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Deported, Broke, Alone: How Jamaica Became My Everything (BO) · Babes, how did you get here

• 0:00
  I'm April Jackson and I am speaking with chef Mathieu Maçon de Sip, a French Canadian chef who
• 0:06
  has been featured on Top Chef Canada and has been described as redefining Montreal cuisine.
• 0:11
  He left his restaurants packed up his bags and it was him and his dog Pet Pet that arrived in
• 0:17
  Kingston Jamaica with no more than $60,000 Canadian dollars and literally could not work for eight
• 0:22
  months. He traded in his caviar for corn beef and now says that Jamaica is 100% his home.
• 0:29
  Tell me about your journey coming to Jamaica. Had you been here before you finally moved?
• 0:33
  So I have. I was here almost every month type of vibe for the last four or five years.
• 0:40
  Okay, just on holiday. On slash holiday slash getting to know Jamaica. Okay. I started living in the
• 0:47
  Caribbean on and off since I'm 18. Okay. So when I came back to Montreal to live and find myself
• 0:54
  as a chef, I always had a dream and it was to go back to the Caribbean. Really? I thought it was
• 0:59
  going to leave the Bahamas. Okay. And when I ended up in Jamaica, it kind of grew on me.
• 1:04
  What was the first thing that brought you here? Ellenies Bakery. Bakery in Jamaica.
• 1:09
  It's a sourdough bakery. Sure. They found me on Instagram. We didn't know each other.
• 1:13
  They are from Canada also. Okay. And then we started talking. I legit thought they were
• 1:17
  Jamaica. And at world point, they asked me if I wanted to come and to share my knowledge,
• 1:24
  to put my input on how a kitchen should work and the blue cramps. And this is where you put
• 1:30
  your knife and your big ol' and I came from one time and another time and four years later,
• 1:37
  I cooked my life in Canada and I'm in Jamaica. Okay.
• 1:41
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• 1:47
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• 1:52
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• 1:56
  thinking should they take that next big leap, babes, send them the podcast.
• 2:10
  Yeah. Are you an only child?
• 2:12
  I have a younger brother. Okay. And the day that I was leaving, there was a snowstorm.
• 2:18
  I think I canceled. And yeah, everything was going not fun. You know what I mean? And
• 2:27
  I was supposed to sign documents with my older associate that they were kind of like giving me
• 2:32
  money for every month. Okay. Being here. So I was like, it's not much. But it's something.
• 2:36
  They're going to give me something, right? They made me sign the papers six hours before
• 2:41
  the plane just so I could not get them checked by the lawyers. Oh no, what did they say?
• 2:45
  So I never got nothing, basically. Exactly. So disappointment of moving here with nothing.
• 2:51
  Sure. Disappointing. I won't quite know knowing that you're not getting anything after.
• 2:55
  And it's not just the money part. So I worked so hard, so hard. I was like my chef. I would always
• 3:01
  my sidewalks. I would bring in my garbage is every day. I would open my both kitchens with my
• 3:07
  20 billion cooks show to make sure that when I host them in my kitchen, this is how it should
• 3:12
  be. Yep. And this was me every day of the last 15 years. So moves here, I had a bank account,
• 3:20
  personal, I had a digital number. That's pretty much it. I had a lot of connections. Okay.
• 3:26
  Because you've been coming. I was cooking for many, you know,
• 3:29
  influential people and the right people. Right. And I kept contact with everybody.
• 3:35
  It would even come to my restaurants in Montreal and host them. Very cool. Because I
• 3:40
  I personally like them all. So they became friends. Okay. Family. Now they're uncle and
• 3:45
  acting. Right. They keep my dog. These are my little family here. Right. And I moved here.
• 3:52
  The first night I remember I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa. Okay. I love my car. I love my place.
• 3:58
  You were comfortable. Yep. But my first night, I slept with a machete. I had like locked my door.
• 4:06
  My dog was understanding what is a motorcycle in Jamaica. Okay. Or truck that decompressed it.
• 4:11
  Yeah. She was like, okay. She was traumatized. I was traumatized because I was like,
• 4:18
  poor her. You know, like, what the fuck am I doing for you? I'm just alone here
• 4:22
  getting pizza with my machetes. Yep. I had nothing before we continue. Make sure that you join
• 4:29
  all community by clicking the link below. You will get to choose thumbnails before the episodes
• 4:34
  go live. Pick our next destinations. Even recommend guests. I really cannot wait for you to help me
• 4:40
  shape where this podcast goes. There's no fruits that much. Oh, really?
