From pan chicken vendor to restaurateur

Anyone visiting Jamaica's south coast is instantly taken in by the area's tranquil atmosphere, beautiful beaches and relaxed pace. Set against this backdrop, in the small, fishing community of Treasure Beach in St Elizabeth, the tantalising aromas of specially concocted spices and sauces mingle with the refreshing sea breeze and the relaxing sounds of waves crashing against the shoreline.

Just minutes from the beach, Oliver's Dutch Pot is serving up delectable local and international foods injected with unique and tasty flavours.

"We pride ourselves in offering our guests fine dining with a variety of cuisines," said owner Oliver Bailey. "Some of our specialities include jerk chicken, jerk fried rice, chicken coconut curry, garlic coconut shrimp and Italian dishes," he explained.

Established four years ago, Oliver's Dutch Pot quickly garnered a name for itself as one of the top eateries in the community. In addition to its dining facilities, the restaurant also offers catering services, primarily for weddings, parties and corporate events. Although it has become an integral part of the Treasure Beach landscape, just a few years ago Oliver's Dutch Pot was only a dream of a passionate and talented cook looking to transform his love for food into a rewarding and profitable business. In 2005, he took a crucial step by entering the annual CB Pan Chicken Championship.

"People kept on telling me how good my sauce was, and then a representative from the JCDC (Jamaica Cultural Development Commission) came to me and suggested I take part in the competition," recalls Bailey. "I decided to take their advice because I know how good they are at helping people build their careers," he continued.

Bailey's cooking skills thoroughly impressed the judges and he was named the Grand Champion for the 2005 event.

"I didn't expect to win; I was completely shocked but very excited," he recalls enthusiastically.

Exposure from competition

Following his success in the championship, he received orders to prepare chicken and pork for customers. The competition exposed him to several prospective clients and provided him with a springboard to expand his catering business and eventually open his restaurant. In 2010, CB invited Oliver to compete in its Champion of Champions contest, where he went up against past winners from the previous Pan Chicken Championships.

"I knew it was going to be competitive, but I felt very confident. When they announced that I had won, it was one of the biggest moments in my life. The other contestants were all bragging about how good they were and yet I was the one that came out on top," he beamed.

After cementing his position as one of the island's top chefs, Oliver continued to work on developing and expanding his restaurant. Today, he is constantly seeking innovative ways to expand his business and is looking to create a multipurpose seasoning sauce that he plans to market in Jamaica and eventually internationally. He credits much of his success to entering and winning the Pan Chicken Championship.

"I would definitely encourage pan-chicken vendors to enter the competition because it gives them great exposure and provides them with an opportunity to start their own business," he explained.

Other pan-chicken chefs from Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth will look to follow in Oliver's footsteps and achieve their own career dreams as they compete in the upcoming CB Pan Chicken Championship Central Regional Eliminations. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 29 at Leiba's Esso.

Two finalists will be selected from each parish. The selected chefs will then go on to compete in the final, which is slated to take place on the beautiful waterfront in downtown Kingston on Sunday, November 18.