Blasta Books series Socafro

Each recipe in Socafro, from Afro-Trini macaroni pie to Alistair Jeje's take on jollof rice, tells a story reminiscent of his childhood memories, reflecting his West African and Caribbean dual heritage. Despite a successful career in retail, Alistair ‘JD’ Jeje always had a nagging feeling that there was something else he should be doing. It was only when everything ground to a halt during the pandemic and he had time to sit down and really think about what comes naturally to him, that he does with the least amount of effort, that it hit him. That thing that makes JD tick? It’s cooking. JD has been cooking at his food stall, Socafro Kitchen, since 2020 and hasn’t looked back. The word ‘Socafro’ is a mash-up of JD’s two favourite types of music: the rhythmic beats of Soca from Trinidad & Tobago and the soulful lines of Afrobeat from Nigeria. This combination not only reflects JD’s Afro-Caribbean dual heritage but the recipes in this book, from jerk chicken to jollof rice. It’s not only the food that JD loves, but the food he loves to share.