Big Jerk’s Recipe for Change: Food, Family, and Community

© Courtesy of Big Jerk

Big Jerk’s Recipe for Change: Food, Family, and Community

“Fed people make for happy people, and happy people make for productive people,” said Big Jerk founder Kevin James Thomas. This philosophy doesn’t just guide his kitchen; it drives his commitment to giving back to the Kitchener-Waterloo community.

For over four decades, the Thomas family has been serving up Caribbean-Canadian cuisine in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. Familyowned and operated, locals share that the food speaks for itself—but serving authentic Caribbean cuisine is not the only family legacy that Thomas upholds.

For Kevin, serving up authentic Caribbean cuisine is about more than great food—it’s about creating connections, fostering belonging, and honouring the legacy of his father, James Nicholas.

Thomas’ father was a trailblazer in the local food scene. In the early 80s, Kitchener-Waterloo welcomed its first and only Jamaican/Canadian club, the Highlight Club, tucked away above OW Sports on King Street. This hidden gem was a weekend hotspot where locals could get a taste of home through dishes like Jamaican patties, jerk chicken, curry goat, and oxtail.

This downtown staple was beloved, not just for its flavourful dishes, but for Nicholas’ unparalleled generosity. A pillar of the community and dedicated to helping those in need, his motto was, “Come back and pay when you can.” While some never returned, many did—paying it forward in gratitude for the kindness they’d received.

Over the years, the restaurant has changed names, shapes, and locations but it never lost the beloved flavours it was known for. After his father’s retirement, Thomas stepped up to honour his family legacy. In 2016, he founded Big Jerk, bringing a modern twist to the family’s traditional recipes while staying true to the essence of Caribbean cuisine.

Operating out of the Wooden Boat Food Company, owned by Chef Thompson, Big Jerk has expanded the menu to include crowd-pleasers like jerk poutine, jerk tacos, wood-fired pizza, and smoked brisket, alongside staples like jerk chicken, jerk pork, and oxtail. It’s also become a go-to for catering— offering services for weddings, private events, and large gatherings. Big Jerk’s food truck even brings a taste of the Caribbean to the streets.

FEEDING MORE THAN BELLIES

In the same way, Thomas continues his father’s tradition of giving back through his partnership with A Better Tent City (ABTC), a community that provides safe and stable housing for residents experiencing homelessness.

Once a week, Thomas and his mother, Lucinda Nicholas, step into the ABTC kitchen to prepare hot, nutritious meals for the residents.

It’s a labour of love and a reflection of the compassion that their family has embodied for decades.

“This is something Dad would always do,” Thomas explained. “At closing time, he would give meals to the homeless. We’re carrying on what he did at this location now.”

The response from ABTC residents has been overwhelmingly positive. Residents rave about the food, with the jerk chicken being a standout favourite, and the dishes range from beloved classics to holiday-inspired creations.

The weekly meals provide a moment of connection and dignity for ABTC residents, many of whom face daily struggles. Being able to access hot, fresh meals with vibrant flavours brings joy and nourishment to the residents, and being able to uphold the spirit of giving back is especially meaningful to Thomas and his mother. From commercial kitchens to the food trucks and everywhere in between, the mission remains the same: to feed the body and the soul.

“It's a pleasure to keep Pop's culinary dishes up and running and to bring a little taste of the Island to everyone,” said Thomas.