Yum Yums Caribbean Cuisine owner discusses misconceptions of black culture

Speaking during Black History Month in October, Amoy Lindo of Oldham, owner of Yum Yums Caribbean Cuisine, said misconceptions stem from a lack of understanding of black culture.

She said: “I think people think we’re a bit of a stranger sometimes, especially if they haven’t grown up with someone who’s black or hasn’t spent time in our space.”

Yum Yums Caribbean Cuisine, located on the high street outside Primark, has been a staple of Caribbean food in Oldham since 2013.

The unit sells everything from Jamaican jerk chicken to pepper steak, curries and dumplings.

Amoy began her food journey by adapting family recipes passed down from her mother and stepfather.

Speaking about her family, she said: “My mum is from St Kitts and my dad is from St Elizabeth in Jamaica – they came in the 60s, fell in love and got married.

“When my mum made the Jerk Chicken it was milder than it is now. People like to kick their chicken these days – I try to add a little extra spice.

The Yum Yum Unit (Image: Oldham Council)

Amoy started out doing catering for community groups such as Groundwork and Positive Steps while completing her undergraduate studies in Business Management at the University of Huddersfield, Oldham campus.

She said: “Once I finished college I decided to take the plunge and go full time. Our first event to speak of was the first Christmas Market on the High Street, and I remember being abuzz with it all.

“It was a lot of hard work. I spent a lot of hours finding the right recipes and getting the business off the ground.”

When asked what she loves most about her culture, Amoy replied, “Food and music go together.

“I remember when I was younger, our house was like a hub for the whole family and every Sunday my mother cooked us a traditional meal, we listened to music and danced. It was the place to be and everyone was taken care of.

Yum Yums is open every Friday and Saturday.