Gearing up for CB Pan Chicken Champs

Jamaica's most exciting cooking competition is just around the corner. With three regional eliminations completed, all roads lead to the picturesque and historic Ocean Boulevard in downtown Kingston on Sunday, November 24, for the grand finals of the CB Pan Chicken Championships. In a competition of creativity, innovation and will, 26 men and women from across the island will be firing up their pans as they compete for more than half-a-million dollars in cash and prizes, a trophy, bragging rights for the best pan chicken and the coveted title, 2013 CB Pan Chicken Champion.

Before they blaze off, join The Gleaner, each week, leading up to the event as we will give you an up-close-and-personal view of each finalist.

Buff Bay, Portland

Strategy to win the 2013 CB Pan Chicken Championship: I jerk the best chicken in Portland and I am sure to win this competition. I'm just going to improve a little more on my chicken. I'm just trying to advance the taste. I think my chicken was well done [at the regional].

Favourite Chicken Dish:

Herwin's Home-Style Chicken

Ingredients

2lbs CB Chicken

1tsp Walkerswood jerk seasoning

1tsp Walkerswood pepper sauce

1tsp all-purpose seasoning

1tsp meat seasoning

1tsp black pepper

1tsp chicken spice

1tbsp onion, chopped

Scallion and thyme

Garlic

Grace tomato ketchup

Carrot

Sweet pepper

Irish potato

Salt to taste

Oil for browning

Method

1. Season chicken with seasonings and allow to marinate for four hours.

2. Julienne carrot, sweet pepper, and Irish potato

3. Heat oil. Remove seasoning from chicken and place chicken in oil and allow to brown.

4. Place browned chicken along with seasonings in two teaspoons oil.

5. Add water to chicken and allow to simmer for about 45 minutes. then add carrots and Irish potato along with ketchup.

6. Allow to simmer until liquid thickens.

7. Garnish and serve.