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Explosive flavours at Caribbean Shrimp Festival launch

Published:Thursday | July 4, 2013 | 12:00 AM
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Montego Bay businessman and judge of the upcoming Caribbean Shrimp Festival celebrity cook-off, Robert Russell, checks out shrimp at the event's launch at the Whitter Village in MoBay last Tuesday evening.
Peppered shrimp ready to be devoured at Caribbean Shrimp Festival tasting at the event’s launch at the Whitter Village in MoBay last Tuesday evening.
Peppered shrimp ready to be devoured at Caribbean Shrimp Festival tasting at the event’s launch at the Whitter Village in MoBay last Tuesday evening.
Creole shrimp in bow tie pasta at the Caribbean Shrimp Festival tasting launch event.
Escoveitch shrimp at the Caribbean Shrimp Festival tasting launch event at the Whitter Village in MoBay last Tuesday evening.
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Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The aroma of garlic, curry, coconut, black beans and Scotch bonnet pepper caressed the nostrils and teased the taste buds last Tuesday night as spicy Caribbean flavours exploded on the palates of guests at the tasting party of the Caribbean Shrimp Festival 2013.

Two weeks ahead of the July 14 second annual event, organiser Jackie Norman and her team have already taken up residence at the fabulous Whitter Village venue in Rose Hall, Montego Bay.

This was no ordinary tasting, and even the hosts and hostesses were dressed in tiny shrimp costumes - a precursor of what to expect next Sunday.

Already a very attractive location, Norman exquisitely transformed the village into a shrimp haven, using a huge continuous fountain as a backdrop. Even more feasting to the eyes and the taste bud was the savoury jerked and ecoveitch shrimp, the scrumptious garlic bread, shrimp in creole sauce, garlic shrimp with pasta, and curried shrimp for all to partake of.

Norman actually turned the tasting into a feast, while she proposed to be different by showing an education video of the life of the pistol shrimp. Ideally, this was the official opening of what was the start to a great evening.

Before long, chief judge and renowned chef, Robert Russell, chairman of Summerfest Productions, was endorsing the upcoming event, stating this was a rich addition to the western Jamaica events calendar.

The festival, the organisers announced, will feature a number of celebrity chefs, including singer A.J. Brown, fashion designer Annmarie Chin of Kokobeenz, public relations consultant Odette Soberam-Dyer, and this writer - all vying for the City Sports trophy.

"In addition, there will be several top chefs from the Culinary Federation of Jamaica, a kiddies' village, booth displays from David and Subs, Avon, just to name a few, as well as a mobile nightclub introducing Club Elite, which will be opening soon in Duncans, Trelawny," said Norman.

She has signed off with dancehall artistes KipRich, Javinchi, Shane I, Francheno and Lij Tafari, who are expected to bring another type of offering to the July 14 event. Not to be left out, the Caribbean Shrimp Festival will also have fashion designers Kokobeenz and Earl showcasing their latest designs as well.

Again this year, the festival has attracted a host of sponsors, including Whitter Village, Sealand Foods, Caribbean Producers Jamaica, Rainforest Seafoods, Stewart's Auto, Budget Car Rentals, John Swaby, Crazy Jim, Home Choice, Treasure Hunt Gaming Lounge, Bucks Designs, Links FM, Tai Flora, the RJR Group, WICAN, Celect Hotel Supplies, GR's Pharmacy, Markam Construction Builders Hardware, Profile Entertainment and Chins Town Restaurant.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com