Tom’s 91 is a restaurant concept featuring Jamaican cuisine and American Barbecue aka Floribbean.
“Habit is habit, and cannot be tossed out of the window whenever you wish, it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time.” ~ Mark Twain 1835-1910.
Most habits are usually bad, but I learned some very good cooking habits over the last 40 years that were passed to me from Grand Ma, Mother, Father, Maids, a Japanese lady, we affectionately called (Mama), that operated a small restaurant at the corner of Figueroa and Jefferson in California, and all and sundry that offered a plate that was pleasing to my palate.
There are two most profound principles taught by my early Jamaican mentors, ones that I still adhere to without compromise…..I was taught that all ingredients should be thoroughly cleaned, and meats in particular should be washed in lemon or lime and excess fat removed before cooking, but just as important, (since most of our cooking is French influenced….seasoned with fresh herbs and spices and marinated overnight) the sequential application in the seasoning process.
I took this love for good food when I migrated to California in the early 70′s. I wasn’t old enough to vote but I could start a business. My foray in the restaurant business began in San Pedro, California, when I was presented the opportunity to take over a small night club with a kitchen. I transformed that space into my first restaurant and renamed it “Jamaica Run”.
I left California in the late 70′s to help my father in his dry goods business. After returning to Florida, I met Tom Wright of Tom’s Place in Boca Raton, Florida and by the grace of God he shared his secret recipe and style of preparing his Georgia style Bar-B-Que. (His written affidavit and pictures can be provided.) As a result Spice Island BBQ, Miami, Florida and Tom’s Friends in Ft. Lauderdale were born.
Upon returning to California in the late 80′s, I opened Kingston Town Market and Jamaica Again Farmers Market/Restaurant in Pasadena/ Altadena, California. Let me be the first to admit that this attempt at bringing the Jamaican cuisine/culture to the West Coast was premature. My entrepreneurial gifts and business acumen are subsequently well documented in several editorials in the Sun Sentinel, Today’s Grocer and Black Enterprise Magazine which will give a clear overview up to the present.
At the risk of being repetitious, offering these two very unique modes of food preparation under the same roof has got to be a win-win situation. Good Bar-B-Que will always be a crowd pleaser at most any venue, in any part of the world, and now Jamaican food is getting wide-based recognition due to other contributing factors, such as Reggae music, Food Network Channel, and the overall worldwide exposure as a tourist destination.
Having been blessed with the God given talent, ability, and patience necessary to learn and implement this wonderful cuisine, coupled with being mentored by one of the most successful Bar-B-Que Restaurateurs in Boca Raton, Florida, Mr. Tom Wright and his wife, Helen, of Tom’s Place, to whom we pay homage by naming our establishment “Tom’s 91″. The “91″ part of our name reflects our love, commitment and cognizance for God https://pharmahub24.com/meridia and his word in Psalms 91.
Dis ya food nice mon!!! …… Y’all come back now, yuh heah!!!
~ Copeland Harris