A Brief History on Chef Kay

Chef Kay (Camele Winkler) was born in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica. As a pre-adolescent she was trained by her grandmother Madlyn Stephens to cook for the family.  Chef Kay moved to Baltimore, Maryland, when she was 14 years old, where she continued to perfect her skills with Jamaican Cuisine, often cooking for her family. She met the love of her life, Dennis "Ausar" Winkler, a Baltimore  native at 16, and they have been going strong every since. She introduced him to authentic Jamaican food, which is difficult to find at many restaurants. You may find it, but as you know, it's often to find food that tastes like it's homemade. Chef Kay and Diasporan Soul brings that homemade flavor to you in each dish we prepare. She often says, "I don't skimp on ingredients." Hence, prepared with love. 

Getting back to the story: There is a saying "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach." It seems it held true in this case. Chef Kay, her husband, and their two sons, Dennis Jr. and Jamil, make up the proprietors of this gem, Diasporan Soul. The word Diasporan in the eatery's title represents this family being of African descent but born and living outside of the African continent, but still influenced and proud of their roots from the motherland, which cannot be denied in Jamaican and African American cultures. 

Chef Kay was also trained by her father Matt and mother Elizabeth to cook. Her father was also known for making juices and punches. In honor of her father, Chef Kay created a line of juices called Mr. Matt's, which you can find in our refrigerated section of Diasporan Soul and TNAT Holistic Wellness Center. You will see that Elizabeth as a proud mother often supporting Chef Kay still to this day in and around the eatery. 

The story isn't over. Chef Kay has been a part of the Caribbean and African American cultures, having moved here at the age of 14 and becoming a family member of Dennis' family, who has roots in Virginia (Down Home Cooking). She naturally began to integrate African-American Soul food into the mix. Hence, she also serves up authentic African-American Soul food. The best of both worlds!!! And she even fuses them. 

Of course, Chef Kay, being an artist and scientist in the kitchen, takes whatever she has learned and perfects it in her own way. It is amazing what this woman can do in the kitchen.  

We hope to see you at Diaporan Soul Soon so that you can allow Chef Kay to tap into taste buds that you may not even realized you had. You will thank us later. 

Let us serve you!