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IT WAS FOOD FUN AND FROLIC

Posted by CaribShout on November 23, 2010 at 7:59pm

Thousands of patrons, from babies to grandmas and grandpas, floated in on the unmistakable aroma of the world renowned Jamaican jerk that permeated Markham Park in Sunrise at the 9th Annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival. The event delivered on the promise to be bigger, better and spicier, as the organizers put together another excellent gastronomical and cultural experience for lovers of jerk foods, Caribbean culture, music and entertainment. The park was abuzz with activities all Sunday long with a diverse crowd in a kaleidoscope of colors, as they became a part of the melting pot of culture at this exciting event. Patrons waited eagerly to sample the wide variety of jerk foods from scores of vendors, who lined the promenade. These cooks prepared their spicy jerk meats, seafood and chicken over beds of hot coals to deliver authentic taste to the indigenous Jamaican fare. Patrons feasted on dishes from the popular jerk chicken and jerk pork to the more exotic jerk lobster and jerk ice-cream -- a treat which becomes more popular each year. The hypnotic rhythms of Caribbean music -- reggae, soca, calypso and dancehall blared synonymously from various booths where vendors sold clothing, trinkets, DVDs and so many other products. Companies displayed their goods and introduced people to their services as they walk by. Families sat on blankets and towels on the lush grounds enjoying the food, music and activities across from the Kidz Fun Zone, which was definitely the kids’ favorite place to be. With bounce houses, slides and other fun games and activities they were kept happily occupied. Cooking Demonstrations & Competitions Patrons who stopped by the Grace Village were treated to cooking demonstrations by Chef Mazie Miller who taught spectators a few tricks in the trade as she cooked up a storm with her Grace products and exceptional culinary skills. It was a fiery contest for the famous Publix Jerk Cook-Off in which returning champion, Chef Robert Wong, staved off the competition with three delicious jerk dishes -- Jerk Roast Mangrove Snapper, Jerk Alaskan King Crab and Jerk Prime Rib. When ask how he felt about winning the competition for a second time, the proud chef, clutching his golden Dutch Pot Trophy, said, “It feels like the first time.” Michelle Jones snagged the silver Dutch Pot, and Mark Robinson, the bronze. NBC6’s Sharon Lawson reclaimed her title in the Celebrity Quick Fire Competition with her delectable Jerk Salsa dish. A beaming Lawson was all smiles as she walked away with her own Dutch Pot Trophy. Musical explosion on the Main Stage Even as late as 7:00 p.m., people were still filing into Markham Park to catch the climactic musical explosion on the Main Stage and the feast on the delectable jerk foods that kept coming. A number of local performers blazed the stage and prepared it for chart-topping performers Jamaica’s R&B and Reggae singing stars, Nadine Sutherland and Ritchie Stevens. Sutherland, donning a fashionable bustier and trendy jeans, performed a medley of cover songs and some originals like “Anything For You,” “Action” and “Please Me” to an appreciative crowd. However, Ritchie Stephens really hit the high notes with his top notch performance, in which he interacted with the crowd and exhibited his excellent range. He performed songs from his new album Reggae Evolution including “Salt of the Earth (Let’s Drink)” and borrowed the Beres Hammond classic, “Step Aside.” But the man of the night was unmistakably the reggae, rocksteady veteran himself, John Holt. The former Paragon really delivered “1000 Volts of Holt” with hit after crowd-pleasing hit, ensuring that his audience did not have a dull moment during his performance. The indelible Fab Five band was the last to hit the stage, in the stead of Byron Lee’s Dragonaries. Fab Five mixed it up with old and new tunes taking the audience to a crescendo, which closed out yet another excellent staging of the Annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival.
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Tags: 9th, and, annual, caribbean, food, frolic, fun, festival, grace, it

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