San Pedro Restaurateur, Elvia Staines Passes

Today, the San Pedro community mourns the loss of a beloved figure and restaurateur, Marcela Elvia Staines, who passed away at the age of ninety-three. The original owner of the iconic Elvi’s Kitchen, Elvia will be laid to rest on Saturday after a funeral service at the San Pedro Roman Catholic Church. Her daughter, Jennie Staines, shared with News Five that Elvia’s journey began with a heavy responsibility. After her mother passed away at a young age, Elvia had to take care of her siblings. This experience laid the foundation for what would become the world-famous Elvi’s Kitchen. For decades, Elvia Staines was an inspiration to many on the island. Jennie fondly shared some of her cherished memories of her late mother with us.

 

On the Phone: Jennie Staines, Daughter of Elvia Staines

“From then she  got the passion of cooking and after she married my dad she used to work for the Blakes and she used to cook for them and also when my brothers were growing up, they used to sell tamales, bread like they would take orders and take bread to the San Pedrano’s homes and from then, the idea came about, being such a lover of the culinary arts from a young age. She started what was called Burger Isle in 1976. And from then, she and dad used to do burgers first. And what was left over of the patties, because we didn’t have refrigeration, the best refrigeration then. They used to make the amount of bread that was left and patties and we, dad used to take it at the front. I used to go with him certain nights and weekends until the burgers were done. Then we came back right after, you know, they had dance and stuff by big daddies. And, I was just a very young child and from then Elvis started growing. So that’s how they started that. Was a fisherman and then started with fish and chips with and that’s the way it grew and it became Elvis Kitchen after that. From 19 years old, I started cooking and working for her as any other cook but like her, I had the same passion and as a young child, I saw her cooking, I saw her making cakes for Christmas. And every Christmas she used to bake for all the wealthy people in San Pedro, make Christmas cakes. And I just watched her cook, you know, Blanco, Tamales.  She just evolved from there. From Carrie’s wife we have now, which is Elvis kitchen.”