2 minute read
Culinary Whiz & Philanthropist
by Katie Fenner
In the midst of the chaos of this uncertain time, there is one unsung hero in our community working hard to feed those hit by this health and economic crisis—Borikén Joe.
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Joe Adorno—AKA Borikén Joe—opened Borikén Juke Joint on Broadway Ave in October 2019, only a few months before the coronavirus pandemic began sweeping through the United States and forcing many small, non-essential businesses to close—including many restaurants and bars.
Familiar to adversity through his culinary travels across the world, Adorno is stepping up and doing what many of us wish we could do during these hard times. He has been working tirelessly to procure monetary and food donations from many vendors to supply warm meals to those in need.
Borikén Juke Joint—401 Broadway, Lorain, Ohio
photo by Jen Navarro
While he is a philanthropist at heart, he is also a culinary whiz. Borikén Joe has brought life back to the food scene of Lorain with his creative twists on fusion food.
Tucked away in a basement, speakeasy-style setting, Borikén Juke Joint is a lively place to grab a juicy burger or some delicious ramen. Always offering new and exciting specials, Borikén Joe never disappoints!
Adorno spent many years traveling between the Bahamas and the States, and then he spent 15 years working his food truck in Hawaii. His culinary tour has finally made its way back to his hometown of Lorain, where he is proud to be bringing his heritage Puerto Rican flavors mixed with some cultural varieties from across the world.
(The sign below is the sign from Joe's food truck in Hawaii!)
Borikén Juke Joint—401 Broadway, Lorain, Ohio
photo by Jen Navarro
Menu favorites like the Double Trouble Burger with 14 ounces of juicy beef cooked to perfection with a side of homemade chips, and the Gumbo with perfectly seasoned chicken, shrimp, garlic sausage and okra over fluffy white rice have become staples in many local diets. The Ramen Bowls are an ultimate favorite of the neighborhood, but like all of Joe's recipes, they are only available until they are gone.
One of Borikén Juke Joint's claims to fame is that it has a scratch kitchen, meaning all the ingredients used to create the meals are from fresh products. Adorno utilizes local and nearby foods as much as possible to give back to the community as well as provide fresh ingredients to his patrons. He frequently partners with Gateway Pharms to procure much of his produce, and Fligner's and Polansky's Meat Markets for meat.
Borikén Juke Joint—401 Broadway, Lorain, Ohio
photo by Jen Navarro
Borikén Joe believes in quality over quantity, and you can certainly tell when you take your first bite!
Once things return to normal, Borikén Juke Joint is going to be the place to be with the hopes of bringing in exciting events and live music. It may be hard to find a seat, but Joe will surely make room for everyone.
If anyone is interested in supporting Joe and keeping the warm meals coming for those in need, please reach out to him today by calling (440) 281-4048!
View outside Borikén Juke Joint—401 Broadway, Lorain, Ohio
photo by Jen Navarro
