa and her husband, Alexande Cicilia, are the proud owners of this new location.
All made in Rincon
Touch has a delicious variety of sweets, pastechies, stobas, sauces, juices, syrups. All of this for a more than affordable price and, of course, made in Rincon. The shop also offers art and will widen its range of products in the future with such items as cosmetics and souvenirs.
The olden days in Rincon
Shahaira, the initiator, was born on Bonaire. Her father was Aruban and her mother grew up in Rincon. She lived with her parents and 7 siblings in a small house in Rincon. At night they slept on mattresses on the floor in a small space. During the day, the mattresses would be removed and the room became their living room. Her mother, Degrasia Figaroa, was always busy, finding ways to make money for the big family and Shahaira and her sister started selling her products on the streets. While her sisters were very uncomfortable approaching people and selling products, Shahaira always enjoyed it.
She also spend a lot of time with her grandparents who owned a kunuku (farm) near Posada Para Mira in Rincon. It was a simple life, but there was no shortage of food. During the week they would eat lots of vegetables from the farm and on Saturday it was time to butcher one of their farm animals. Then the whole family would enjoy a meal with meat. Most families didn’t have a lot of money, but they would exchange foods and other necessities and it worked out fine. In the past there was no supermarket, only one shop they regarded as luxurious and special because it sold a slice of butter or cheese and later sold things like mayo and ketchup.
Yearning for a taste of Bonaire
Shahaira always loved numbers and still does. After she finished her school education in Rincon, she wanted to study business administration on Curacao. She enjoyed her study, but missed having Bonairean food every day. On Sunday afternoons, Shahaira would wait at the pier in Curacao for the containership to arrive from Bonaire in order to pick up the Sunday meal sent by her family that she had been looking forward to the whole week.
Many people complained that she was selfish in her work choice and told her to choose something that would help her own people, so she decided to go to the Netherlands to study human resource management. After 5 years, she became sick and was told that she had a big 30 cm tumor and that she would not survive. When she did survive, she decided that she had to live her own life and started again in business administration and her first love, numbers.
Touched by God
She was very successful in her career, both in St Martin and also on Bonaire, until her father became ill. During this time, she describes herself as young and wild without belief in god or church. Then her friend told her she should start changing her life around and be with god and introduced her to her new found beliefs. Shahaira still thanks her for that. She says, “It is not that your life becomes different suddenly or without heartache, but you are not alone anymore. “
When her father became sick, she believed that she would experience grief, but that she should take care of her father now. She put her career on hold and moved back to Rincon to take care of her father.
While taking care of her father, she suddenly had an idea to start preparing pumpkin pancakes. Even though she spend her last cent on testing to get the best results, she succeeded selling them. Now many people and businesses remember her for her delicious warm pumpkin pancakes.
When her father died in 2015, she thought about how much potential Bonaire and its people have, but most people only complain and don’t take any action. Then a new idea started taking shape in her mind.
On the 29th of August, 2017, her new idea became reality and Touched – Made in Rincon opened its doors.
Her husband, a cook and artist, is preparing the delicious stobas (stews). You can choose a small portion for $4, or a big portion for $8, with rice and fresh salad. They also have homemade pika (hot sauce). Try it - freshly prepared and delicious.
Info
Open
Mo – Fr: 7 am - 4 pm
Sat: 8 am – 4 pm
Kaya LD Gerharts 13
Corner by Top Supermarket
Pre order call: + 599 795 6500