Jamaican-born and raised chef opens restaurant in Charlotte, serving authentic fare
Jamaican-born Fidel Clarke learned to cook as a child in his mother’s kitchen, and now he’ll bring his country’s cuisine just outside of uptown Charlotte. Fidel’s Kitchen will open on Saturday, May 14, inside a ghost kitchen on West Summit Avenue, serving oxtails, rice and peas, vegetables and fresh juice.
Owner and head chef Fidel Clarke has been in Charlotte for the last three years and worked at a Jamaican restaurant in the area, but he cites his mom’s kitchen as the place where he honed his skills.
“Cooking is an everyday thing for me,” he said. “That’s all I did in Jamaica.”
This is Clarke’s first restaurant, and he told CharlotteFive that he is ready to turn his passion into his profession. “I’ve wanted to do entrepreneurship for a while, and this is the best way for me to do it. I know it’s something I can do.”
“Charlotte is a very diverse place for an authentic Jamaican restaurant,” he said.
THE MENU: Look for Jerk chicken, oxtail, curry chicken, stew chicken, rice and peas and vegetables.
DRINKS: You’ll be able to order natural juices made in-house with fresh fruit such as apples, carrots, beetroot, limes, pineapple and ginger.
HOW TO ORDER: : Fidel’s Kitchen will be takeout only, and you’ll order online for pickup or delivery using third-party services. Walk-ins or phone orders will not be accepted. Preorders are available on the website.
The kitchen will be closed on Sundays.
Fidel’s Kitchen
Location: 500 West Summit Ave Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: Gold District/South End
Cuisine: Jamaican
Instagram: @kitchenfidel
This story was originally published March 8, 2022 at 7:40 AM.
