It’s a family affair at Rose’s Dream Cuisine, a new restaurant in Frederiksted, with Rose Tobal’s two sons helping her accomplish a dream, doing what she loves more than anything else: cooking and serving people.
Tobal, who will turn 70 Sunday, said if you want to accomplish anything and make your dreams come true you just have to make it happen.
With the help of her sons Dwayne and Shane Tobal, her dream came true.
A grand opening was held in the restaurant and bar mid-January at the corner of King and Hill Streets in downtown Frederiksted.
The family decided to open the restaurant in Frederiksted because there aren’t any restaurants in town serving local and international cuisine. Shane said they want to give people an option for dining in town.
They serve West Indian, French, Italian and local vegetarian dishes daily. Rose’s signature dish is her West Indian chicken curry.
“Cooking is a passion of mine,” Rose said. “I’ve always loved to cook."
Rose, originally from Trinidad, said she has been cooking for 65 years and is self-taught in cooking and the restaurant business. She owned and operated a restaurant and bar for six years in Trinidad in the 1980s.
She said Dwayne, 32, and Shane, 30, grew up in the business, spending a lot of time with her at the restaurant. “Shane was just a little baby wrapped up in a blanket sleeping on the counter back then,” Rose said. 
Now Dwayne is greeting customers at the door, tending the bar and waiting on tables. He serves traditional rum drinks, concocts new cocktails and notes recipes of the ones customers like.
Shane, acting manger, is a chief, cook and dishwasher, doing a bit of everything. He adds he and Dwayne operated a convenience store in Trinidad for a couple years, so he knows a bit about running a small business. He has also taken classes offered by the Small Business Development Association. He has a background in plumbing and electrical work so he was able to get the kitchen plumbing and electrical appliances ready and up to par.
Adding to the family mix is Meggin Sherman, sous chef and a graduate of the esteemed Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y.
Sherman came to St. Croix three years ago with a one-way ticket and the option to leave open. “I love it here and I don’t plan on leaving any time soon,” Sherman said.
She adds she loves cooking local dishes using local ingredients. She admits working in a restaurant is a tough job with a lot of hours. “All of us are passionate and determined to make this restaurant a success,” Sherman said.
They are serving fresh green salads and appetizers like coconut encrusted shrimp and beer batter onion rings. Some of the entrees are stewed oxtail, curry chicken, mahi mahi and veggie lasagna all served with a choice of sides. To top it off, Sherman is making desserts like coconut rum cake, chocolate peanut butter pie and deep fried Oreo cookies.
Shane said they are testing out the items on the menu and getting ideas of what people want and serving what people are asking for.
He adds they are still expanding and will be adding live music and catering. Sherman said for the catering they need at least a week’s notice and she will plan the menu or cater to the customers wishes. She also bakes and decorates birthday and wedding cakes.
“Our goal is to serve reasonably priced meals with good size portions,” Shane said. “There’s no limit to what we’ll do for the customers. We are here to serve and satisfy the customer. They are what makes us keep going.”
Rose’s Dream Cuisine is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 4 to 10 p.m. Happy hour is from 4 to 6 p.m with $1 off drinks. To place a take-out order or for information on catering call 340-692-0341.
