What started as an authentic Trinidadian sauce and marinade company is set to become a full-on café when Spicy Man in Lafayette opens a brick-and-mortar location this December. Trinidad natives Kerry Bissons and Trey Ware have grown Spicy Man as a sauce company over the past three years, starting with appearances at Lafayette Farmers’ Market. Eventually, they started cooking food at the markets as a way to showcase their sauces.
“One day, we did jerk chicken and pork sandwiches on the grill over at the market, and it created a stir,” Bissons said. “A lot of people came over just from the smell of it.”
Success at the farmers market resulted in a pop-up at the Black Café in Lafayette, which is owned by Ware. Bissons said that the pop-up was also a success, and it made him realize that a Spicy Man restaurant was possible.
“People started saying, hey, you should do a pop-up at the Black Café every quarter, or every month,” he said.
Located on the first floor of an office building at 400 E Kaliste Saloom Rd. in Lafayette, Spicy Man Café will have sandwiches, wraps, salads, and breakfast items that feature both Caribbean and local flavors. It will also have coffee, teas, and juices.
Bissons said he’s looking forward to establishing the brick-and-mortar location, and didn’t rule out another expansion if it’s successful.
“Who knows what the future holds,” he said.
