On this episode of our podcast …
JuicyChef sits down with Jamaica’s first knife maker, Jabulani Johnson of Karma Knives. Jabulani’s story began a few years ago after a frustrating search to purchase a decent quality chef knife. He decided to learn how to create his own designed knives. With no classes being offered on the island, he started researching the prized skill to expand his knowledge through literature, YouTube videos and interacting with other knife makers abroad including a stint on Cape Cod. Inspired by Japanese Samurai history which informs his design aesthetic and functionality, paired with his Caribbean sensibilities, Karma Knives has become a cult hit with the island’s top chefs, food influencers and home cooks. Jabulani shares his process with Jacqui, the intimate connection he feels towards his knives, the keen focus on ergonomics and longevity plus the intentionality that each knife becomes a legacy item for his clientele. Jabulani also raises his dream to pass on his skill set to others including unemployed youth.
Drink of the episode: 8-year-old rum with white cranberry juice
Note: This is the final episode of Season 1, Season 2 drops in March 2021.
Catch all our podcast episodes here: https://anchor.fm/jacqueline-sinclair
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.