Join Table Talk Food Awards judges for the parish of Trelawny, Marina Delfos and Janet Crick for breakfast in Trelawny at… Yash Bowl

On one of the oldest throughways in the town, Falmouth Street, in a very quaint shack, is Yash Bowl Restaurant. Now, we had heard it was a favourite lunch spot for persons working on the Falmouth Port, but we didn’t realise it was open as early as 6:00 am for breakfast. Makes sense when you consider that many persons have to be at work on the port by then. What we also didn’t realise was that this restaurant is a Jamaican franchise, with two other locations in Montego Bay.

The colourful sign and tropical shack vibe, along with the smells of good food cooking, are an invitation we can’t refuse. And we are in luck! Our favourite breakfast item is on the list. Petrona Gayle, the operator, welcomes us with a wide, friendly smile and we order two plates of ackee & salt fish with boiled green bananas, boiled dumplings, steamed callaloo and fried breadfruit. Some ‘scotchie’ on the side completes the order.

Our breakfast is presented to us by a proud Petrona, beaming, as she knows we are in for a treat! And boy, are we in for a treat… everything has been done to perfection! The ackee was prepared just as it should be, not too mushy and not too greasy. The tender callaloo and perfectly fried breadfruit complemented the meal. It is a great atmosphere early in the morning, and we watch the preparations for the day from our perches in the restaurant’s tiniest of dining areas, as residents sweep the streets and hang up wares for sale in anticipation of a good day of business.

Yash Bowl’s portions are generous and if we attempt to eat all that has been presented on our plates, they’d have to roll us out the door! Petrona is kind enough to box up the rest, and we smile inwardly, already anticipating a revisit to sample other dishes on the restaurant’s ample menu. Daily local fare include curry goat, curry conch, stew peas, brown stew fish and her infamous fried chicken.

We bid farewell to the cheerful multi-tasker whose bustling breakfast trade lends further credence to the Jamaican saying doan have hands fi sell, and promise her we’ll visit Yash Bowl again… again and again.

YASH BOWL RESTAURANT

Falmouth Street

Falmouth, Trelawny

Telephone: 507-7997