Ena is the name of my grandmother who I fondly called Nana. In the 1950’s she both owned and operated her own restaurant in downtown Montego Bay at #4 Long Lane, a time when the sea lapped and met at the foot of the restaurant. The restaurant was named after her husband Aubrey Atkinson who was known as “Viking.” Later in the 1970’s she semi-retired as the cook at the local Montego Bay fire station, but not long after, she was fully retired but never gave up her passion for cooking and influenced our family’s palate.
At 5am in the morning she was at the Charles Gordon Market in Montego Bay, procuring the freshest ingredients from local farmers, milk producers and butchers alike. She was fondly called Ms. Ena. Nana sourced all her ingredients always fresh, always organic and with it she created and served up the most sumptuous, tasty Jamaican dishes filled with soulful cooking always with love, that you could always taste in every meal.
Ena Jamaica, our method, from cooking on open coal fire, to pestling the best seasons and flavours, sourcing freshly caught fish and sea food from the Caribbean Sea from local fishermen, procuring meat and poultry from our local family butchers, our food is based on our local tradition, we are organic, soulful; we are food made with love, and at Ena Jamaica you’re always home.
