Video: Generation Next
Fortuitous, perhaps, that on the eve of Heroes Day we find ourselves in the bustling town of Old Harbour. Indeed it’s hard to believe that it’s Sunday and a holiday weekend to boot. Our destination is Kaluga Kafé the Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards Parish Gem for St Catherine. Our small group soon becomes a table of about 20, with Kaluga Kafé CEO Adrian Samuda leading the discussion. If Samuda’s story, one of hard work and dogged determination, is inspiring: A UTech Food Service Management graduate, who followed up on this with a UWI post-grad diploma and a return to UTech to pursue an MBA. A job in banking finally gave way to him becoming an entrepreneur with 30 team members on the payroll. But his kitchen team, with an average age of 22, is an equally fascinating tale.
The menu — crafted by 24-year old executive chef Akeeli Dixon, a product of Boys’ Town HEART Academy with on-the-job training at the former Hilton Kingston and tutelage from culinary artist Oji Jaja – would be deemed ambitious by many.
Appetiser
Tempura battered shrimp with cucumber tomato relish and orange mustard sauce
Soup
Coconut pumpkin veloute with green plantain croutons
Salad
Kaluga thyme-scented chicken and pineapple salad with sorrel reduction
Intermezzo
Mango-mint Mimosa
Fish Course
Pan-seared salmon drizzled with Scotch bonnet cream
Entrée
Apple mint barbecued ribs and Kaluga jerk pork
Dessert
Guava cheesecake with pineapple compote
Let’s check the boxes here: ambitious? Yes. Affordable? Yes. Worthy of repeat visits? Most definitely! There are lots more menu options. Receptive to criticism…
A one-on-one with the team left me so full of hope for our industry and, by extension, our beloved country. They can only go from strength to strength.
The bar team and wait staff are just as young and full of promise.
Kudos to our parish judge Dwight Scott, who not only unearthed this gem but a new chapter in our culinary discourse.
As we journey across the length and breadth of our country from tablecloth to uncovered wooden benches Thursday Life dares you to disagree that gourmet can be found anywhere.
