Master griller, Adora Wilmore

Adora was born on the Caribbean Island of Anguilla, where she learned the art and science of cooking at the elbow of her grandmother, Albertha. Well-known for her traditional recipes and for her intuitive feel for food and spices, Albertha taught the precocious little girl everything she knew.

Then, while her grandmother was on a trip out of town, Adora offered enthusiastically to prepare a meal for her grandfather. He was known to be a discerning critic – undoubtedly accustomed to the very best and not one to gratuitously compliment others’ efforts. He was delighted, if not astonished, by the talent of his young granddaughter. Her future unfolded in a moment… this girl could cook!

At the age of 14, Adora moved to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands for a formal classroom education in Nutrition and to continue broadening her lessons in the kitchen, this time with the tutelage of her Aunt Helen. Helen took her talent to Los Angeles, California, where her restaurant gained notoriety for the way she adapted Caribbean dishes to the American palette – which, at the time, may have been a little less adventurous than it is today.

Adora raised five children supported by a bustling catering business in Washington DC. Outdoor grilling of ribs and chicken is what she is best known for and you’ve never had anything better. For many summers now, people have followed the fine smoky aroma emanating from the big outdoor grill Adora set up in Algonac, Michigan.

She’s now down the highway in Fair Haven offering a wide variety of dishes, but no matter where that BBQ is set up, behind it you will find Adora making the delicious Caribbean food that keeps people coming back for more.

The secret of Adora’s success is rooted in three things:

• her knowledge in selecting and blending spices to get the exact flavour she is looking for
• the way she balances healthful ingredients in a dish and truly satisfying combinations on a plate
• her passion for preparing good, nourishing food – the very essence of life – for her family, friends and community. In fact, her most soul-satisfying work is her annual Remembrance Day event for Veterans in the community who feast from a table groaning under the weight of donated dishes.

While Adora shops, chops, spices, sautés and grills, she absolutely believes that what makes the food so good is The Master’s Touch. We think you will too.