By Logan B. Anderson

MIDDLETOWN — After serving more than two decades caring for people as a military nurse and treating patients with COVID-19, Marlene Hyman-Zincke, sat down with her family an had an “extensive” talk — she told them it was time to open a restaurant.

“I’m originally from Jamaica. I have 23 years in the military and 22 years as a nurse. After COVID last year, I decided, I don’t want to wait anymore. I am going to open the restaurant,” she said.

That’s what she did. She retired and then opened Jamaican Jammin Flavors with her husband Wesley.

Lovers of Jamaican food can find it at 13 West Main St. in Middletown.

On Friday, with help from the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce, they celebrated the opening of their restaurant with an official ribbon cutting event.

“We’re really excited that we have diversity right here in Middletown. Typically, any kind of Jamaican food or island food, you have to go north. We are really excited that they are right here on Main Street,” Ayanna Khan, founder and president of the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce, said.

“It’s another example of folks reinventing themselves in spite of a pandemic. Giving up her nursing career, that was a big leap,” Ms. Khan added.

The take-out restaurant opened in late August and business has been steady ever since. Friday’s opening celebration was cut a little short because a line of customers started to fill the restaurant and extend out of the front door.

Ms. Hyman-Zincke said she does all of the cooking, with some help from her husband, and their grandmothers’ recipes.

“We decided to bring all of that together and open Jamaican Jammin Flavors so we can have a restaurant in Middletown because there is none. We wanted to bring the flavors over here,” she said. “Instead of everyone traveling all the way to Bear and to Wilmington. I always hear, ‘Oh, I have to go all the way there.’ So, I decided to bring it to the people. They have been asking for it.”

“I’m in to stay.”

When asked what dish she likes to cook the most, she enthusiastically said, “jerk chicken.”

“Everybody wants jerk chicken and jerk shrimp. I like to jerk, the authentic way. Not in the oven. This is done in a drum.”

To have real jerked food it must have a smoky flavor — over on a grill with real flames and smoke.

“Not in an oven. It doesn’t have the same effect the same flavor,” she said.

Ms. Hyman-Zincke also uses her own, freshly ground spice blend for her food.

“People are always asking me for my spices,” she said.

To answer those requests, she is working on a line of spices that you can purchase at the restaurant.

Beyond the tastes and the smells of Caribbean food, Ms. Hyman-Zincke said customers should come to her restaurant for the atmosphere.

“We’re friendly. We’re down to earth. This is home and whatever the issue is, or whatever your taste buds may desire the menu is there, we make it to serve,” Ms. Hyman-Zincke said.

Delaware State Sen. Stephanie L. Hansen, D-Middletown, came to Jamaican Jammin Flavors on Friday to celebrate the ribbon cutting and then got in line to place and order. “This is wonderful. We have such a rich diverse culture in Middletown and it’s getting bigger and more colorful every day. This is a great addition,” Sen. Hansen said.

For her Friday night dinner, Sen. Hansen ordered the eggplant and heart-of-palm and spinach stew and sweet chili shrimp.

Jamaican Jammin Flavors is open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information or to place and order visit their website or call 302-314-0113.