• 4:44
  Fishes and seafood. Okay. There's less fish show or overfished show. But the
• 4:53
  products of Jamaica of the soil of Jamaica. Right. Banks in the Caribbean is Jimmy. Okay.
• 4:58
  100%. Everything that comes from the solar jacket for me is what you should put in your body.
• 5:04
  And that really charming. What is a peanut butter fruit? Yeah. I know my food.
• 5:09
  So you know your fruit. I don't know what was a peanut butter. I didn't know. So, and I was like, okay,
• 5:16
  how can I I knew prior of cooking in Jamaica, I will come in here and do a ball marrow beef tart. Sure.
• 5:24
  If I do it, people are going to look at me like, why do I do a funny thing? You know what I mean?
• 5:29
  And I was like, let me try and be myself. Okay. Not too obscure. Right. And showcase
• 5:36
  my expertise. And what does that mean on a plate? Well, first course, I can't remember it is the
• 5:42
  menu. First course was a local oyster. Okay. Big ones. Yeah. They're able to find. Okay. I see
• 5:47
  the which I've never refined. Okay. But fresh local oyster stuff with a smoked fork mulm
• 5:53
  relief. A kind of like red tomaté sauce. Okay. Yeah. There was like Asian Mexican. Yeah.
• 6:00
  And we smoke it in the oven. Would you be out of cheese? It's a rock of failure Asian Mexican
• 6:05
  type of wine. And you serve it on like something pretty. Right. It's the first bite. Sure. Second
• 6:10
  bite was a 15 hour layered potato. It smoked Marlin. Moose on top. Yes. It was like very crispy.
• 6:16
  Yeah. And like very small piece. Smoke Marlin was like new for me back then. Okay. Because we don't
• 6:20
  really have that word. Okay. So we had smoked salmon. But smoke Marlin was like, well, this is marlin.
• 6:24
  Yep. So I was learning as I go. And I was just I knew this potato that I made is like
• 6:30
  amazing. And now I'm redefining what makes me happy. Right. But I don't miss. I miss the food
• 6:39
  of Montreal. Okay. Food scene. All you can have the best food in five minutes at your door. Sure.
• 6:46
  The best burger. Best pasta. The best focaccio bunata sandwich. I love Italian food. I love
• 6:52
  Asian food. I love Middle Eastern food. Best kid bar. You know, I miss that. Right.
• 6:59
  Because I don't want to make it for myself. I don't want to cook all the long for a burger. Sure.
• 7:03
  Know what I mean? I miss that. But I don't miss what I leave Jamaica. I miss Jamaica. Really?
• 7:10
  And when I arrive in Miami or whatever, I'm like, can I just go back? Really. So do you
• 7:16
  consider Jamaica home for the foreseeable future? Or is this just really? It's called
• 7:24
  Exiled. Right. I have a little more healthcare. Okay. I don't pay any more taxes. Right. The Canadian
• 7:31
  government doesn't owe me anything. Right. I don't owe them any. Sure. I am Canadian. Right.
• 7:36
  I have a Canadian passport. Right. I can come in show works like in a way where you need to
• 7:42
  renounce to your bank accounts. Right. You need to renounce to these sheets of attachment. Sure.
• 7:48
  If you do have a wife, do you have this? Do you have that? It's very different than what I'm
• 7:53
  used to. Sure. I'm like, black, white. There's like, right. We'll sit in the end of the year
• 7:58
  how we're going to. Okay. So I'm like, you're a fucking meal. Right. I'm like, I'm like,
• 8:02
  I'm like, who's everything? And I close everything. Okay. And now it's been like two
• 8:07
  three months that I'm like a Jamaican fiscal resident. Right. I am a Jamaican resident on a
• 8:14
  work permit. Right. It's been three years. I just renewed my second work permit. Okay. So
• 8:21
  in three years, I will be possible to ask for a local residence. Okay. Which I will not need
• 8:28
  to work permits anymore. Okay. The first time they told me you don't go in a tourism
• 8:33
  like line. Yeah. Therefore, I'm with the yard even. I was like, so proud. I was like,
• 8:38
  poodle. Everybody was looking at my auntie. I'm like, no, no. Yeah.
