In every nook and cranny of Jamaica there are Familiar Faces who have become an integral part of a community, but some of us don’t even know their name. In fact, some of their stories remain untold. Who are they? Where are they from? And how did they get there? The Sunday Observer Familiar Face s series explores these and more!

FOR soup and porridge vendor Jeffrey “Brotha” Plunkett, the most rewarding part of his job is not the profit or the praise, but the pure joy he witnesses on his customers’ faces when they indulge in his dishes.

The 58-year-old shared that for seven years he has been stationed at the intersection of Chisholm Avenue and Waltham Park Road in St Andrew serving hot mixtures to customers.

In his younger days, Plunkett said that he worked on cruise ships, travelling the world, but had to hang up his sailing adventures when his arthritis worsened. He then worked as a meat cutter in Jamaica, but switched courses again when his sister encouraged him to start his own food business.

Though business has been rough since the COVID-19 pandemic, he told the Jamaica Observer that he continues to press on for his customers, who he knows look forward to their cow cod soup or porridge on a daily basis, never thinking about raising prices when the cost of ingredients soar.

To other food vendors in Jamaica, he encourages them to do it for the customers, adamant that the most rewarding feeling is when you can make someone smile and be filled with a warm, nutritious meal.

Check out these four things about this familiar face and scan the QR code for his video chat with the Sunday Observer.

1. As a young man growing up, Plunkett said he would often watch his uncle chop meat at his shop and became intrigued by the skill. After multiple lessons from his uncle, he now considers himself a professional meat cutter who chops fresh meat for his soup dishes.

2. A lover of track and field, he shared that you can always catch him glued to the screen when it is athletics season. His favourite races to watch are the sprint events, inclusive of the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relays.

3. When he is not standing over a pot, Plunkett can be found listening to old hits.

4. His favourite soup dish is cow cod soup (go figure!)