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 Faces series explores these and more!

THEY started out cooking porridge under a tarpaulin by the intersection of Molynes and Waltham Park roads when one was out of a job due to a fire and the other was fed up with the police constantly seizing his vehicle.

Almost 15 years later, the duo of Devon James and Jennifer Rowe have become a fixture at the busy section of the Corporate Area and have expanded their offerings to a variety of porridge, fritters and other meals.

In fact, wedding bells are in the air for the couple as they are set to walk down the aisle soon. And, the chemistry was obvious as the two shared their journey with the Jamaica Observer for this week’s Familiar Faces series.

They met when Rowe was a passenger in James’ taxi and, as they say, the rest is history.

But before we get there, Rowe said she worked at the then Wyndam Hotel in New Kingston for seven years before it was affected by a fire. At the time, James was a taxi operator, but he was growing weary of his encounters with the police.

“Mi used to run taxi on the road and true the police dem a gimmi bear problems, every minute the boy dem tek weh mi car, so mi a say, ‘Bwoy, mi cyaan bodda wid da work here enuh, mi a guh turn a porridge boss and just gwaan deal with my porridge right a Molynes Road deh suh’,” he told the Sunday Observer.

With the duo at a crossroads, they decided to bet on themselves. And, today, James credits his fiancée for his growth while she credits his support for getting her through some of the rough times as they worked to build their business.

Check out these five things about these Familiar Faces and scan the QR code for their video chat with Sunday Observer reporter Tamoy Ashman.

1) The couple shared that they met in downtown Kingston. James, who was a taxi operator at the time, said that he was operating the downtown to Waltham/Washington Boulevard route in the Corporate Area when Rowe came into his car. He started to flirt with her and now they are getting married.

2) James joked that before he met his fiancée he could not boil a pot of water. However, using the skills she acquired through the Human Employment and Resource Training/National Service Training Agency (HEART/NSTA Trust), she taught him all he knows about cooking.

3) When they are not in the kitchen, you can be sure to find the couple on the open road in the countryside. They shared that they love to travel out of town and often visit areas such as Falmouth, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios.

4) Peanut is king! The couple shared that peanut porridge is their bestselling menu item, which also happens to be their favourite porridge to eat. They also prepare hominy corn, plantain and banana porridge.

5) While they do not have any children together, they shared that they love their step-children with all their heart.

Is there someone in your community who should be part of our Familiar Faces series? Send suggestions to editorial@jamaicaobserver.com

Jennifer Rowe (left) and Devon James, owners of Jen & D Catering, which is located at 57 Molynes Road (near the intersection of Molynes and Waltham Park roads in Kingston) pause for a photo outside their establishment last Friday. (Karl Mclarty)

Jennifer Rowe shows off fritters that were prepared for sale last Friday.