Meet The Jamaican Mother

Today we’d like to introduce you to The Jamaican Mother.

Thanks for sharing your story with us The Jamaican Mother. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born on the beautiful island of Jamaica, I developed a love for cooking from a young age. Growing up, I watched my father create flavorful vegetarian meals and my stepmother made everything taste great! After graduating from culinary school in NYC, I began doing catering. In 2015, I decided to share my passion for all things family, food, and culture with the world by starting a YouTube channel and subsequent food blog. I share easy to follow recipes using fresh ingredients that produce mouthwatering island-inspired comfort food to be enjoyed with loved ones.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Life is a beautiful and precious thing. There will be twists and turns along the way so it won’t always be a smooth road. On my way to work one day, I was faced with a sudden incapacity to breathe. I felt stifled as I tried to complete simple tasks such as walking across a room. I went to the doctor and after completing several tests, I was diagnosed with End-Stage Heart Failure. I lost almost 30 pounds and although my body was frail, my spirit was strong! I still cooked, but not as often as I would have liked to. During this time, I spent many weeks in and out of the hospital. I put my faith in God. I still had life. I still had loved ones who showed me on a daily basis how much they truly cared for me. We laughed together, we cried together, and we prayed together. I was placed on the heart transplant list and was fortunate enough to match with a donor and receive a heart transplant. Essentially, I got a second chance at life. I will forever be grateful to my donor and her family.

Please tell us about your work.
In addition to sharing recipes and Caribbean food inspiration online, I also provide meal planning, meal prep, and catering throughout South Florida and the U.S. No event is too small or too large. I am a culturally diverse chef, so I cook just about everything – from Italian to Jamaican food with a specialty in Caribbean Vegan Cuisine. My vegan meals are plant-based and infused with the flavors and spices of the Caribbean. Many of my clients who eat meat have also incorporated more plant-based options, often saying, “I have never had vegan food taste this good!” That warms my heart. I’ve had YouTube subscribers tell me that my videos and recipes helped to save their marriage, or that the meal was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone from children to adults. I absolutely love reading comments from everyone and seeing people enjoy my food and I feel genuinely happy to know they are creating beautiful memories with loved ones because of the work that I do. I am inspired by all of them and fueled by love.

What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
The proudest moment of my career was when I owned and operated my food truck. I got to share that experience with my youngest daughter who worked with me. The work was hard, the hours were long, but knowing that I was creating affordable, authentic Caribbean cuisine for my community made it all worth it. I had customers who became lifelong friends. Every day was a different adventure, but with the same theme: love.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thejamaicanmother.com
• Phone: 786-505-5129
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/thejamaicanmother
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/thejamaicanmother
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/jamaicanmother
• Other: Pinterest.com/thejamaicanmother

Image Credit:
@charliculture

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