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Sugar and Spice & Everything Irie: Savoring Jamaica's Flavors
Veda Nugent and
Marrett Green

• Coconut Vegetables
• Curry Goat
• Curry Shrimp
• Jamaican Rice and Peas
• Mango Punch
• Oxtail and Lima Bean Stew
• Rum Sauce

Since her humble first efforts, at age six, cooking for the family’s much-loved pet pig in Flint River, Jamaica, Veda Nugent has prepared traditional island dishes for literally thousands of people.
Currently residing in Florida, Veda first arrived in Canada from Jamaica in 1972, with two small children, two suitcases, and six hundred dollars, to begin a new life.
For many years she operated two successful Caribbean restaurants in Ottawa, Ontario, with the help of her son and co-author Marrett Green. As a restaurateur and chef she gained much recognition while introducing the tastes of the islands to the Ottawa Valley. During that time Veda also catered for notable agencies, including the International Women’s Organization and CUSO, and for functions at foreign embassies and at Parliament Hill. Veda has also demonstrated her recipes on national TV and has taught countless cooking classes on Jamaican and African cuisine.

Through her creative flare, Veda has contributed to the art of Jamaican cooking. Unofficially, Veda was the first in North America to prepare and introduce plantain pies, breadfruit stuffing, and Jamaican salted codfish patties.

After more than forty years of professional cooking, Veda has now compiled her food adventures in her first cookbook. Experiencing what has been a delightful culinary journey, she says, “In some ways, I feel I owe a great deal to a forgotten pig!”

Marrett Green
Marrett, Veda’s son, has been with Veda every step of the way. (In fact, these two are such best friends that Veda was Marrett’s “best man” at his wedding a few years back!) Marrett moved with his family to Canada at age six. After seven years helping Veda operate her restaurants, he moved on to study broadcast journalism. From 1992 to 1999, Marrett worked as an award-winning television newscaster at several Canadian stations, culminating as a news anchor at Global Television in Vancouver, British Columbia.

In 1999 Marrett became the Media Relations Officer for the regional government in Greater Vancouver. Marrett is currently working on a children’s book for his ever-curious two-year-old sons, who live with him in Vancouver, British Columbia. Besides the birth of his children, his next greatest thrill has been helping to make his mother’s dream of publishing a cookbook come true.

"Sugar and Spice & Everything Irie: Savoring Jamaica's Flavors is for anyone who has the desire to explore the beauty of Jamaica and its culture through its down-to-earth, flavorful cuisine," enthuses Veda Nugent and Marrett Green.