THE Caribbean is a veritable mix of different cultures, where we all have an appreciation for each other’s foods, and in many cases even look forward to trying it out.

That’s exactly why a few years ago when Jamaican national, George Walker had been living and working in Guyana for over five years, he thought it would be a great idea to bring some of the original cuisine from his homeland to Guyana.

Enter “Jammi Jerk”, the authentic Jamaican restaurant, now located quite conveniently at the corner of D’Urban Street and Vlissengen Road.
Though small, the location has that nice chill-spot feel, and you can choose to take out or stay in and enjoy the atmosphere.
By now, a lot of persons have become familiar with the restaurant, thanks to their radio advertisement which includes a line from Pluto Shervington’s “Ram Goat Liver”, which talks about Jamaica’s signature “Mannish Water”.

TRUE TO FLAVOUR
From the very inception, “Jammi Jerk” has been very serious about keeping its menu as true to the Jamaica flavour as possible, and from seasoning to cook, the business has imported its flavour straight out of the “Reggae Land”.
It all started as a little food booth at a CPL cricket match held at the Stadium, where the demand was so strong it would’ve been almost a sin for George not to capitalise on the opportunity to open his own business. So he teamed up with his fiancée, Guyanese Leshaun Morgan, and together they put their entrepreneurial skills to work.

“We were just trying it out at first, but when we did CPL, people keep coming to us saying, ‘Where is your location? Where is your location?’ And then we realised that we would have had to get a facility because the response was really good,” Leshaun recalled.
“We found one on Middle Street, but it was a small space; we could not accommodate what we wanted to do with such a small space.”
Eventually, the business moved to its current location, and though they still have their up-and-down days, the response continues to be appreciative. “The response continues to be great,” Leshaun said.

STIFF COMPETITION
With three other Jamaican restaurants in Guyana, ‘Jammi Jerk’ has quite some competition in the business, but Leshaun says they are able to stay ahead of the game because they continue to keep their flavour authentic, among other innovative means.
Leshaun or George travels at least twice a year to Jamaica to stock up on the unique seasonings; they also pick up a few original Jamaican beverages, including the Dragon Stout, and the White Overproof Rum.

The business has also reviewed it’s menu so it can better focus on the customers.
“I reviewed the menu because it’s easier for me to just grill stuff and let everyone get it fresh off the grill; and you see when it’s being down and you get it,” Leshaun said.
But the advantage of fresh food means some things on the menu have a longer wait time. That’s not to say the waiting time for most of the items are exorbitant in any way. The only item that you may want to order and come back to pick up is the steamed or roasted fish; if you order the roast fish, you’re looking at an approximate 45 minutes wait. But hey! The taste is worth it!
We tried out some of the food for ourselves, and if there’s anything to advise, it’s the “Jerk Pork”, and the ever-popular “Mannish Water”.

The “Jerk Chicken” is also another top seller.