Sometimes the best food is found in the places where you wouldn't normally even want to venture. I have said this before and I'm sure it will be true many times in the future.
We all know Jerk Chicken is the most famous of the Caribbean dishes. But have you ever tasted the real authentic thing? Because Jerk is not a seasoning or a dry rub or a sauce you dip into. Jerk is a method of BBQ'ing, that involves a marinade and a BBQ which has Sweetwood and Pimento Wood branches as major flavour and smoke components.
The branches lay accross the BBQ and the meat is placed on top. It takes 2-3 hours for a chicken to be cooked this way and obviously a lot longer for a whole side of pork. The smoky flavour that you get from cooking slowly over the wood branches cannot be replicated. In fact the meat doesn't just roast, it actually becomes smoked somewhat. After tasting it done this way once, there will be no comparison ever again.
The meat is served chopped up with a heavy cleaver. There is a Roasted Scotch Bonnet Pepper dressing condiment at the 'hole in the wall' window, where you pick up your food, that maybe too hot to handle for some of us, but it is complex and delicious.
The meat is tender and juicy and smokey and spicy and heavy with aroma of Pimento and Thyme and Scotch Bonnet, and it is soooo good!
There must be several of these authentic Jerk Centres in Jamaica, each with their own secret recipe marinade, but I have discovered the 'Sweetwood Jerk Joint' in Kingston, a small outdoor eatery with a welcoming scent luring you in, friendly service and divine BBQ meats. Pork, Chicken, Lamb, Sausages and Fish served with the usual suspects of Rice & Peas, Festival, Roast Sweet Potato or simply Bread. They also do soup, which apparently is just called Broth, and I haven't figured out what's in it yet. Meat and vegetables they tell me, that is all. Another mystery to be solved yet I reckon.
The Sweetwood Jerk Joint is located at 78 Knutsford Blvd, by the Emancipation Park. They do not have a website, but you can 'like' them on Facebook
For my recipe of delicious Jerk Chicken check out this blog entry: Jerk Chicken
For my recipe of delicious Jerk Chicken check out this blog entry: Jerk Chicken
OMG you were in Kingston. That is my home. Well I have tons of home but that is my birth place. Exactly that is how real jerk sauce chicken is made. I had to smile just reading this post:)
ReplyDeleteLove the chairs! Headed over to your jerk post :))))
ReplyDeleteJerk Chicken I just love it..Jamaica is place for best food Cuisines and i am proud being Jamaican.
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