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Jamaican cook to open Caribbean food wagon at Dockside Outlet Centre, Chatham

A taste of the Caribbean is coming to a Kent shopping centre.

Customers at the Dockside Outlet Centre is Chatham will soon be treated to authentic jerk chicken and spicy pork with rice and peas.

Chef Pam Newby at work
Chef Pam Newby at work

And that's thanks to Pam Newby, who's bringing her culinary skills from her homeland of Jamaica to Medway.

It's one of several different international cuisines launching at the retail park designed to give shoppers more choice, according to centre manager Anthony Sutton.

Mum-of-three Pam is moving her food wagon from a rented garage in Gillingham to the mall outside the M&S discount store near the centre's main entrance.

She learned her skills from mum Hyacinth from the age of eight and dad Agustas, who she says cooked some of the best jerk food on the sunshine island.

The 54-year-old set up shop in a lock-up unit in Wellington Road, Gillingham near to where she lives with her retired husband, Anthony.

Caribbean cuisine
Caribbean cuisine
Sunshine food comes to Dockside Outlet Centre, Chatham
Sunshine food comes to Dockside Outlet Centre, Chatham

Her popularity has grown through word of mouth and she decided she needed a bigger place which attracted more people.

Pam will be prepping her dishes from 6am and will be open for a traditional Caribbean porridge breakfasts with fruit from 8am.

She sources some of her meat, such as goat, from specialist butchers in London and goes to Brixton once a week to pick up spices and tropical produce such as Scotch bonnet peppers,

She said: "I want to bring a little bit of sunshine to Dockside.

"I have my regular customers who keep calling me to ask when I'm opening and I have some that come as far away as Ashford and Dover.

Pam Newby - dishing up Caribbean treats at Dockside
Pam Newby - dishing up Caribbean treats at Dockside
Pam's food wagon is on the move
Pam's food wagon is on the move

Pam hoped to open last Monday but a few electrical hitches have held her up.

She said: "I'm very excited. I can't wait to start cooking and serving my food.

Pam is planning to open between 8am and 10pm, Monday to Friday.

Mr Sutton said: "Dockside is bringing outdoor catering units selling food such as jerk chicken, curry and bratwurst with more coming in the next few weeks to give our shoppers something different to experience when visiting."

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