Interview: Luke Dawes, Only Jerkin'
[et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="section" background_image="http://between-borders.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/stall_4__1___2_-4.png" inner_shadow="on" custom_padding="|0px|0px|0px" disabled_on="off|off|off"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" custom_padding="-50px||0px|" column_padding_mobile="on" parallax_method_1="off"][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_divider admin_label="Divider" height="203" /][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" text_orientation="center" max_width="1750px" header_font_size="60px" header_font_size_phone="35px" header_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" text_font="PT Sans||||" text_font_size="72" text_font_size_tablet="52" text_font_size_last_edited="on|desktop" text_text_color="#1d1d1d" text_line_height="1.1em" custom_margin="10px||-20px|" saved_tabs="all" inline_fonts="Bitter"]
LUKE DAWESOF ONLY JERKIN'
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FoodWords By: Luc HinsonIllustration By: Tom Shotton
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" text_orientation="center" text_font="neuzeit|on|||" text_font_size="11" text_text_color="#bababa" text_line_height="1em" custom_margin="||0px|" custom_padding="||0px|" inline_fonts="Bree Serif" /][et_pb_divider admin_label="Divider" height="30" /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="Section" transparent_background="on" custom_padding="0px||0px|0px"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" custom_padding="30px|0px|0px|0px"][et_pb_column type="1_2"][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" max_width="3000px" text_font_size="15px" text_line_height="2em"]We sat down with Luke Dawes, 32 of Only Jerkin’. We talked, identity, chicken and the British stiff upper lip. Luke, co-founder of Only Jerkin’ discussed his Brummie roots, his Jamaican heritage and the impact this has played on his lip-smacking jerk chicken, read the rest of our interview below, and be sure to check them out, 7 days a week at Kerb and Street food union.BB: What makes up the idea of an ‘identity’ for you?LD: I guess your environment, peers, culture and family play a big part in what makes you 'you'. Identity is pretty fluid though at times, especially through teenage years when you're kinda discovering exactly who you are, but even as an adult your views and even core beliefs can be swung by new perspectives or information. There's no doubt however that race is a constant and a huge part of who you are, knowing your roots can play an important part in how you identify yourself. BB: What do you think Britishness means in the 21st century? LD: It's hard to speak for the whole of Britain because I know there are pockets of this country that aren't as diverse as Birmingham, London or other towns/cities. What I hope Britishness is or at least becoming, is the recognition of how the broad spectrum of colours, cultures, backgrounds and beliefs is what MAKES Britain. So surely Britishness is no longer cups of tea and stiff upper lip but a whole hearted appreciation for diversity and change.BB: How much of your identity is reflected in your cooking? And how much of cooking Is reflected in your identity? LD: A huge part of my identity is my family and background. Both my British and Jamaican roots. My love of food definitely came from my mum and paternal grandmother. The heart of both their homes was the kitchen! I rarely saw my grandmother out the kitchen, she loved her family and her weekly feast was a great excuse for us to come together.The food I try and create at Only Jerkin' is heavily influenced by my experience with food growing up! Always big on flavour, rooted in the Caribbean and experimental.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="Section" custom_padding="0px|0px|0px|0px"][et_pb_row admin_label="Row" parallax_method_1="off" parallax_method_2="off"][et_pb_column type="1_2"][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_divider admin_label="Divider" color="#eaeaea" show_divider="on" /][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" disabled_on="on|off|off" header_line_height="1.2em" text_font_size="45px" text_line_height="1em" custom_margin="50px|50px|50px|" custom_padding="0px|||" saved_tabs="all"]
"BRITISHNESS IS NO LONGER CUPS OF TEA AND STIFF UPPER LIP BUT A WHOLE HEARTED APPRECIATION FOR DIVERSITY AND CHANGE"
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BB: Set the scene, Sunday round your house growing up, what would you hear, see and smell
LD: My Sundays growing up was Sunday school and a jerk chicken roast hybrid! Always at the table with my siblings (older brother and sister), mum and dad, oh and a plate of food that is still my favourite to date! Crispy skin jerk chicken thighs, rice n pea, swede and parsnip mash, boiled yam, roast potatoes, greens and jerk gravy that might just be better than Only Jerkin's. 😉 A plate that could only be started after my dad gave thanks (prayer) and was followed by some light hearted chats and laughs.BB: If you could give anyone struggling with their identity, not knowing where they fit in, one piece of advice what would it be? LD: Don't try and fit in. Just be you! Understand that you shouldn't have to look for an identity and look for places to fit in. Be accepting of everyone and expect the same in return. Be proud of your background, ethnicity and beliefs but don't let it completely dictate who you are or want to be.BB: And lastly let us know where and when we can grab your munch! LD: You can find only jerkin 7 days a week in London so plenty chance to grab that munch!Available at:
Kerb Camden Market: 7 Days a Week 11-7 Kerb Lunchtime Markets: Wed-Fri 11.30-2Street Food Union, Soho: Wed-Fri 11.30-3
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