Sonia Gibbons has always been passionate about food and cooking. She turned her love for the kitchen into a successful restaurant, Sonia’s Homestyle Cooking and Natural Juices.

Her journey to chef and restaurant owner began with her running a cart near a gas station on Camperdown Road selling pudding, milk, and juice.

The cart is just a memory now, and Sonia’s Homestyle Cooking restaurant has established its excellence at producing local food full of flavour and charm. The restaurant was nominated for a prestigious Jamaica Observer Food Award for the best lunch spot in 2008 and 2010. Plus, the Jamaica Gleaner also dubbed Sonia ‘the matriarch of the Jamaican table’ in 2006.

Find Yello interviewed Sonia to learn more about her day-to-day life as a chef. And to find out just what you should order from her menu.

Full name

Sonia Leonie Thomas.

What’s for dinner?

I love soup and simple things like cabbage and saltfish or one-pot seasoned rice.

Who does the cooking in your house?

Mostly me, my husband might do it occasionally.

What’s your favourite food/spice to work with?

Boiled bananas, these can be eaten with any protein or with vegetables. I love to use herbs such as scallion (green onions) and thyme.

What was the first thing you remember cooking?

Rice and peas.

Explain your cooking style in three words.

Creative, passionate, and cultural.

 

What led you to starting Sonia’s Homestyle Cooking?

It was my dream to operate a restaurant and to also keep the Jamaican culture alive in cooking.

What can people expect when they come to Sonia’s Homestyle?

Real Jamaican food.

If you had to choose just one dish to recommend for someone to try at your restaurant what would it be?

The curried goat or fried chicken.

Sweet or savoury?

Savoury.

Tell me the best thing about your job.

The best thing about my job is to see my customers really enjoying their food.

Festival or bammy?

Bammy (steamed).

What advice would you give aspiring chefs?

Be consistent and make sure you have a passion for cooking.

What’s your personal motto?

 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

To get your hands on some tasty Jamaican cuisine, check out the Find Yello listing for Sonia’s Homestyle Cooking’s opening hours, contact information, photos, and reviews.