PAN winner still in awe eight years later

After Lesma Huie sent three men in her family to enter the PAN parish and final years ago, and "they all messed up", she took matters into her own hands, and emerged victorious in 2018.

That year, at age 62, the seasoned restaurateur from Clarendon entered the competition with quiet confidence and walked away as the CB PAN Chicken Champion. Now 70, Huie still looks back in awe at the day she proved that resilience, skill, and determination can turn setbacks into triumph. For years, Huie had supported her husband Anthony, her son Hodain, and her brother-in-law Warren Smith as they competed. Each had talent, but none could gain the top prize.

"My brother-in-law won Clarendon in 2015, but missed the call for the Finals. In 2016, my son tried and didn't place. Then in 2017, my husband won Clarendon but also messed up at the Finals. They always said I was the one who taught them to jerk, so mi seh, 'Me a go tek dis pan chicken thing serious,'" Huie shared with a smile.

When they laughed at the idea of her outperforming them, Huie only became more determined. After running a restaurant in Palmer's Cross, Clarendon, for more than 30 years, she knew she had the skills and the drive. In 2018, she proved it, winning at both the parish and regional levels before being crowned national champion.

"Lesma is also a true reflection of women in business - her resilience, determination, and fire within were beautiful to witness. She has remained close with our CB Foods team, and we continue to wish her and her family success as they build on the legacy she started," said Nicole Hall, senior commercial marketing manager, CB Foods

Eight years later, Huie still remembers the emotional moment when her name was called at the National Stadium car park, rising above a field of 28 competitors.

"At my age, I never had any interest in entering. My husband messed up the recipe and didn't place in the top three. I was so upset with him that I decided to try to fix things right. I taught all of them how to make pan chicken, so now the teacher had to come and win the title for all of them," she explained.

Her prize package as CB Foods PAN Chicken 2018 Grand Champion included $75,000 from JN Money, a business development grant valued at $100,000 from Jamaica National Small Business Loan, $350,000 from CB Foods, and $100,000 from National Baking Company.

Now, with her husband having passed in 2023, Huie has entrusted the family pan business to her son, who continues the tradition of selling pan chicken in May Pen alongside Smith. For Huie, the memory of her win is not just about the prize, it's about proving that determination knows no age, and that sometimes, when the men falter, it's the women who rise to the occasion.

Hall described Huie as "a true representative of what PAN is all about."

"Lesma shows us that PAN is not just a hustle, it's about building a legacy. Her journey reflects what we want for all our vendors: to think long-term, to level up, and to grow sustainable businesses that can be passed on to the next generation. At CB Foods our mission is to make a difference for people and communities, and stories like Lesma's prove that PAN is a powerful platform to make that vision real," she said.