Mobile kitchen turns heads

Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer

ANNOTTO BAY, St Mary:

While other caterers were busy setting up shop at the St Mary Agri Expo on Easter Monday, having paid their fees, Gregory Scott and wife Veronica simply drove on to the grounds with their mobile kitchen and opened for business.

However, it took some time for patrons to realise that the Mercedes Benz Sprinter panel van was much more than a means of transportation, and by then, most were in awe of the modified vehicle.

The wide range of culinary offerings - cooked meals, sandwiches, light snacks, frozen treats, and confectionary - had some wondering whether it was actually a supermarket or kitchen on wheels. With a 32-inch gas range, deep freeze, kitchen sink, water tank, and a bathroom sink, among other facilities, the consternation was understandable.

For the Scotts, this innovation was a desperate response to a wave of floods in the parish capital of Port Maria, which, on more than one occasion, had damaged the equipment in their pastry shop located along Warner Street.

Creativity

After failing to get a duty concession to import a purpose-built kitchen on wheels, the husband and wife team resolved to find a way to survive in the event of another devastating natural disaster.

Gregory recalls that in the beginning, "all we had was the idea" which, having taken shape, is a testament to the duo's creativity and his hard work in particular. Upon acquiring the German-manufactured vehicle, which had served as a delivery truck, they set about preparing for its new lease on life.

Keeping the shelves, which came with the vehicle, the trained public-health inspector went about outfitting it, first measuring the available space and using this data to inform their purchases at furniture and hardware stores.

With everything in place, or so he thought, Gregory's celebration was put on hold when Veronica brought to his attention that the heat would be unbearable. Using a fan was impractical since this was likely to blow out the flame of the stove, and so he hit upon the idea of an extractor fan, which would pull the heat into the cab, which would be unoccupied when the vehicle was in culinary mode.

Gregory's knowledge of public health requirements also served the couple well as he ensured that in addition to the availability of running water, a screen mesh was also installed throughout. In addition, all the necessary paperwork, including a food handler's permit, are in place.

Though still operating the pastry shop, the mobile kitchen is fast emerging as the Scott's fast food option of choice. It is very popular with clients at the Port Maria Hospital where the breakfast and sandwiches are taking off.

"The people them a mad over the fried dumpling," Gregory shared, explaining that they were also exploring the option of exposing cruise-ship visitors to Jamaican delights such as coconut drops and potato and cornmeal pudding."

They plan to do this by visiting the cruise-ship piers in the neighbouring tourist resort of Ocho Rios.

Photos by Christopher Serju