Page 111 - Port Douglas Magazine 42

Danny & Monica

CAFE DULCE

Located in the lively centre of Port Douglas, Café Dulce serves up
a unique fusion of South American flavours alongside beloved
Australian classics. This culinary fusion is a fitting reflection of its
founders, Danny and Monica, who proudly embody a rich heritage
that weaves together both South American and Australian influences.
Danny, hailing from Argentina, carries with him a colourful history.
His parents first set foot in Australia in 1973, driven by dreams of a
better future. However, when Danny was just three months old, they As a duo, Danny and Monica manage their business effectively.
returned to Argentina, where he spent his childhood. At the age of Danny oversees the café while Monica works full-time as an office
13, the family re-emigrated to Australia, ultimately settling in Sydney. manager at a local engineering company also lending a hand at the
Monica shares a similar background, her parents also emigrating café on weekends. Monica handles the bookkeeping, allowing Danny
from Argentina to Australia in the seventies, and she was born and to focus on the day-to-day operations.
raised in Sydney. Though they often describe themselves as opposites, like cats and
Fate brought Monica and Danny together in 2004 at a gay nightclub dogs, they complement each other beautifully. Danny can be hot-
during Danny’s brother’s 30th birthday. Introduced by a mutual headed, while Monica remains calm and level-headed. He excels in
friend, they felt an immediate connection. Danny was captivated by business with a savvy entrepreneurial spirit that she doesn’t always
Monica’s adventurous spirit, particularly impressed by her driving share. This balance works well for them, as Monica often helps soothe
skills on their first date. While Monica was initially drawn to Danny’s Danny when he gets agitated.
good looks, their shared South American heritage deepened their As busy parents, Danny and Monica navigate the demands of family
bond. Just a month after their first date, Danny proposed. life and their responsibilities. Their two daughters, Selena, 17, and
As the years went by, the couple grew weary of the hectic pace in Elena, 11, pitch in at the café on weekends, adding to the family
Sydney and longed for a more relaxed lifestyle. Monica reassured dynamic. Balancing work and home keep the couple on their toes,
Danny that she would be open to moving anywhere in Australia if it and they make a concerted effort to carve out quality time together.
promised a better quality of life. Their journey took a significant turn The couple has found solace in the friendly atmosphere that envelops
in 2018 when they visited Port Douglas on holiday. They returned Port Douglas. In their experience, walking down the street often
the following year, eager to explore the possibility of starting a new results in dozens of cheerful greetings, a stark contrast to the lack
chapter in their lives, including the exciting prospect of opening a of interaction in Sydney. They recall how, during the recent Cyclone
business together. Jasper disaster, they were unprepared for power outages. Fortunately,
With more than 10 years of experience in the coffee industry, having their next-door neighbour stepped up and connected them to his
run mobile coffee vans since 2014, Danny felt a natural pull towards generator, keeping their fridges running and phones charged. The duo
this field. To their excitement, they stumbled upon a vacant shop that emphasises that this spirit of friendship and support thrives in Port
had previously been a café. Fuelled by enthusiasm, they decided to Douglas, where genuinely caring neighbours truly make a difference.
take a leap of faith and seize the opportunity.
However, their plans encountered an unexpected setback when @cafe__dulce
Covid-19 hit. In February 2021, Danny moved to Port Douglas to set
up the café, while Monica and the children stayed in Sydney, kept in
limbo by strict border closures.
By Easter that year, Monica and the girls were able to fly up for a week
to proudly celebrate the grand opening of Café Dulce, a significant
milestone that marked the fulfilment of their dream. After the
celebration, they flew back to Sydney to finish packing up the house.
As Danny managed the challenges of setting up the business on his
own, the stress grew for the family. They had arranged a removalist,
booked flights, and made travel plans for their dogs, only to face
further delays. When Monica and the girls finally flew to Cairns, they
were met with government restrictions that required another two-
week quarantine.
Despite these challenges, the couple persevered and finally reunited
in July to begin their new life together. Over the course of three years,
Cafė Dulce has cultivated not just a customer base but a community,
with locals and returning holidaymakers forming the core of its
support. A warm atmosphere characterised by familiar faces allowed
the café to thrive.

“Over the course of three years, Cafė Dulce
has cultivated not just a customer base but
a community, with locals and returning
holidaymakers forming the core of its support”