"Don't worry about a thing 'cause every little thing is gonna be alright" sang Bob Marley in his day, and it's with this same philosophy of life that values patience, relaxation and respect for the natural rhythm of things that Jamrock is preparing to open its doors, in early 2025, not far from the Place de la Bastille. A restaurant featuring Jamaican cuisine, led by a young team.
Born from the contraction of'Jam', sweet diminutive for the island-paradise, and'rock', unshakeable rock, symbol of resistance and pride, Jamrock is "a standard word, forged in the crucible of reggae music, where the bass resonates like the heartbeat of Jamaica", explains the team.
Behind the address is a duo of restaurateur-buddies: Kelly Schaal, Jamaican on her mother's side, and Vincent Durupt, as well as Franco-Jamaican chef Camille Le Breton de La Perrière, who passed through the Shangri-La and is accompanied in the kitchen by Jason, a Jamaican expatriate who has lived in Paris for the past ten years.
Together, the four have devised a menu that showcases Jamaica's rich and diverse gastronomy, a blend of heritage and modernity. And there's plenty to discover, since Jamaican cuisine is so little represented in Paris. Mythical jerk chicken, salt fish, escovitch fish, oxtail, patties, festival and rice and peas are just some of the recipes to be tried soon!
At Jamrock, for example, the jerk chicken is marinated with more than a dozen spices for a minimum of 24 hours, as tradition dictates. It is then slow-cooked for even cooking, before being charcoal-finished for a crispy skin that reveals a smoky flavor.
The generosity of Jamaican cuisine can also be found in dishes for sharing, such as patty (a turnover filled with spicy minced meat and melting cheese), coco bread (a brioche loaf leavened with coconut, topped with low-cooked, tenderly shredded beef), chicken wings marinated in ginger and tamarind, fish fritters with sweet and sour sauce and chillies, or vegetable curry and grilled corn on the cob with shredded coconut and spicy mayonnaise for thevegetarian option.
It's worth noting that the restaurant's team makes a point of sourcing 90% of its products in mainland France - and whenever possible within 200 kilometers of Paris - with the exception of spices, rums and coffee. The homage to Jamaica can also be found in the glasses, with a selection of cocktails and rums from the island, as well as non-alcoholic drinks: homemade lemonade, sorrel (Jamaica's traditional hibiscus drink) and Push Cart (mint, lime, pineapple juice, ginger beer, cider vinegar).
In terms of decoration, Jamrock stands out from the new Parisian tables with a folkloric ambiance signed by designer Rudy Guénaire. A fake rock serves as a bar, while the hanging lamps and tables are made from giant bamboo trunks... It's like being in a hut by the turquoise sea.
Location
Jamrock
16 Rue de Candie
75011 Paris 11
Official website
www.instagram.com
