Married couple gets ‘Progressive’ with St Thomas Chinese and seafood restaurant

Co-owners of Progressive Delight Chinese & Seafood Cuisine, Renee and Sheldon Lindsay, have always been lovers of fine cuisine. But dining out often meant travellling to the island’s city to indulge in their favourites: Chinese and seafood. When the time came to start a business, the partners in love followed their hearts and taste buds, coming up with the idea to start a restaurant. But they stumbled upon some hurdles along the way.

“The restaurant was originally set to open its doors at Hellshire in Portmore, St Catherine. But that wasn’t meant to be,” Renee told Food. With their delightful dream now hanging on by a thread, she had just about given up when her husband came up with the idea to bring the excitement closer to home. “He knows that when it comes to any vision, I will follow him and support him. When the location came into question, we said yes to Yallahs, setting up our kitchen and settling into our new home,” she added.

Progressive Delight Chinese & Seafood Cuisine offers residents in Yallahs and neighbouring communities a different gastronomic experience. The enticing combination of seafood and Chinese food has something for everyone. The ultimate seafood boil is to die for! Spicy or mild, fused in a mouth-watering curry or garlic sauce, the one-pot meal includes king crab, sea crab, lobster and shrimp, Bad Dawg sausage, potatoes and corn on the cob. Then there’s a sweet take on grilled lobster, yellow curried rice, traditional fried rice, curried shrimp, teriyaki tofu, shrimp in black bean sauce, sweet and sour chicken and mallah chicken, a variety of lo meins, and a host of other options to savour.

Opening a Chinese restaurant in St Thomas is a huge deal in their books. They stand proudly as black owners of a business that offers Asian cuisine, and boast of having one of the largest menus. “We have the largest Chinese menu in Jamaica,” Renee revealed, dropping the surprising number of 250 delicious meals to support her claim. The general menu listing includes 143 scrumptious offerings.

Since opening a few months ago, the response has been incredible. Many continue to be mesmerised by the irresistible flavours bringing joy to taste buds, and the couple continues to be amazed by the love and support shown so far.

Placing tremendous effort into the culinary execution of the business, the dynamic duo enlisted a team of talented chefs versed in, and passionate about, cooking. Everything prepared at Progressive is made with love. Marrying herbs and spices (with sauces in the mix), these dishes vow to create the perfect harmony in every bite. The flavour profiles make any choice worthwhile.

And because the couple shies away from ordinary conventions, they bring versatility with family-sized Chinese offerings and fast-food options. Excitement will come into play every Friday when customers come for the food, but stay for the fun of karaoke night.

Progressive Delight Chinese & Seafood Cuisine is located in Yallahs, St Thomas. Find them on Instagram @progressivedelight.

krysta.andersomn@gleanerjm.com