On this episode of our podcast …
Jacqui welcomes her first guest of the second season, the dynamic Marianna Farag, a French ex-pat of Egyptian and Syrian heritage who has planted roots in Jamaica. Marianna shares with Jacqui why she transitioned to a vegan lifestyle after living in the US. Her restaurant, “Marianna’s Kitchen”, located at the Marketplace in Kingston, is an intimate space characterised by the soothing sounds of world music and an eclectic constantly evolving plant-based menu. Marianna’s Kitchen is also an underground hub of social community activism supporting local farmers, artisans and various local causes. Marianna tells Jacqui how she ended up on the island, and the social projects she initiated such as “Paint Jamaica” influenced by the urban street culture she encountered on her travels. During the pandemic, Marianna has had to adapt several times to stay afloat and at one point, turned her restaurant into a temporary mini market to support struggling farmers. She also discusses the challenges of navigating the fluctuating prices and availability of vegetables affected by the island’s unpredictable weather events.
Drink of the episode: Classic Mexican Margaritas
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Jacqui ‘JuicyChef’ Sinclair, founder of Nyam & Trod, is a British Jamaican award-winning chef, writer, and food culturist. She is a co-founder of Kingston Kitchen, an annual food event supporting food artisans. Jacqui has been an advocate of the Meatless Monday Global movement in Jamaica since 2011. Jacqui’s work has been featured in such publications as the Huffington Post, the Jamaica Observer, Saveur, The Jewish Post and numerous blogs. She has appeared on the Travel Channel’s ‘Bizarre Foods’ with Andrew Zimmern and Food & Wine’s Jamaica episode with Kwame Onwuachi.