HE IS THE GO-TO CHEF OF JAMAICA, CATERING TO CELEBRITIES AND ROYALTY
ALIKE AS THEY HOLIDAY ON THE STUNNING ISLE KNOWN AS THE JEWEL OF THE
CARIBBEAN.
VOTED CARIBBEAN CHEF OF THE YEAR THREE TIMES OVER, INTERNATIONALLY
ACCLAIMED CHEF COLLIN BROWN IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST ENTHUSIASTIC
AMBASSADORS OF AUTHENTIC CARIBBEAN CUISINE.
JAMAICA HAS LONG BEEN THE PLAYGROUND OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS AND WHEN
THE RICH AND FAMOUS ARE IN TOWN, COLLIN IS ALWAYS BUSY. DURING THE
LAST YEAR HE HAS CATERED PARTIES FOR KATY PERRY, BEYONCE, THE CROWN
PRINCE OF SAUDI ARABIA AND AMERICA’S BEST KNOWN DYNASTY – THE
ROCKERFELLERS TO NAME A FEW. ALL HIS CELEBRITY CLIENTS HAVE ONE THING
IN COMMON, THE DESIRE TO EXPERIENCE AN AUTHENTIC TASTE OF JAMAICA.
WHEN YOU FIRST BROUGHT CARIBBEAN CUISINE TO THE UK HOW DID YOU THINK
PEOPLE WOULD RESPOND TO THE FLAVOURS? CURRIED GOAT AND ACKEE AND
SALTFISH FOR EXAMPLE?
I didn’t think, I just knew the food was super, super good so I just
needed to find a way to open people’s minds to it. When I arrived in
the UK in 1997 the attitude towards ethnic food was very different to
what it is now. UK consumers can’t get enough of international cuisine
and trendy street food now.
JAMAICAN FOOD IS KNOWN FOR ITS LIVELY AND SOMETIMES SPICY FLAVOUR.
FOR THOSE JUST LOOKING TO ADD A LITTLE SUNSHINE TO THEIR FOOD WHAT
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?
Jerk all the way! (CHEF Collin Brown’s ‘Jerk Chicken’ is available for publication)
ARE YOU A SPICY MAN YOURSELF? WHAT’S THE HOTTEST YOU CAN HANDLE?
I love spice but I think people misunderstand the whole spice issue.
It’s not about using the hottest spices, it is all about how to
balance spice in your dishes to maximise flavour and bring out the
best in the ingredients.
WHEN YOU STARTED JAMAICAN PATTY CO. WAS IT A CHALLENGE GOING FROM A
RESTAURANT TO A STREET FOOD CONCEPT? OR PERHAPS IT WAS LIBERATING?
Jamaican food is street food, it’s just for Europeans to get it we had
to meet them half way so I took it to the public in a very modern
form. I am passionate about fresh produce and quality ingredients,
which are both essential to achieve a real flavour of Jamaica. When
consulting on the menu for the Jamaican Patty Co. I insisted that
every single patty is freshly baked in store, just like they are in
Jamaica. The founder Theresa Roberts was 100 per cent on board with
this as she is incredibly passionate about customers experiencing an
authentic taste of Jamaica.
WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE DRINK TO RELAX ON THE BEACH WITH?
Rum punch
YOU’VE COOKED FOR KATY PERRY AND BEYONCE TO NAME A FEW, WHAT DO YOU
THINK IT IS ABOUT YOUR FOOD AND THE EXPERIENCE THAT APPEALS TO THEM SO
MUCH?
Jamaican food is a well loved food the world over. If you balance it
well and present it beautifully, the sky is the limit.
HAVE YOU GOT ANY OTHER PLANS FOR PROJECTS IN THE UK?
I have put an excellent range of products together for the UK and
European market. They are already perfectly balanced, so the end user
looks and feels like a chef when they use them. Jamaica has never had
a chef put an authentic range together, so it is something I am very
proud of and looking forward to launching soon. It has always been my
dream to make authentic Jamaican food accessible and easy for UK
consumers to enjoy on a regular basis, because the food is so insanely
good!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MUSIC TO CRANK UP WHEN YOU’RE COOKING?
I listen to Sizzla, a lot!
