I’m Chef Jermaine, founder of Yaardhut, and for me, cooking has always been about much more than just food. It’s about family, culture, memories and bringing people together.

My passion for cooking comes from my Jamaican roots and the people I grew up around. A lot of the recipes and flavours I cook today were inspired by my late grandmother, who was the real guru of the kitchen in our family. She had that special way of cooking where nothing needed to be overly complicated it was about knowing your ingredients, seasoning food properly and cooking with love.

Food was also a big part of my childhood through my dad.

 

Back home, he had his own food stall and was incredibly passionate about what he did. He cooked for people throughout the community, and I grew up seeing first-hand how food could bring completely different people together.

That has stayed with me throughout my own journey.

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I have a real love for Jamaican street food  bold flavours, proper portions and food that makes you want to come back for more. But there’s another side to what I love doing too.

Through my private dining and intimate events, I get the opportunity to slow things down. I can speak to guests about where the dishes come from, the inspiration behind them and the family stories connected to the food.

For me, that’s what makes the experience special.

Whether I’m cooking from the Yaardhut food truck for a large event or preparing an intimate dinner around a table, I want people to experience authentic Jamaican food with a story behind it.