'Piggy's' jerk business doing well

Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer

PORT ANTONIO, Portland:

HIS CULINARY skills over the years have allowed his jerk business to flourish, which has earned him the title of 'jerky'.

Eustace Lindsay, better known as 'piggy', has established his place of business as the premier location for jerked chicken, jerked pork, red-peas soup, crayfish cooked in coconut milk, festival, and fried salt fish that are heavily sought after by residents and others from nearby the parishes of St Ann and St Mary.

"Business is good. I am well supported by residents in and around Port Antonio," said Lindsay. Six persons, in addition to him, work at the jerk centre and meals are prepared on a daily basis. "My better days are Fridays and Saturdays, and I must confess that there is some secret as to how I prepare my jerk season and sauce," said Lindsay. "The people are getting their money's worth, and I am committed to providing them with quality service, and well-prepared meals," he added.

But the road to success was not easy for Linday, who disclosed that he started out approximately 34 years ago by jerking one chicken with a friend in the community of Breast Works near Port Antonio. He recounted that the chicken was sold in less than 10 minutes, and they went back to market and bought two more chickens that were jerked and sold in quick succession.

New location

Lindsay continued: "At that time, I was 16 years old. We continue to buy and sell for almost four years, but shortly after my partner migrated. I then rented a place on Sommers Town Road, and spent more than six years at a new location, which I had rented. But after about three years, I ceased operating, as I was unable to acquire a new location, and the then owners wanted their building."

Linday would spend the better part of 12 years not operating a business, and with a family of six to feed, including three children and a common-law wife, things were looking down.

Nevertheless, his persistence paid off, and in 2007 he was given the nod by a friend to operate business at Harbour Street in Port Antonio adjacent the sea coast, along a busy thoroughfare leading out to the folly strip.

Today, 'Piggy's' jerk centre continues to attract police officers, politicians, doctors and nurses, lawyers, teachers, transport operators, and other patrons.

As a result, he is now able to pay his monthly bills and his staff, as well as send his two children to school.

Despite the economic challenges, Lindsay is now harbouring thoughts of relocating to a more spacious building so as to include additional menu to his list such as Chinese dishes.