DINE
A Family Affair
Brothers go back to their roots for the ultimate fusion cuisine. By Megan Douress Photography by JPG Photography (jpgphotography.com)
F
or brothers Jason and Jimmy Mills, food has always been a big part of their lives. Growing up with a Korean mom and a Jamaican dad, their house always smelled “like a wonderful surprise.” “We spent a lot of family time in the kitchen,” said Jimmy Mills, co-owner and chef at The Spicy Belly. “When my brother and I were younger, I was always fascinated by the fact that Mom is cooking this food that nobody else is making.’” Jason and Jimmy spent most of their childhood watching their mom cook flavorful concoctions, and picked up a thing or two in the kitchen. Twenty or so years later, the unique fusion of cultures lead the brothers to open their own restaurant, The Spicy Belly, at 3847 Terrace Street in January 2017. While the two didn’t always work in the food industry, their roots were something they always looked back on. Jason spent four years at Lafayette College in Easton, PA to study engineering. He called Wilmington, DE home after college and made the move to Manayunk six years ago after spending some time with friends who lived in the neighborhood. Jimmy was a self-proclaimed “jack of all trades” after studying business and psychology in Vermont and at Syracuse University. Upon graduating, he spent some time working in the kitchens of New York City.
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