About Local's Backyard™

Local’s Backyard was created by Chef David Menges, with the help of his wife, Vicki. It all kind of stemmed from Chef David’s being “born into the restaurant business”, and his knack for the “exotic”.

While living in Key West, he became interested in Caribbean cooking, and set out to create the best Jamaican Jerk sauce possible. He met an elderly Jamaican lady called “Mamma Lou”. She gave Chef David a list of “basic” ingredients, & only the names of four other herbs, or spices. She said she couldn’t remember the exact amount of the other spices, but she thought there was “more of this one, than that one”. After about six months of trying different combinations of the ingredients, he figured he had something that “Mamma Lou” oughtta try. “ She tasted it and went ballistic”, recalls the Chef. She said, “ This is better than my Mamma make Mon …you got it”!

To this day, every Native Jamaican that has had it, says it’s the best they’ve ever had. The other sauces, and his methods of creating his award winning dishes, come from Chef David’s desire to “give people something better than anything they’ve ever had in their lives”. And by using these Gourmet Sauces, you’ll find that he is doing a pretty good job of doing JUST THAT!

“I like to be around happy people, and my food makes people happy”, he says with a wide smile. Chef David has been the subject of a possible cooking show for TV, and a Video Cookbook is in the works. You will also find some recipes within this web site, that might change the menu around your house. The recipes are, for the most part, easy. At Local’s Backyard, we will NEVER substitute quality for the sake of simplicity, nor profit. You will ALWAYS be assured of the highest quality, and most courteous service offered by anyone. We will help you in every way we can, to make your next Barbeque, or Formal Dinner, the most successful ever.

ENJOY!!