Jim Smith, Owner: Hello, my name is Jim Smith and I was born and raised in Chicago. As an adult, I moved south to Louisiana and Mississippi. I have been married to my loving wife, Tara, for over 25 years. We have three sons and our first grandson.
Experience has taught us how to successfully accomplish great, fulfilling flavors to the palate.
A Taste of Juanita’s seasoning turns a rookie cook
into a masterful chef
History of A Taste of Juanita's
Where did the name come from? My wife and I thought of several different names when we decide to started up the seasoning company. My wife said Momma J’s, but that name was taken. Then we decided on A Taste of Juanita’s. Juanita is my loving mother’s name. She is the one who actually taught me how to cook. This is something she taught all of her seven children. I took an interest seeing how friends, family members, and people in the neighborhood would bring bags of groceries to our house to ask my mother to cook their meals. I knew that it was something I had to learn. That’s just how awesome she was at cooking. Everyone loved her food. As years went on, I moved down South, and my interest in cooking enhanced. I learned how to develop my skills in blending flavors and seasonings together to please the palate.
When I was taught how to cook, it wasn’t with measurements. It was through eyesight and taste. Around the year 2000, I was looking into open a restaurant. I knew that in order to do that, all my food had to taste the same all the time, no matter who made it. Once I got my menu together, I made each dish.
As I made the food, I measured it. It was one of the hardest things in the world I’ve ever done. After this task was completed, this put me on the path of my blending my skills. Around 2007, I had my recipes together for my seasoning. I opened up my first restaurant in Picayune, Mississippi. Everyone would ask what I was putting on the food. Before the name A Taste of Juanita’s, my seasoning was called ‘hamburger and chicken seasoning.’ I have enjoyed cooking food for a lot of people over the years. I enjoy hearing people say that they enjoyed the food that I cook.
In 2012, I moved to Ohio and was still making my seasoning. In January 2021, I retired and dedicated my time to getting my company up and running. In 2021, Jets of North and South, LLC was born. In honor of my mother, my wife and I decided to name our seasoning company line after her.
I know that you will enjoy. It’s something for everyone. We are located in Akron, Ohio.
