By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

CALERA— Claudia Kelsey grew up in Jamaica, cooking with her mother and grandmother. So when Kelsey’s husband, Kareem, wanted to open a restaurant, Caribbean cuisine was the obvious choice.

Their restaurant, Kool Runnings, recently moved from its original location in Calera off County Road 25 to 8176 U.S. 31. Kelsey said they love the new, more prominent space.

“I am very, very happy over here,” she said. “I love it. It’s better, because it’s more foot traffic here.”

The couple named the restaurant after the John Candy movie “Cool Runnings,” featuring the first Jamaican bobsled team, and they keep the food authentic.

Kool Runnings features a variety of foods, such as ox tail, curry goat and chicken, brown stew chicken, rice and beans, plantain and steamed cabbage. Kareem handles the jerk chicken and pork, maintaining a balance of heat and flavor.

Kelsey said they also serve wings and barbecue, and feature new recipes as specials. She said that Kareem loves to experiment with flavors, so there is always something new to try.

As far as taste, Kelsey said they’ve had only good reviews.

“We have no complaints, not one,” she said. “Everybody that has the food (loves it).”

She said they’ve had guests travel from Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Alabaster, Montgomery, U.S. 280 and more. People ask her to open a location closer to their city, Kelsey said.

“I just get the home atmosphere feeling here,” said manager Leona Haynes.

For more information, call 690-7377.