CARACAS, WILLEMSTAD - In a small, warm corner of Caracas, the sweet smell of butter and batter tells a story far bigger than food. At Dutch Pancakes, a modest restaurant tucked inside the Ciudad Tamanaco shopping center, two Venezuelans have turned resilience, creativity and hope into something delicious: Dutch mini pancakes reinvented for a new reality.
Andrés and Yaixa in front of their business
Behind the counter is Andrés Fonseca, co-owner of Dutch Pancakes, a project he and his wife Yaixa Fonseca, built from scratch after returning to Venezuela. The couple had lived abroad for several years, including time in New Jersey, before deciding to come back home to Caracas. Returning was not easy. Like many Venezuelans, they faced the challenge of starting over in an economy marked by uncertainty, inflation and limited opportunities. But they also returned with a clear desire to build something of their own.
The idea came from an unexpected place. While searching for a street-food concept that could work in Venezuela, they reached out to family in Europe. A relative in Manchester mentioned a popular snack seen in cities like London, Madrid and even Dubai: poffertjes, the small, fluffy Dutch pancakes traditionally made on special cast-iron griddles. The idea sparked something. Andrés and his wife imported the distinctive concave grills used in the Netherlands and began experimenting.
Their first attempts followed traditional recipes, including original Dutch mixes, but something did not feel right. Instead of giving up, they did what Venezuelans have always done best: adapt. They created their own recipe, inspired by poffertjes but adjusted to local tastes and ingredients. The result, they say with pride, tastes even better than the traditional version.
The products Andrés and Yaixa want to export to the ABC Islands
They built a brand around that reinvention. The name Dutch Pancakes was chosen deliberately. Instead of using the unfamiliar word poffertjes, they opted for a simple description people could understand, while still honoring the Dutch origin. The concept worked. What started as a home-based operation quickly grew into a hit at private parties, where guests could watch the mini pancakes being prepared fresh, topped with strawberries, bananas, Nutella, powdered sugar or butter.
One event led to another. Demand grew so fast that one grill was no longer enough. Then came another, and another. The business outgrew the house, requiring storage space, equipment and staff. Just as momentum was building, the pandemic arrived.
For many, COVID-19 meant closure. For Dutch Pancakes, it meant reinvention once again. The couple shifted to home production, packaging their mini pancakes in sealed containers and offering delivery. Flavors multiplied. Customers who once booked them for parties now ordered weekly for their families. Deliveries expanded beyond Caracas to cities like Valencia and Maracay. Against all odds, the business survived and grew.
That momentum eventually opened the door to a permanent location. In the middle of the pandemic, Dutch Pancakes secured space in Ciudad Tamanaco, turning a street-food concept into a full-fledged restaurant. Today, the smell of fresh mini pancakes fills the mall, attracting families, students and curious passersby.
Their work has even caught the attention of the Dutch diplomatic community. Representatives from the Dutch embassy in Caracas regularly order Dutch Pancakes for corporate events and private gatherings. For Andrés and his wife, it is a quiet validation that their tribute to Dutch tradition, filtered through Venezuelan creativity, has found its audience.
Despite success, challenges remain. Currency controls, access to foreign equipment and the need to import specialized tools are daily obstacles. Paying suppliers often means navigating exchange rates and converting earnings into foreign currency. But Andrés speaks about these difficulties without bitterness. What matters most to him is that the business creates jobs.
Dutch Pancakes employs Venezuelan mothers, young people and students. For Andrés, seeing employees receive their salaries, with benefits and legal protections, is one of the strongest motivations to keep going. Instead of cutting back, he says, they keep expanding their workforce. To him, that is proof they are doing something right.
Looking ahead, hope outweighs hardship. The couple dreams of taking their mini Dutch pancakes beyond Venezuela. Curaçao, Bonaire and even Uruguay are on their radar. With packaged products already developed and support from the Dutch embassy, they believe their first step abroad could come sooner than expected.
In a country often defined by crisis headlines, Dutch Pancakes offers a different narrative. It is a story of return, of adaptation, of work done with dignity and optimism. In every small pancake served, there is proof that even in difficult times, Venezuelans continue to build, create and believe in a better future.
An ironic and heartwarming moment unfolded during the visit. While stepping into the restaurant in Caracas dedicated to Dutch mini pancakes, a familiar sight appeared: a Dutch man dressed in bright orange. His name is Sam “Dutch” Visser, a Dutch national living in Venezuela. Visser is married to Blanca Rico de Visser, whom he met in Curaçao, adding yet another Caribbean connection to the story. The encounter underscored how cultures, journeys and personal histories unexpectedly come together at Dutch Pancakes, turning the restaurant into more than just a place to eat, but a crossroads of shared stories and international ties.