Judy dishes out Jamaican foods overseas
As a child growing up in Jamaica, Judy got her first big break at 10 years old when her mother started allowing her to cook. Inspired by her mom’s culinary masterpieces, she went on to study cooking in formal settings, finally becoming a chef and opening a total of three restaurants over the course of her 30-year career. Today, Judy’s Island Grill is a haven for Caribbean food lovers in Baltimore, Maryland, and Toronto, Canada.
THE STAR caught up with the entrepreneur while she was carefully selecting products from the Caribbean Farmers Market at the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival in Washington, DC on Sunday. The Clarendon-born Judy, who has called the United States home for the past 37 years, said that she is determined to promote and maintain the Jamaican culture in whatever she does.
“We are very rich in culture, and our food and ways of cooking stand out in the world. It is always good to ensure that it is maintained and promoted properly. Our heritage is priceless, and this is evident at the restaurants, as we get customers from all walks of life,” she said.
She continues to use fresh ingredients, hometown recipes, and extensive expertise and artistry to feed hungry guests at two Judy’s Island Grill locations. The specialities include jerked chicken, jerked tilapia, and stewed oxtail — all Caribbean classics that flourish with a balanced blend of traditional spices. Judy and her family also whip up a slew of new creations. These JamaicanAmerican fusion dishes include a Southerninflected, slow-cooked MoBay jerked barbecue chicken sandwich along with a handful of island burritos.
Judy has now hopped over into the entertainment scene, as this September she will host the Carabana Food and Music Festival in Maryland. The event, which made its debut last year, will feature a live performance from Romain Virgo.
“Our second staging will feature a bigger venue and a live performance for the first time. Everyone likes Romain here, so we are expecting a full house. We will have lots of bars, and it will take on a beach scenery. We are really
excited about it,” she said.
Minister of National Security Horace Chang says the Government will intensify strategies geared towards combating the illegal trafficking of weapons and ammunition into the country and to protect the lives of Jamaicans.
“We are moving with concerted effort to enhance legislative provisions to reduce arms trafficking, disarm criminal networks, and increase penalties for the illegal use and possession of firearms,” he said.
Chang, who was making his contribution to the 2018-19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday, said that the amendments to the Firearms Act, which was recently approved by Cabinet, would be tabled in Parliament this legislative year.
The amendments include increased and updated fines as well as custodial sentences for offences committed.
Chang said that the legislative changes will bolster control over small arms and will include import, transit, and brokering activities to prevent illicit manufacture and trafficking, or the diversion of weapons to unauthorised recipients.