Chefs Launch Their Own Caribbean Version Of The Lancashire Hot Pot

Caribbean Restaurant Turtle Bay is cooking up a storm, as it prepares for its opening party in Preston on Lancashire Day (27th November), by preparing it’s very own jerk version of the traditional Lancashire Hotpot!

The acclaimed restaurant and bar is all set to open its doors to Preston, bringing a brand new, loud, proud and authentic Caribbean dining and drinking experience to the town for the very first time, and it wanted to make its mark with this special nod to local cuisine. 

Head Chef Colin Scott has been in cahoots with locals to get a feel for a traditional hot pot, and what its all about, before adding his own special Caribbean twist.

To roadtest the first ever Caribbean Lancashire Hot Pot, Colin invited, proud Lancastrian, Councillor Nick Pomfret, the local mayor, to come along and sample the dish. To also give their verdict, the Preston Caribbean Carnival King and Queen came along. Turtle Bay has teamed up with the Caribbean Carnival of Preston – becoming a sponsor of the 2015 event, which is set to take place on their doorstep in June 2015.

The all got a first look at the 175 seat venue and enjoyed a little Caribbean style hospitality in advance of the opening tonight.

The boutique restaurant group, which was recently named in the top 5 Caribbean restaurants in the UK by Metro, is all about great food, good times and a local, neighbourhood attitude.

The concept celebrates the lively, colourful, soulful and, above all, delicious experiences that the Caribbean has to offer  – from explosive flavours to laid back ‘liming’.

Turtle Bay Preston is the first venture into Lancashire for the team, something they’re taking very seriously, with a launch party date set to coincide with Lancashire Day. Lancashire Day is all about embracing everything that is great about being a Lancastrian, commemorating the day in 1295 when Lancashire sent its first representatives to parliament.  The Jerk Lancashire Hot Pot is the Caribbean tribute to this special day and the region’s most famous culinary export.

Founder Ajith Jayawickrema commented ‘Our aim is to capture the spirit of celebration that the Caribbean is famed for around the globe – making customers happy by delivering a hedonistic combination of joyous food, delightful drinks and a fun, laidback atmosphere. Turtle Bay is a democratic destination – CEOs are as welcome as students. Its accessible, its sociable, and its real, authentic Caribbean food”

Chef Colin Scott adds: ‘At Turtle Bay, we have a whole menu of delicious ‘One Pot Dishes’ – rich, slow cooked Caribbean comfort food at its absolute best. We thought a Lancashire version of this the perfect way to celebrate our new neighbourhood. Our new Caribbean Lancashire Hot Pot fuses influences from Barbados to Blackburn! With goat replacing lamb and brimming with flavours we think we’ve created the perfect blend of Northern comfort cooking and Caribbean soul food!

Of the dish, Councillor Nick Pomfret, Mayor of Preston commented:
“Its absolutely lovely!”

Julia Russell, Preston Caribbean Carnival Queen said:
“Awesome – fab flavours!”

Turtle Bay Preston is celebrating with a launch party on the 27th November and opens to the public on Friday 28th November.

ENDS

For media enquiries, interview requests and imagery, please contact:
Siobhan Hanley, Siobhan Hanley Communications, Tel: 07793 279276

NOTES TO EDITORS

ABOUT TURTLE BAY PRESTON

Turtle Bay Caribbean restaurant and bar is set to open its doors to Preston this November, bringing a brand new, loud, proud and authentic Caribbean dining and drinking experience to the city for the very first time. 

The restaurant will open its doors on 27th November 

Turtle Bay is now bringing its one-of-a-kind brand of vibrant and laid-back food and drink to the city of Preston – their first venture into Lancashire.

The 175 cover, 6,875 sq ft Preston restaurant will be located at the Crystal House development on Cheapside in the city centre and will create 60 jobs. It will feature a large restaurant space, central island bar, and indoor ‘veranda’ style drinking spaces – the venue is designed to encourage long, lazy lunches, as well as loud, proud parties with plenty of space for everything in between!

Authentic, delicious food…

Food is at the heart of the Turtle Bay experience – just like its central to the heart and soul of Caribbean culture. An eclectic cuisine that is influenced by a rich tapestry of ethnicities, the food at Turtle Bay offers a vast choice of bold flavours and rustic authentic dishes, all inspired by the laid back, social outlook of the Caribbean. The menu is meticulously researched and has been lovingly created.

Dishes are brimming with zesty flavours and spicy hues – there’s plenty to share or dig into alone.

The offering includes ‘Cutters’ (inspired by Beach Shacks and Street Hawkers of the Caribbean Islands  – perfect for sharing over cocktails); the Jerk BBQ Pit (which is exactly as fiery as it sounds); ‘One Pots’ (rich, slowly simmered and uniquely Caribbean) and Lunch and Light (a briefer encounter with the Caribbean). Signature dishes include Jerk Pit ribs, Turtle Bay Patties, Trini Doubles and Blue Mountain Curry Goat.

This is fuss-free soul food for individuals that love, and live, to eat!

Cool, Creative Cocktails… A Celebration of Rum!
Inspired by a culture that brought us Bob Marley, the cocktail menu at Turtle Bay is as cool and credible as you’d expect. Naturally, rum is at the heart of the list. Turtle Bay use Blackwell Rum created by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell who, amongst other things, launched Bob Marley’s career.  It’s a characteristically Jamaican rum with a dark hue and spicy kick. This is only one brand though, of a list taking in more than 40 Caribbean rums at the beach shack bar, soon to be brightening up the streets of Preston.
The menu takes in the whole of the Caribbean from Mount Gay’s Bajan to Appleton Estate’s Jamaican rum, and everything in between. 

The resulting cocktail menu is a refreshing mix of contemporary and classic Caribbean cocktails. Some specials include…
 
Marley Mojito: Appleton Special rum, midori, fresh mint & watermelon, home-made ginger beer
Tobago Tea: Rum, tequila, vodka, gin, triple sec, fresh lemon, mango & lemonade

Bahama Mama: Frozen blend of dark rum, blackberry and banana liqueur, grenadine and pineapple.

Good Vibes…
The Turtle Bay service is friendly and uncomplicated.
The team is selected after a rigorous ‘audition’ process – from psychometric tests to limbo dancing! The Turtle Bay ethos is that the people must be as passionate about the product as its creators – customers can expect a warm welcome from a team who love what they do.