Jeanelle’s Kitchen for Caribbean in Hammond
Across from the Mini Mart dépanneur at the corner of Russell and Drouin roads, you can’t miss – and will likely be surprised by – the quirky statue of the two black bears standing on hind legs holding a crest of arms of the former village of Cheney.
Founded in 1895 and about three kilometres southwest of Bourget, the hamlet was home to a former CPR station – the crest includes a prominent image of an old-timey steam locomotive – that connected Ottawa to Montreal. Bear Brook, a tributary of South Nation River, runs through the area and perhaps explains the idiosyncratic ursine statue.
Sadly, tragedy changed the course of Cheney history in October 1897: a massive conflagration destroyed several businesses including the sawmill, a “carding mill” (which prepared wool for spinning), a nearby bridge and virtually all of the residences. The fire raged all night and spread to surrounding areas.
A few metres from the Cheney bears on Russell Road is Saintil Plaza, a small enclave of businesses owned and operated by Jean Saintil and Loretta Sekyere. That includes Jeanelle’s Kitchen, a Caribbean- and Haitian-inspired road-side restaurant with seating for 24 inside and a few patio tables outside that today provides a bit of fiery spice-heat to the Cheney area.
A fusion of flavours
Having opened last August, the Jeanelle’s menu features wings and burgers, including a spicy shrimp burger, and a handful of poutines which, of course, includes a jerk chicken variety.
The “jerk” style of cooking is a long and deep tradition, especially in Jamaica, and usually includes a spice marinade comprised of allspice and scotch bonnet peppers to add some Scoville scale heat to your food.
Jeanelle’s five-item sandwich menu includes a “snap” chicken wrap with crunchy onions, a sweet plantain with a chipotle, a shrimp wrap and beef and chicken sandwiches.
Side dishes include veggie spring rolls, perogies, stir fried veg and sautéed mushrooms which give the kitchen something of a fusion-cuisine quality.
For more about Janelle’s Kitchen, visit Les Editions Andre Paquette.