• 8:47
  I was proud. And no, my, I don't know if I will, I will always have a mother base here. Okay.
• 8:56
  My house, my money, my fiscality will be Jamaica. Okay. Well, how I do my things in life will
• 9:03
  see. Sure. But will what I have a little house in Italy and spend time there? Sure.
• 9:09
  Absolutely. Yep. Do am I working on a concept right now that I want to open in many islands?
• 9:15
  Absolutely. Cool. So yes. Yeah. But will my mother house be here? Sure. It is here now. Why?
• 9:22
  Why did you choose Jamaica? It kind of weirdly chose me to. Okay. I always thought I was going
• 9:30
  to do my house. Okay. Because I spent so much time there. Sure. And I was really in love with
• 9:34
  that island. And I've been through so many things of that island where I was like really my home.
• 9:39
  Right. And when I arrived here, I was like, okay, they have the beaches. Mm-hmm. I've always
• 9:45
  listened to regular. I've always listened to some of the kids. Okay. Like I was listening to
• 9:50
  Alborosie where I didn't even know he was Italian. I didn't know she was Italian. I had an Italian
• 9:54
  KP and he was going to an Alborosie concert. And I was like, really? And he's like, yeah, he's
• 9:59
  Italian. I'm like, really? Exactly. And I would listen to all this music and this reggae,
• 10:05
  it's looking wee then. And I'm always been intrigued about Jamaica and the gangs. And I don't know.
• 10:11
  It was since I'm a kid. Like the movie Shotas. It was my favorite movie of all time.
• 10:18
  I understand my person now. Sure. And why I chose Jamaica. Right. Jamaica is not a real place.
• 10:27
  I say that every day. It's not a real, it's a country. It's a beautiful country. It's not perfect.
• 10:33
  Sure. But to me, it kind of is. Right. And I think that where you can find your home is where
• 10:40
  you feel that your human is happy. Why was I living in Canada? Fucking taxes. Fucking people.
• 10:48
  It's great. It's cool. It's this. We have. And then the restaurants and the street are
• 10:53
  much more natural. And it's not going very well. Okay. The government is hard. The permits.
• 10:58
  They're this. They're coves. They're workers. I arrived here. I understood why I was who I was.
• 11:05
  Like why am I thinking this way? And why does it work here? It fits here. You know what I mean?
• 11:11
  Yes. But it doesn't work there. Okay. It it it it it it shook people. Mm-hmm. And I'm very
• 11:18
  no filter. So I'm with their Quebec Prime Minister talking. I don't put my foot. Sure. I talk.
• 11:25
  I talk. Sure. And I remember why. So that's it. But they're like, wow. But here they're like,
• 11:30
  oh cool. Yeah. Yeah. But it's funny because when I went back to the UK,
• 11:36
  there I guess more like Canada. You know, everyone kind of skirts around an issue. No one tells
• 11:40
  you directly what the issue is. Everyone is like, oh no, you're great. Even if they actually have
• 11:44
  a problem. Yeah. And coming from this environment where it is what it is. You come home and put
• 11:50
  on weight. How do you get so fat? I'm like, yo, it is it is white. Yeah. And then probably
• 11:57
  the UK and Canada have fun. Yes. In this box. Yes. Don't step out. Don't. Don't go to their
• 12:04
  step out of that box. Yeah. Everybody there is in Jamaica. You can dare on anything. I'm surprised
• 12:08
  even after many years on how things are done. All right. I got it done. It's sure. Like how?
• 12:16
  It's fascinating. And it fits on how I see things in life. Yes, there are rules on certain things.
• 12:22
  Yes, well, there's certain things that you can bypass. If you can, if you know, if you can help me,
• 12:28
  you can't do this in Canada. Sure. You cannot do this in the UK. Yeah. Exactly. And
• 12:36
  the people, how was your day today? Why, well, Regen? What did I deal with?
• 12:42
  Midday, I bro, I give thanks up because I have life. If you are not saying that, why the fuck are you
• 12:48
  off to? I will be honest. I'm super frank. I will tell you why. I will be this is my problem.
