Ricardo Blake is not having it with your jerk egg rolls.
Blake grew up in his mother’s restaurants in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica, and is steeped in this tradition. He’s unimpressed by the jerk taco revolution that swept the south and west sides of Chicago in the last few years. Though he has allowed jerk chicken, shrimp, and catfish tacos on his menus, that isn’t what he’s making his name on.
But Blake isn’t stopping there. Earlier this month he opened his third spot in Norwich, Connecticut, with his childhood best friend, and he’s shooting for two more Chicago-area locations before the year is out. (I think I made a strong case for Albany Park.)
4838 W. 79th Burbank 708-634-2057
5729 N. Northwest Highway 773-792-1553
stbessjerk.com/menu
