Caterer Ivan Bascoe warms up his gastronomic Jamaican choices within the backstage space of the Junkyard nightclub in Dortmund, Germany throughout the Roots and Tradition tour of Europe, organised by Free Folks Leisure and Mediacom. (Picture: Claude Mills)
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Ivan Bascoe is well known by reggae artists throughout Europe as a real lifesaver—the one that ensures they don’t face starvation or need to accept unappetising chilly sandwiches and burgers that kill the urge for food and spirit.
Initially from Jamaica, Bascoe has spent the final 25 years residing in Germany. He’s a widely known chef on the dwell present reggae circuit, making certain artistes and Jamaican guests can take pleasure in a sizzling, scrumptious, conventional Jamaican meal, assured to “beat the fuel”.
Hailing initially from Alternate in Ocho Rios, he now lives in Essen. Although he received married in the overseas nation, he has not had any German-born children.
“I depart too many children in Jamaica, I couldn’t have anymore,” he mentioned, jokingly.
Bascoe, who shall be 66 in August of this yr, is the daddy of six, all of whom are actually adults.
A lifeguard by commerce, he’s identified across the reggae neighborhood for being a terrific chef, and proprietor of Ivan’s Jamaican Cooking which caters for occasions throughout Europe, together with the foremost reggae festivals.
Observer On-line caught up with him whereas he was offering Jamaican meals on the Junkyard Membership in Dortmund, Germany on the evening of a gig on the Roots and Tradition tour that includes Lutan Fyah, Jah Mason and Zhayna. It’s the canine days of winter, with temperatures hovering round 10 levels.
“We’ve got to do that for the tradition and for the artistes. Once I got here to Germany, I realised that there was a necessity, particularly among the many artistes, for nice Jamaican meals, so I simply began to do it,” he mentioned.
It was nice for him to seek out his personal area of interest.
“All people Jamaican you meet say dem a artiste, however that isn’t my lane, so mi begin use mi Jamaica type to supply meals and it work, as a result of the person dem drained, who come up from yard and bored with McDonald’s meals,” he mentioned.
He has catered for main festivals comparable to Reggae Summerjam, the Ruhr Reggae competition and different main reggae occasions crisscrossing the European continent.
Bascoe lives in Essen, which is half-hour away from Dortmund. He generally travels all throughout Europe as he follows the tour schedules of reggae artistes.
“I can present the complete fare, ackee and saltfish, fish, stew rooster….every part. Perhaps I’ll journey all the way in which to Holland at your subsequent tour cease…inform me what you want and mi get it for you…I’ve been doing this for years. Mi love to supply this vital service,” he mentioned.
He’s a giant supporter of the Borussia Dortmund soccer staff. Dortmund is the second most embellished German soccer staff. Domestically, they’ve eight league championships, 5 DFB-Pokals, and 6 DFL-Supercups. Internationally, they gained the UEFA Champions League in 1997, the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1966, and the Intercontinental Cup in 1997.
“Although the very best staff is often Bayern Munich, I like Dortmund. I appreciated them from once I was in Jamaica and transfer with Dortmund nonetheless,” he mentioned.
Bascoe recalled pals in Germany who invited him to the Fatherland in order that he may see snow for the primary time.
“They used to return for my birthday yearly and so they invited me to return to Germany. I needed to see snow and really feel it after which I overstayed my time and bumped into a woman mi like, I received married to Birgitte. It didn’t final lengthy however is my pal proper now,” he mentioned.
He returned to Jamaica a couple of instances over time. Nevertheless, after his mom died, he didn’t return to Jamaica for 16 years.
“Final time I went again (to Jamaica) was the yr earlier than final, I like Jamaica however Germany is my house now,” he mentioned.
He’s now fluent in German. He attended a linguistics class for 3 months, after which picked up the language by every day use. He’s comfortable to have carved out an honest life in Germany as a “hardcore yardie”.
“Nuff like to Marcia and Levi, the 2 children from my ex-wife, my step children, and Mariko, thanks for all of the assist, large up,” he mentioned.
— Claude Mills
