Caribbean cuisine is a fusion of West African, Creole, Amerindian, European, Latin American, Indian/South Asian, Middle Eastern, and Chinese. These traditions were brought from many countries when they moved to the Caribbean.
To chronicle a new Caribbean option in the Highands, we turn yet again to Michael L. Jones at Louisville Business First, whose sleuthing continues to provide valuable glimpses into the sheer diversity of Louisville metro’s food and dining scene.
Koko + Rae Caribbean Kitchen to open in former Anselmo’s, Shahar Cafe location in Highlands
A fast-casual Caribbean restaurant is opening in the Highlands next month. Koko + Rae Caribbean Kitchen is scheduled to open at 1511 Bardstown Road, near the intersection of Bardstown Road and Eastern Parkway, on Aug. 18.
Readers might recall the two eateries that occupied this space most recently: Shahar Cafe and Anselmo’s.
KoKo + Rae will serve traditional Jamaican dishes like jerk chicken, beef patties and oxtails. But Sowell also plans to offer some Jamaican twists on American staples, such as with an Oxtail Grill Cheese sandwich, Jerk Chili and Jerk Chicken and Waffles.
KoKo + Rae’s general manager is Alabama native Jewell Sowell, who attended Sullivan University’s culinary program.
Sowell said she began working with a group of investors, many of them with Caribbean backgrounds, nearly a year ago to launch KoKo + Rae. The restaurant’s name is inspired by characters an investor developed based on the characteristic of some of some Caribbean friends.
KoKo + Rae Caribbean Kitchen doesn’t yet have a website or social media feed but expects to open in August, with projected daily business hours of 11:00 a.m. to midnight.
Photo credit: Signarama Louisville East.
