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Jam Down Foodie
Yanikie Tucker's Jamaican Recipes and Culinary Journey
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    About Yanikie: My Journey in Jamaican Cuisine and Cooking Passion

    Common Questions About JamdownFoodie

    Are you a trained chef?
    No, I’m not a classically trained chef, but I’ve been cooking all my life. I’m an experienced and proud home cook who has spent years mastering authentic Jamaican recipes in my own kitchen. I learned from my grandmother and mother and built on what they taught me through hands-on experience and hours of research. Every recipe I share here on the blog is tested, loved, and created with everything Jamaican in mind.

    Where did you learn to cook Jamaican food?
    I learned to cook in Jamaica, right at home in the kitchen with my mother and grandmother. They passed down traditional Jamaican cooking techniques through memory — teaching me about spicing, seasoning, and taste. I never used written recipes. As I got older, I mixed those traditions with my academic background in history to learn as much as I could about the ingredients and culture behind Jamaican food. I now understand not only how to cook our food, but why we eat the things we do.

    Do you eat everything you cook?
    Absolutely! Every dish you see on JamdownFoodie is made in my home and devoured by my boys and husband. If it’s on the blog, it was cooked, tasted, and approved. I only share authentic Jamaican dishes that celebrate real flavors and real results.

    How did you become an expert in Jamaican cuisine?
    I made my first pot of curry chicken at the tender age of 8. I loved to eat as a child, and I quickly realized that my appetite would sometimes require me to cook for myself. My expertise comes from many years of cooking, exploring, and honoring the flavors of Jamaican cuisine. I’ve been featured on The Tamron Hall Show, cooked live on CVM (Jamaican television), and contributed to platforms like The Kitchn, The Jamaica Gleaner, and academic articles exploring Jamaican food history. I’ve also worked with iconic Jamaican brands like Grace Foods and Tastee. My recipes now reach a growing community of over 400,000 food lovers across TikTok and Instagram, who trust JamdownFoodie for authentic, tried-and-true Jamaican recipes.

    Do you only share traditional Jamaican recipes?
    Mostly, yes — my focus is on keeping Jamaican food traditions alive. The recipes you’ll find here on the blog are the dishes I grew up eating, like fricassee chicken, rice and peas, ackee and saltfish, and even how to pickle meats to make your own stew peas. It’s important to me that these recipes live on and can be passed down to generations of Jamaican home cooks.

    Where can I follow you or connect with you?
    You can follow JamdownFoodie on TikTok and Instagram, where I post step-by-step Jamaican recipe videos, cooking tips, and behind-the-scenes looks at my process. I also share content on Facebook and YouTube. Whether you're looking for a quick Jamaican dinner idea, a deep dive into Jamaican food history, or just want to connect — I’d love to hear from you.