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Sizzling Grace Jerk Fest

Published:Thursday | November 21, 2013 | 12:00 AM
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Miami-based culinary expert Chef Irie Spice during a cooking presentation inside the Publix demonstration tent.
Patrons getting ready to sample a few of Grace's refreshing juices that were on hand throughout the entire festival.
The Rock's very own Brian Lumley during a cooking demonstration inside the Publix demonstration booth ahead of walking away with the Celebrity cook-off championship trophy.
Jerked chicken breast stuffed with calaloo and pepper jack cheese glazed with a pineapple and coconut sauce prepared by Chef Extraordinaire Brian Lumley.
Caribbean Chef of the Year Brian Lumley spared a few minutes from the kitchen to visit the Gleaner interactive photo booth as he takes a bite of our delectable drumstick.
No jerk festival is complete without some good old-fashioned jerk pork as seen here dispayed by this vendor. - Photo by Gladstone Taylor
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Garfene Grandison, Assistant Lifestyle Coordinator

For the 12th year, the annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival made a big splash at the Markham Park in Weston Florida. The spectacular affair drew thousands of satisfied patrons who used the opportunity to sample a number of mouth-watering jerked dishes including jerked burgers, jerked ice cream, jerked lobster, steamed fish and festival, and many other delectable eats that were prepared by vendors. Eyeballs were glued to demonstrations by Miami-based Chef Irie Spice in the Publix booth (where several celebs faced off in a celebrity cook-off) and Grace Food's Top Chef, Mazie Miller, who showcased Grace products while creating several mouth-watering recipes.


As the scent of food permeated the air, patrons converged in their numbers at the various food booths to partake of the expansive offerings on display including jerked ice cream, jerked chicken, jerked pork, lobster, shrimp, hot dogs, fish, festival, bammy, fruits and much more.

Truck Stop, What a Jerk, Donna's Caribbean Restaurant, and Boston Jerk were among the vendors whose booths were overrun by patrons. Not to mention the several other Grace booths that were jam-packed with either give-aways or food sampling. Chefs got a chance to display their culinary skills by participating in the Publix Jerk Cook-Off competition where cash and prizes were up for grabs. Our own golden boy Chef Brian Lumley walked away with the Golden Dutch pot prize.

The Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival was staged in New York earlier this year and the promoters disclosed that Washington, DC, will be their next stop in 2014. Food was at Markham Park and we are bringing you some of the highlights.

grandison.garfene@gleanerjm.com