CHEZ MAX is a delivery catering service owned and operated by self-professed health nut Maxine Willocks.
The circumstances surrounding the establishment of Chez Max are tragic but inspiring. Five years ago, Willocks and her boyfriend Peter McGowan were living in Canada when McGowan decided to relocate to Jamaica. Willocks followed suit shortly after.
A year later the dream of coming home turned into a nightmare when McGowan was murdered at his business place in Portmore, St. Catherine, leaving Willocks to struggle on her own. She needed an income and needed one fast, so she fell back on what she knew best -- food.
Having been trained in hotel and restaurant management in Canada and with a variety of culinary courses under her belt, Willocks took to the sidewalks of Knutsford Boulevard in New Kingston, selling gourmet sandwiches (on baguettes no less) during lunchtime to passing motorists and pedestrians. So appetising were her sandwiches that the demand kept growing. She sold a record number of sandwiches each day, which prompted her to take the next step. Reckoning that she had established a large enough clientele, Willocks set up a small workstation in her home, offering food delivery to her faithful clients.
She now has a staff of four chefs and two drivers, but Willocks remains 'head cook and bottle washer', taking a hands-on approach to the business. On any given day this svelte, thirty something year-old foodie might be the one delivering lunch to your office (or home) -- brown paper bags in hand.
"I take great pride in my food preparation and in what I offer. I believe in a healthy lifestyle and of course, healthy eating goes along with that."
In addition to the lunchtime delivery Willocks caters for corporate and social events. "Many people in corporate Jamaica are trying to maintain their weight and so they use my service because they know that I only produce healthy food," she notes.
DELIVERY ROUTE
Chez Max delivers in parts of the Corporate Area
Downtown, as far as the Seaboard Authority
All of New Kingston
Half-Way Tree Road
Constant Spring
Manor Park and the surrounding vicinities.
Delivery is free and is usually prompt, give or take 10 minutes during peak traffic times.
ON THE MENU
The menu offers a range from crispy Caesar salads; gourmet chicken or turkey sandwiches; hearty gungo or red peas soup; cooked lunches like Brown Stew Chicken, Callaloo Quiche and Stuffed Pasta Shells. Prices are between $75 and $400, with the majority of meals falling in the $250 range.
There are also diet specific meals like the stuffed Red Peppers for those on the Atkins or a low carbohydrate diet.
Some other items, like the Grilled Chicken Burger, are labelled low carb or carry a
calorie count. The Roast Beef Mustard sandwich, for example, is listed at 460 calories.
HOW TO ORDER
Lunch orders must be placed by no later than 11:00 a.m. by telephone, 924-7119, 909-6848, 413-1966; e-mail, chezmax@cwjamaica.com, or mw681027@cwjamaica.com.
WE TRIED IT
The Lifestyle team ordered lunch twice last week. The order was delivered close to the 1:00 p.m. time we asked for and came in a large brown paper bag.
Some of the comments:
Vegetables are fresh, crispy
Very tasty, and healthy
The gungo peas soup was thick with lots of peas, very filling. However, it needed a little something to give it a bit of oomph.
Grilled chicken breast
sandwich was very tasty, lots
of vegetables, but it was a bit frustrating because the whole-wheat bun kept crumbling.
The peppers stuffed with callaloo, mushroom, ricotta cheese etc. was yummy, although it did cost a hefty $400.
Kaili McDonnough
