In Photos: Dr. Spice, Jamaica’s Ital Specialist

Words and Photos by Martei Korley

Since his days in Papine in his small Ital kitchen, people would literally line up for a mix of different stews and a signature handshake from Doctor Spice. Ackee and chunks, potatoes with string beans and pumpkin, rice and peas, thirst-quenching carrot or beetroot juices. Doctor Spice’s stews always held sway over the competition for sheer staying power, and satisfying indulgence. Looking around on the walls of the little board house you would find shelves full of Fruta, Supligen and Peanut Punch. Above them, 8×10s of artists and celebs from Turbulence to Empress would grace the remaining wall space, replete autographs and well wishes: Blessed Love, Dr. Spice rules.

A move to a “better” location unfortunately didn’t last long. Perhaps his core customers didn’t adjust well to the bustling Liguanea location.

Maybe being adjacent to the better part of Kingston’s Chinese restaurants didn’t help either. But the murals on the walls and the proprietor, the Doctor himself, warrant a second look. Haile Selassie, Marcus Garvey, I-Wayne, Capleton, Erup and  Sizzla Kalonji all graced his walls. The artwork was remarkable and unfortunately lost on the current proprietor who covered the walls in beige last we looked..