SAN ANTONIO - The owners of the Jerk Shack hope to bring Jamaican cuisine and a laid-back atmosphere to San Antonio.
Chef Nicola Blaque and her husband Cornelius Massey are behind the new restaurant. She said her mom's recipes and spending time with family in Jamaica helped inspire the Jerk Shack's menu.
"All my life, I wanted to open up a restaurant. When I was in the military, I would cook for my friends and people overseas. I just wanted to share my culture of Jamaican cuisine with them," Blaque said.
Blaque served in the Army for 10 years, and Massey is also an 8-year Purple Heart veteran. The two first met while stationed in Hawaii.
"She started liking me in Iraq when she saw I was a super soldier. I saw she was a super soldier. We created a marriage out of it," Massey said.
Blaque said her favorite Jamaican dish is oxtail with rice, peas and cabbage, and Massey recommends trying the jerk shrimp and grits.
There are also vegetarian options with jerk jackfruit.
The Jerk Shack offers outdoor seating and is open Tuesday-Sunday. But you better get it while it's hot! The grand opening kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday until sold out. Blaque said the shack will also typically be open from 11 a.m. until sold out.
It is located at 117 Matyear St.