• 12:52
  Right. I will not waste your time or mine. Right. I will get straight up to the point that
• 12:56
  bothers me. Right. And I will tell you why I'm asking. I've been on a date with a girl.
• 13:01
  Sure. And this was what happened. And I was, I find it, I really liked that girl. Sure.
• 13:07
  Concerately. Right. I was really trying for it. And then you were blindsided. I hadn't.
• 13:12
  You are. And God, first of all, she was like giving the attitude that I was an asshole.
• 13:16
  I had no generosity. Oh, no, this. Right. Come on. Right. You. Right. Did she love food? Yes.
• 13:26
  Okay. Oh, really? I think we're the second best career girl type ever. Really?
• 13:32
  Not but physically, her personality, how we bond and how we ride. I was really a shy
• 13:38
  sincerely. Sometimes I tell myself, maybe I fucked up. Okay. Maybe I should have been more flexible
• 13:44
  on the rent page. But then every time I tell myself, why did I give her attitude? Sure.
• 13:50
  Okay. And with the other question, if they drive or don't drive, if they don't drive, is that a problem?
• 13:56
  No, but in this also question, I do get asked. Oh, you do. I get asked this. If you drive. Yes.
• 14:03
  Because if you, I mean, I guess in Jamaica, if you don't, if you don't do things in eight or
• 14:07
  kicks in six, right, you will get that question asked. Yeah. I grew up in Kingston eight. I grew up in six.
• 14:13
  Yeah. So I never thought about it. No, but you, what do you live? Do you drive? If you drive,
• 14:19
  it's either the job of money to buy yourself a car or rent a car. Okay. Or you have a job that
• 14:23
  so they're trying to position you to it. It follows it all the way where. Okay. Wow. So dating scene isn't
• 14:33
  the one. I don't know. I'm new to this. So maybe I'm just like shook.
• 14:39
  Were there any other culture shops other than women asking to pay rent?
• 14:44
  Got many cultural shows. Really? Just on what you were saying. I was raised by my grandma's
• 14:50
  side on my modest Belgium. Okay. My grandma, if I didn't walk on the good side of the shoot,
• 14:54
  like she would hit me with the umbrella time. Right. Not mean, but just the shoot. Yeah.
• 15:01
  Here, when I hear on this street, like, wagwan tikka, I'm like, that's so mean.
• 15:08
  You are what you are. So, but you don't need to call it out. If you're ugly, you're a ugly man. Yeah.
• 15:13
  And if you're a short man, you're a short man. Yeah. Or ironically, you'll be tall man and
• 15:17
  you're this high. Oh, yeah. Just the rubbed in your face. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly.
• 15:24
  So I'm like, there's and everybody's like this with everybody. Yeah. So it put me kind of on
• 15:29
  confidence. Well, sometimes how they do songs and they talk about it. I'm just like,
• 15:34
  it's so. Her, but no, they, they know it did not affect her. Okay. Let me, I have a few quick
• 15:42
  five questions that I'll ask you. And then I'll leave. Okay. Um, tasty or juicy?
• 15:49
  Tasty. You're my guy. All the way. Why? Uh, filling is way better. This is why I said, okay,
• 15:56
  juicy, a recent thing I've had to, but you know what's the best? Devon Holtz. Courgoot. Okay.
• 16:02
  Okay. But that is not enough. This is more artisanal. Right. Which is why I said,
• 16:06
  I didn't put Devon Holtz in there. It's better. It's tasty. There are producers for them,
• 16:12
  but I don't know how they cook it. They do it differently. But the crust is like juicy,
• 16:16
  but the filling is tasty. Really? The crust of juicy is better when it's fresh,
• 16:20
  all the um, it's crispy. Okay. Inside and sucks. Yeah. It's like, it's just a mince of mince.
• 16:24
  It's really off because that's what they open in the States now. Yes. It's a better
• 16:28
  presentation of what a patty should be. Yeah. So I need to go to. I like the amount of
• 16:33
  money it's tasty. Okay. And cheese. I haven't cheesed, but now I'm carrying that.
• 16:39
  Rum or red stripe. Oh.
• 16:44
  Red stripe. And cane. Ox dill or Courgoot. Ox dill.
• 16:49
  Cain juice or coconut water. Coconut water. Coo. I like the question. Yeah. This is what I like.