Orange Bay porridge man loves to take pictures – Jamaica Observer

Porridge and soup purveyor Conroy Robinson inspects his vegetarian soup or drink at his Orange Bay, Hanover, location recently. (Photo: Anthony Lewis)

ORANGE BAY, Hanover — Most people know Conroy Robinson as the porridge man or soup man who prepares hot meals in Orange Bay, Hanover, that they can grab on their way to work or school in the morning.

But, how many knew that his first love is photography?

Robinson, who is also known as ‘Rasta’, has been selling hot food for 20 years. He started on Green Island in the parish, selling only porridge, before moving to his current location in Orange Bay Square – just a few miles from the popular resort of Negril – a decade ago.

He has also added soup to his menu.

The soup, known as sip, does not contain meat, while the porridge is made from peanuts and bananas. No dairy products, such as milk from animals, are used in the porridge.

Speaking to The Jamaican Spectator for Familiar Faces recently, Robinson broke down what a typical day is like for him.

“My day starts from the night before, because I have to prepare everything at once. [I] wake up around 2:30/3 in the morning, and start cooking. I come to work here [Orange Bay Square] at 6, and I’m here until 12:30 in the evening, and sometimes 2:00 – it depends on the pace of [food] goes,” said Robinson.

He admitted, however, that maintaining his daily routine has not been easy.

“It is true that there are many activities. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning and [I’m] to begin with, I feel like going back to bed because almost [an] every day, and it takes a lot of energy and a lot of time. So, sometimes I feel like I don’t even want to go to work, but knowing that people are counting on me, I have to move,” Robinson said.

The soup and porridge seller said his customers include teachers, students, hotel workers, people doing their activities on the beach in resorts, and bus and taxi drivers, and he always sees new faces.

While other vendors in Orange Bay also sell soup, Robinson said he is the only one who sells porridge as well.

Born in St Elizabeth, Robinson grew up in Westmoreland, where he attended school, before moving to Hanover in 2009. He had some advice for those wanting to venture into the same business.

“It’s worth a try, but remember, it’s a lot of work. It may seem easy now, but it comes with a lot of dedication. Be prepared to work from the night before,” Robinson said.

But even though he’s been cooking for over a decade, his first love and career was as a photographer.

“It wasn’t too fast, so I turned to cooking,” Robinson told them The Sunday Observer.

“When I went from photography to food, it was not easy for me, because I really wanted to take pictures. Finally I started cooking, and it works,” he said.

Although he has no regrets about his decision, he still dreams of returning to his first love.

“My mind is still on photography. Every day I say to myself, ‘Whenever possible, I’m coming back.’ [Cooking] it is good, but it requires more time and commitment. I lose more rest at night. Doing photography, not because I love it, it also allows me to relax more.

“So, at some point, I know I’m going back to photography,” said Robinson, who noted that, at the moment, cooking doesn’t allow time off to do photography.

“There was a time when I couldn’t get out here to do this [sell food] if I do photography. So, it could be this or photography,” explained Robinson, adding, “This is fine, it’s not much but it keeps me going and it’s better than sitting around doing nothing.”

Watch his video chat with Sunday Observer reporter Anthony Lewis at www.jamaicaobserver.com.

.


#Orange #Bay #porridge #man #loves #pictures #Jamaica #Observer

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top