Panama, Jamaica meet up at new restaurant
Curry N Jerk an homage to Azcarate’s mother
A Caribbean restaurant with a Panamanian flair is coming to Downtown this week with the opening of Curry N Jerk at 126 Monroe.
It’s the culmination of a childhood dream of Arturo Azcarate to open a restaurant for his mother, a longtime cook and chef at a California Marine base.
His mother didn’t live to see the dream come true, but Azcarate and his four sisters are determined to showcase her native country’s fusion of Caribbean and Latin cuisines.
“The inspiration for this restaurant is dedicated to Ms. Sharon Rose Bynoe,” Curry N Jerk’s website states.
“My dream was always to have a restaurant and introduce people to our type of food,” Azcarate, 49, said. “It kept coming back to me to honor her by opening a restaurant.”
“It’s all about our mom,” agreed Yvette Burke, the oldest daughter, who moved from California to Memphis to help her brother open the restaurant. “She was an awesome cook.”
The family moved from Panama to California when Azcarate was 9. The Memphis connection developed when the family visited an uncle stationed with the Navy in Millington.
Azcarate was eventually sent to live with his aunt and uncle while he finished high school. After graduating from Northside High School in 1987, he spent 10 years in the Army, serving in Kuwait and Iraq, and then worked 20 years for Comcast in other cities.
Work on the restaurant began in January in a section of Monroe known for fine dining, next door to McEwen’s on Monroe and a block east of Flight. A Greater Memphis Chamber ribbon cutting is scheduled for Thursday, followed by the restaurant’s official opening Friday.
Signature Panamanian dishes in-
clude arroz con pollo (chicken and rice), sancocho (chicken soup) and stuffed red snapper. The fish is scored and stuffed with a paste of herbs including cilantro, basil and parsley, then fried.
Coleslaw and potato salad are tinged with chopped beets and laced with red and green bell peppers to earn the description “Panamanian style.”
Azcarate oversees the Jamaicanstyle jerk process on chicken, salmon and ribs, marinating the meats for a couple of days. Jerk ribs were a huge hit during menu development, he said.
Azcarate and Burke proudly displayed a jar of house-made habanero pepper sauce, and Azcarate said it’s good over most any dish.
“We are authentic. Our ingredients are all made in house. We are true to being authentic with our seasonings,” Azcarate said.
Other menu items not found just anywhere include curry goat, cooked down chicken and oxtails. Dishes will typically be served with sides of rice and peas, cabbage and ripe plantains.
Azcarate said he wanted a decor that would convey the Caribbean’s happy, carefree atmosphere.
Beneath a street sign prominently displaying a palm tree, a light blue door leads into a bar and dining area where the color scheme says Jamaica: walls of bright green and gold contrasting with black, offset by exposed brick walls of a century-old structure. Art of beach scenes overlooks dining tables.
Downstairs in the 507 Lounge, so named for Panama’s international area code, is a red, white and blue color scheme and a roomful of overstuffed sofas, chairs and coffee tables.
The 507 Lounge is where live music will be presented on Friday and Saturday night.
Azcarate said he chose Downtown because of the growth in tourism, residents and dining.
“I thought we needed to bring more diversity to Memphis, because it’s just soul food and barbecue,” Azcarate said. “I thought this was the best location to introduce my food to tourists and Memphis residents.”
Hours will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch Monday through Saturday, 4-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday. Curry N Jerk will accept reservations on its website at currynjerk.com.
Arturo Azcarate