Fiery jerk fest

 Gareth Davis Sr, Gleaner Writer

Hundreds of patrons, who crammed into the 14th staging of the Best Dressed Chicken Portland Jerk Festival, had their appetites satisfied as they chowed down on a wide variety of jerked delicacies.

The largest food festival islandwide, held on Sunday, at the picturesque Folly Ruins in Port Antonio was inundated with the intoxicating aroma of jerked pork, chicken, wild hog, grilled lobster, and roasted conch, that filled the air. "I came here just to get a taste of the jerked crab," Dave Pinnock of Boston in the United States told Food.

He added, "It is my second time here, and I came down just to sample the crab. I enjoy eating crabs, but this crab is specially prepared in a sauce with lots of spices. It is rather tasty and I would recommend everyone to try it. I will definitely be back next year, or at least I intend to come back and eat more jerked crabs."

But many were interested in the jerked wild hog (pig). There was a very long line of persons eager to get a bite of the rare meat that never lasted long as it was purchased in large proportions. With nods of approval from those who were first at the stall, others quickly joined in to purchase the rare meat.

Found in the remote area of the Rio Grande Valley in the parish, the wild hog is hunted using dogs by Maroon descendants. Their meat is believed to be a lot healthier than the domestic pig, as they feed on mostly fruits, berries, and plants.

Jasmine Fowler, of the United Kingdom, is a lover of spiced meats. "Wow! This is good, very good! She exclaimed. "Jerk pork is my favourite and whenever I am in Jamaica, I always visit Boston (home of jerk in Portland) to get my jerked pork. But this is even tastier and I never had wild hog before. It is amazing. Jamaica's jerk men and women are the best and I believe we should ensure that this brand is protected."

The day was extremely humid, but patrons sweated it out in the long lines as the smoke burnt their eyes and the smell of jerk covered everything. But everyone was determined to get their hands on the spicy feast which also included jerked reindeer, squid, rabbit, goat, beef, and octopus.

Everything was available, from hot dogs to popcorn, natural fruit juices, fruits and pastries, to satisfy every gastronomic need.