Our Story

Jerk Reserve is ushering in a new era of culinary excellence for Jamaican flavors on the global stage. Born in family kitchens in Trelawny, raised on South Florida tables, and refined in New York’s creative and culinary energy, the brand blends heritage, heat, and modern innovation into a movement rooted in culture and built for the future.

Founded by chef and cultural storyteller Christopher Callender, Jerk Reserve honors the rhythm, intuition, and fearlessness of the cooks who came before us — especially his grandmother Adassa, whose hands never measured yet always mastered. This is a brand born from memory, sharpened by craft, and fueled by pride, purpose, and possibility.

Jerk Reserve isn’t just spices and sauces — it’s a cultural ecosystem built to move flavor, music, storytelling, and opportunity forward:

Cook & Vybz™️
A music-driven cooking experience powered by technology. Scan. Cook. Jam. Press play and cook on beat — where sound meets seasoning and the kitchen becomes a stage.

Seasonhood™️
A digital editorial home for flavor and culture — sharing chef-tested recipes, field notes, and global culinary storytelling rooted in real craft and real identity.

Culinary Futures Scholarship
A commitment to the next generation of culinary and creative talent. Every purchase helps fund access, opportunity, and education for rising voices shaped by culture.

Allspice. No Thyme for Drama™️

Our ethos — depth, discipline, joy, excellence, and intention. No shortcuts. No noise. Just flavor and purpose, elevated.

Through product, storytelling, technology, and giving, Jerk Reserve bridges heritage and innovation — honoring the past, feeding the present, and investing in the future.

Our Mission

To preserve our culture while expanding its reach — creating space for community, creativity, and connection. We believe leadership means widening the table so more voices can sit, cook, dream, and rise. Because food tells the story of people, and when voices are missing, stories go unheard. We exist to make sure those stories take their

Charity
We believe flavor should fuel opportunity. Through the GALA Legacy Foundation and the Culinary Futures Scholarship, we invest in the next generation of culinary and creative talent — expanding access, opening doors, and building pathways for those who carry culture forward.

Heritage
We honor the legacy that shaped us — preserving the flavors, stories, and spirit of Caribbean kitchens while reimagining tradition for a modern world. Our foundation is rooted in memory, lineage, and pride in our heritage.

Artistry
We treat food as craft and culture as canvas — blending intuition, discipline, and imagination. Every product, recipe, and experience is created with intention, refined with technique, and grounded in soul.

Technology
We pair heritage with innovation, utilizing digital tools and curated experiences to bring culture to life in new and engaging ways. From QR-powered playlists to modern systems and storytelling, technology enables us to scale authenticity and deepen connections.

Our Values

Heritage First. We honor where we come from.
Craft Over Convenience. Small-batch. Thoughtfully sourced. Always intentional.
Bold by Design. In flavor, in storytelling, and in presence.
Culture Forward. We’re not following trends — we’re setting them.