OUR HISTORY AND VISION
Hutton "Bobby" John, an Ivy League-trained vegetable seed scientist and chef, founded the Caribbean Haven concept as the culmination of his life's work in nutrition and Island-inspired cuisine.
A native of Guyana who grew up across several US cities including Southern California, Bobby honed his culinary skills under the tutelage of his mother, Pinky John, and her best friend Audrey. By age 12, he was baking pastries and bread for his aunt's catering business. He further developed his craft by working in a Manhattan restaurant during school breaks and catering for friends and family events.
Bobby's passion for cooking was matched by a scientific curiosity about food quality. This led him to become a scientific lead at a major agricultural seed company, a role that required travel to over 30 countries. These global travels exposed him to diverse international cuisines, which he often recreated at home, blending a deep culinary worldview with his foundational expertise in Caribbean cooking.
He observed that while American neighborhoods universally featured Chinese, Indian, and Thai restaurants, Caribbean eateries were consistently absent. Bolstered by positive feedback on his home-cooked dishes, Bobby realized the potential mass appeal of Caribbean cuisine if presented using fresh, high-quality ingredients and authentic recipes—the "right way."
This realization inspired him to establish Caribbean Haven, with the mission to make authentic, fresh, and delicious Island cuisine accessible to everyone. The restaurant first opened its doors in Ventura, CA, on September 29, 2017.