BELONGING IN THE BAY OF QUINTE
From the Grind to the Grill: How Chef Jamie Beeston Built Barbacoa Boyz with Heart and Heat
The thing about Jamie Beeston is—he’s hard to read. On purpose. His demeanour isn’t defensive so much as observant. Quiet. Grounded. He’s not trying to impress you. He’s paying attention. And that kind of presence—that watchful, intuitive nature—has served him incredibly well, both in the kitchen and in life.
Jamie trusts his gut about people, flavour and timing. And about big decisions, like moving to Quinte West to launch his food business, Barbacoa Boyz, that most people would consider a gamble. But Jamie had a feeling: the right place, right time, right idea. He tucked away the doubt and took the leap. He never looked back.
Meeting Jamie confirmed many of my own decisions to do the same. To trust yourself is to already be halfway there. Success may not always look the way you imagined—but it will come. Jamie exudes that kind of steady, quiet confidence.
Written by Carrie Oswald
Read time: 5 min
From the Line to Living Fully
In the world of food, many great chefs begin their journey behind the line in high-pressure, big-name kitchens. For Jamie, that’s exactly where it started.
After years working in the fast-paced, high-volume world of large restaurant conglomerates across Toronto and the GTA, Jamie discovered a hard truth: the corporate kitchen grind wasn’t the dream. It was a machine. A hustle with little heart.
“I wanted to do something different,” Jamie says. “Something meaningful.”
Jamie believes in living in the world but not being a part of it. What does that even mean, you ask? Well, think of it like being on a boat in the ocean, but not letting the water into the boat. You’re navigating the waves of the world but not letting them sink you or define your worth.
Presence, Not Perfection
Jamie is an imposing figure—tall, solid, with a presence that commands attention. His calm demeanour, easy smile, and the warm, low tone of his voice really stays with you. It’s the self-assurance of a man who’s been through the fire and come out seasoned, not burned.
Do all chefs need that kind of presence? Probably. There’s something about standing behind a stove while the ticket machine never stops, something about plating a dish that will be scrutinized in seconds that demands a kind of inner steel.
In the world of culinary arts, criticism is constant, and mental health struggles are often swept under the rug in favour of perfection and performance.
Jamie doesn’t buy into that anymore.
He’s honest about the toll the industry can take: the burnout, the anxiety, the endless expectations. Instead of being consumed by it, Jamie has become an advocate for balance. A grounded life. A reminder that success doesn’t have to come at the expense of your soul.
“When the summer season is over,” he told me, “I shut it down to live my life. I sleep. I spend time with my family. I live.”
Every Meal, A Moment
When he’s working, he’s fully present. Jamie doesn’t chase praise. He watches. He listens. He reads people. A raised eyebrow. A quiet nod. That’s all he needs.
It’s in those subtle, wordless moments that Jamie finds his truth. His intuition is one of his sharpest tools in the kitchen, guiding him as he blends bold flavours and unexpected pairings to provoke reaction, delight, and connection. A visit to the Barbacoa Boyz food truck is never just a meal. It’s an experience crafted to resonate beyond the plate.
The Heart Behind Barbacoa Boyz
Barbacoa Boyz, the catering and mobile food venture Jamie runs with his wife, Christina, is a vibrant fusion of Caribbean, Mexican, and Canadian flavours. What began in their basement kitchen in Durham Region has grown into a well-loved cornerstone of the Quinte West food scene.
Their 2022 win in the Trenton DBIA “Win This Space” contest and a small business loan from Trenval helped them launch their now-iconic kitchen trailer—a true labour of love on wheels. For Jamie, the journey isn’t about fame or fast success. It’s about legacy.
Cooking With Purpose
He’s not just cooking to make a living, he’s cooking to make a mark. Jamie wants to inspire the next generation. He wants to be for others what someone once was for him: a mentor, a mirror, a reminder that greatness doesn’t have to look like the status quo.
“People should feel like they can be anyone they want, be anything they want, be anywhere they want. We create our own belonging by welcoming ourselves,” he tells me.
“If I listened to what people told me I would be, I wouldn’t be here at all. Never let someone else’s expectations of you be what stops you from being great, because you already are.”
Feed the Fire, Feel the Love
That’s the real heat behind Barbacoa Boyz. Not just fire-roasted meats or hand-blended spices, but a passion for possibility, a belief in community, and a commitment to paving the way for others to rise.
You can find Barbacoa Boyz serving up their signature heat and heart at the Quinte West Pop-ups in Centennial Park this summer. Come out and say hey to this wonderful human. Whether you’re a first-timer or a devoted regular, one thing’s for sure… come hungry.
Jamie’s cooking feeds more than your appetite. It nourishes your sense of possibility, your love of bold flavour, and your belief that good, honest food can bring people together in all the best ways
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi! I’m Carrie Oswald, and Belonging Redefined is my baby. I’ve always been a curious student of the human experience, particularly when it comes to the question, “What does it mean to belong?”
When we moved to the Bay of Quinte region in 2020, we really didn’t get a sense of what made this place special as the pandemic kept us isolated. Over the last five years though, I’ve made it my mission to uncover and collect the unique stories of people I meet through everyday conversations. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed hearing them.
Maybe together we can truly get a sense of the what has made this community the welcoming place it is, but more so what the community is doing to continue to create a space where people can feel like they belong here.
