Jamaican Chef has his own Brand of Local Flavor
In 2006, Gayle opened his first restaurant, Chef Rob's Caribbean Café on Roswell Road. He now has a strong following of local diners who come for conch fritters, jerk chicken and fried plantains.
When Robert Gayle talks about his days in the CIA, he’s not referencing the government agency. Instead, he’s referring to his time at the Culinary Institute of America. That doesn’t make his story any less compelling. In 2006, Gayle opened his first restaurant, Chef Rob's Caribbean Café on Roswell Road. He now has a strong following of local diners who come for conch fritters, jerk chicken and fried plantains. But his expertise didn’t come easily. Gayle was born in Jamaica where cooking involved more than a quick trip to the grocery store. “I was the one that had to catch the chicken and pull out the feathers for Sunday dinners,” he recalls. “We had no choice,” he says. “We had to fend for ourselves.” His family moved to Brooklyn when he …
