It’s all in the packaging, they say, but no one knows this more than Claudette Tenn, innovator of Homestyle, the product responsible for delectable Jamaican meals such as oxtail, stew peas and curried goat – attractively packaged and available to the public straight from the frozen food section of supermarkets.

Tenn, the third guest speaker of The Jamaica Observer Foodie Seminar held at the Hilton Hotel on Tuesday explained, “after I left my job at an insurance company, I began catering for parties and quickly realised I was never able to cook enough curried goat or curried chicken. My husband and son suggested that I find a way to package the food that I cooked to sell in supermarkets. After conceptualising the idea, I began doing serious research, which entailed getting approval from the Bureau of Standards and going to the Scientific Research Council, among other things. In September, 2003 we came up with Homestyle, which is a microwaveable meal that can also be prepared through the conventional method. This is very convenient and economical. At present we do about 11 ready-to-eat meats, this year we have decided to add a complete meal with rice and peas, and stewed beef and a spicy brown stewed chicken”.

An idea that flourishes and is successful has the ability to garner interest from the ‘big boys’. Tenn’s product is no exception as she has experienced substantial pursuit from many companies including GraceKennedy, for the acquisition of her product. However, Tenn, the three-time award winner of a Jamaica Observer Food Award, says although happy with her accomplishment, “this is my baby and I am not ready to let it go yet”.

Her advice for others with big food ideas, “you have to have a passion for what you are doing and be consistent, make sure to work from a formula so that your products will taste the same all the time”.