WRITTEN BY JORDAN KOSSUTH
Irie is a Jamaican term meaning “all right, cool, merry or great” – as in “everything is going great”. To Vince McIntosh, it describes an overall feeling of good vibes – a feeling customers are sure to find when visiting Irie Kitchen.
His father, Vincent McIntosh, born in Ochos Rios, Jamaica, and mother Camele of St. Catherine, Jamaica, immigrated to the United States in the 1980’s, with a multitude of family recipes in tow. Vince and his twin sister round out this first-generation family, who have always loved sharing their passion for food with family and friends. Over the years they spent most major holidays hosting dozens of guests – guests who knew to show up with Tupperware to fill with leftovers to savor the next day.
With a fervor for food and a desire to bring some of his Jamaican heritage to West Michigan, Vince tested the waters with his own catering business, and soon found himself ready to finance and open his own restaurant – IRIE Kitchen.
IRIE Kitchen
IRIE Kitchen is Vince’s passion project, and a true family affair. Vince’s father (affectionately known as “pops”) develops and perfects recipes, business partner Albert oversees the team, and Vince manages the IRIE brand.
Since opening their doors in July 2017, IRIE Kitchen prides itself on offering a variety of Jamaican inspired dishes using fresh, organic ingredients and family recipes. The menu has continued to evolve over the years from authentic Jamaican dishes to more of a creative kitchen with a cult following.
Vince’s team has worked hard to make sure their menu offerings are accessible to all, including when it comes to spice level. “The normal spice of our dishes is good for about 85% of people,” he says, “From there we can step it up to spicy, or we can go crazy with extra spicy.” Their vegan menu boasts items like Curry Garbanzo Beans, the Vegan IRIE Dilla, or IRIE Shrooms – organic baby bellas seasoned with their house made jerk blend.
“Once you find your thing, that’s your favorite, and that’s what you order,” says Vince. Their most popular entrees are the Jerk Chicken and the Curry Goat, each offering a distinct, savory balance of flavor and spice. The choice between these two knockouts, the Jerk Alfredo, Oxtail, or the Chicken & Waffles can be difficult, and with so many tempting dishes, IRIE Kitchen warrants multiple visits and a spot on your list of favorite West Michigan eateries.
IRIE Studios
IRIE Kitchen is located in Caledonia and is currently open Friday – Sunday for lunch and dinner, so connecting with the West Michigan community through social media has played an integral role in the business.
“Do what you’re good at, and do not care about what others think.”
Vince drew on his past work experiences in operations, management, and social media to build an internal social media team dedicated to advertising, marketing, and content generation. This year will see an increase in content as they launch of their own social media agency, Irie Studios, and continue to grow their loyal following!
He attributes a lot of their success to mouthwatering photos taken by Amanda Montgomery of Arrae Creative and Stacy Feyer-Salo, creator of Pop Kitchen Studio, collaborations with other local businesses, and posts shared by local content creators.
IRIE Juices – Good Vibes to Go
Another exciting milestone for the IRIE Brand? IRIE Juices have hit shelves at Bridge Street Market!
Each juice contains locally sourced organic, non-GMO ingredients, brewed and bottled in house at Irie Kitchen, allowing you to take the good vibes with you wherever you go. These juices maintain peak flavor and freshness for about 3 weeks, so be sure to stop in and stock your fridge with each of the 3 juices currently in store.
·IRIE Lemonade – A restaurant favorite made with a top-secret family recipe, this juice stands apart from any lemonade you’ve had before.
IRIE Ginger – A non-alcoholic juice reminiscent of a ginger beer or ale without the carbonation.
IRIE Sorrel – This traditional Caribbean drink is packed with antioxidants from hibiscus, fresh grated ginger, guava, and cane sugar. Sorrel is the Jamaican name for a type of hibiscus flower known as the Roselle, which grow in abundance on the island. Fun fact – Traditional Mexican hibiscus tea is called Jamaica because the main ingredient (the hibiscus plant) was originally brought there from Jamaica.
IRIE Juices are the perfect way to elevate your at-home cocktail or mocktail! Top off some sparkling wine and gin with IRIE Lemonade for a French 75, or simply add it to some tequila on ice. The vibrant fuchsia IRIE Sorrel flavor profile pairs well with rum or vodka – think Red Bull & Vodka without the harsh caffeine crash!
An obvious companion for IRIE Ginger would be with vodka in a Moscow mule, but this lighter juice also combines impeccably with gin. Research has shown that ginger shots can help fight inflammation, ease joint pain, boost immunity, and deliver digestive support – making this juice a great way to start the day. One customer even recommends heating this juice up when you’re feeling under the weather and enjoying it as a ginger tea to boost your immune system
Like, Subscribe & Stay Tuned
IRIE Juices are their first foray into the retail space, and a sign of many exciting things to come. Getting their products into stores like Bridge Street Market is a stand-out moment for Vince, who looks forward to expanding the brand with more retail products like seasonings and sauces.
“Being a small business owner in Grand Rapids is unique and rewarding. We love the challenges that it brings and face them head on with eagerness and determination to learn from those around us.”
Stay tuned in to their instagram and facebook for more great content to come as they build their creative brand. We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for Irie!