Jamaica Breeze - A pay-by-the-pound restaurant opens in New York

Dave Rodney, Contributor

On a recent stay at a JFK hotel, I made an interesting discovery in Queens, New York. I stumbled upon a restaurant not far from the airport hotel strip that serves Jamaican breakfast, lunch and dinner all day, but with two novel twists - most of the food is priced by weight and the restaurant gives back 10 per cent of its profits to the community.

This cosy little restaurant is called Jamaica Breeze and it is located at 232-09 Merrick Boulevard in Laurelton, only a few minutes from the cluster of airport hotels and in the middle of an area heavily trafficked by Jamaicans. The food is as unpretentious as it is 'back-a-yard' delicious, being that there are no fancy French names for the food items and no gazelle-type models with rehearsed international accents greeting you at the door asking for reservations. But, upon entering the doors of Jamaica Breeze, there is a 'home-sweet-home' aura. The assorted aromas of fresh thyme, crushed ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg, diced scallion, and the inescapable whiff of Scotch bonnet pepper, instantly take you on a journey back to grandma's dutch pot in any old country home.

open daily

For seven days a week, Jamaica Breeze smells like a Jamaican home on Christmas morning. To start a busy day, all kinds of celestial porridges abound, including a five-vegetable blend accompanied by all the foundation dishes - liver, ackee and codfish, green bananas, mackerel rundown, steamed callaloo, fried johnnycakes, butter beans and salt fish and sautéed vegetables.

Just before noon, fresh temptations are placed on the buffet tables. Jerk chicken, curried goat, oxtail, stew chicken, curried chicken, jerk pork, fish, peppered shrimp, stew peas, cow foot, chicken foot, white rice, seasoned rice, rice and peas, salads, plantains, baked macaroni and cheese, and assorted fruits and vegetables are added.

best in the area

"I come here every day because I get the best food in the area right here", a Jamaica-born Queens resident, Leroy Rose, affirmed. Meals start from US$4.99 per pound. Some types of fish and omelettes are done to order and porridges, soups and salads are specially priced.

Although Jamaica Breeze has been in operation for about two months, the grand opening took place recently. The executive chef is Delroy 'One Son' Kerr who hails from Burnt Savannah in Westmoreland, and he is New York Culinary College-trained.

The restaurant is the creation of Jamaican community activist Michael R. Duncan who is also running in the New York City primaries on September 10 for city council member in Queens, New York.