“I took one particular bite at that restaurant, and I was like, ‘Mmm, no, this is not authentic,’” Francis explained. “They were not representing Jamaican food stuff correctly. I believed I could do much better.”
In July 2008, she opened Very hot Pot Caribbean Delicacies in Chandler. Given that then the business has observed buyers stay loyal sufficient to make it possible for the organization to expand to consist of a food items truck—something Francis says is often in higher demand from customers.
“We have incredible consumers,” she reported. “Some of them have been with us since we opened, and they are nonetheless there. I’ve found children grow up that I met in their mama’s bellies and adolescents turn into grown ups.”
Francis claimed the clients held her afloat through the ongoing coronavirus pandemic—especially as Gov. Doug Ducey limited indoor dining and restricted firms to choose-out only for a part of the summer time. Coming up on a 12 months due to the fact COVID-19 commenced impacting enterprise, Francis stated she is grateful to the men and women who saved purchasing her foods.
“I was bracing for the worst,” she explained. “I really do not know how we received so lucky. God must’ve sprinkled some dust down on us. They had been so supportive, and I’m so grateful to them all for coming in. I experienced folks touring from Cave Creek coming in and obtaining a bunch of foods to make absolutely sure we continue to be in company.”
The foods, Francis said, is what retains men and women coming back again. With common Jamaican dishes, Francis—who still spends some of her time in the kitchen—said the cafe attempts to keep it as pure and reliable as possible.
“It’s the things you mature up on when you are Jamaican,” Francis said. “We serve regular jerk chicken we do a entire red snapper we do so a lot. It is a extremely very simple, but extremely tasty, menu.”