Sat | Sep 7, 2024

Kingston Curry Festival entices palates with flavourful offerings

Published:Thursday | November 30, 2023 | 12:09 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
A closer look at the curried crab soup from Island Vibz.
A closer look at the curried crab soup from Island Vibz.
Jonathan Simpson showcases the PeppaSwimapore Noodles from Jabba’s.
Jonathan Simpson showcases the PeppaSwimapore Noodles from Jabba’s.
Michelle Wongsue is all too happy to indulge in scrumptious lobster from Sea Krave.
Michelle Wongsue is all too happy to indulge in scrumptious lobster from Sea Krave.
The Sheriff himself, David Bucknor of Sheriff Gourmet Ja, is sandwiched between Naomi Blake and Wayne King, showcasing the curried jerk pork.
The Sheriff himself, David Bucknor of Sheriff Gourmet Ja, is sandwiched between Naomi Blake and Wayne King, showcasing the curried jerk pork.
Bringing the heat, Sheriff style, Wayne King slices the succulent curried jerk pork.
Bringing the heat, Sheriff style, Wayne King slices the succulent curried jerk pork.
Members of the Spicy Hill Farms team (from left) Rochelle Hudson, David Meek, and Adijah Reid presented the Sunday dinner line-up of curried chicken, jerked chicken with white rice, and chicken soup or mannish water to the VIP section of Kingston Curry Fes
Members of the Spicy Hill Farms team (from left) Rochelle Hudson, David Meek, and Adijah Reid presented the Sunday dinner line-up of curried chicken, jerked chicken with white rice, and chicken soup or mannish water to the VIP section of Kingston Curry Festival.
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It was a culinary adventure and a mouthwatering celebration of everything curry at this year’s staging of the annual event, Kingston Curry Festival, and Food was on the scene at Hope Zoo on Sunday evening for the tasty offerings on display.

If you’re anything like me, then curry is a key ingredient in your household, cooked weekly to satisfy your spicy cravings. It was for this reason that as a first-time attendee, I was pleasantly surprised and remarkably impressed by the wide array of curry-inspired dishes to choose from.

Promising a flavourful journey into all things curry, foodies played their part in diving right in! In no particular order, Island Vibz pulled out all the stops with a magnificent layout of curried crab, curried shrimp, jerk chicken curried pasta, and even curried crab soup, among others.

Sea Krave was all about showcasing the delicious flavour of lobster. Meanwhile, Jabba’s created waves, making culinary creativity a ‘shore’ thing with an enticingly spicy spread of curried shrimp, curried vegetables, curried lobster fritters, and Peppaswimapore noodles (a play on Singapore noodles).

Bertie’s Catering brought melody to taste buds with their signature rendition of the night, the curried oxtail.

Natural Life unleashed a delectably healthy side with curried veggie chunks. 5 Spiced Ja created divinely flavoursome moments in comfort food: fries topped with curried chicken. Waah Gwaan Cafe offered food lovers their tantalising take on curried cheesy steak sub, jerked marinated curried chicken, quesadillas, sweet and spicy curried mango wings, as well as sweet chilli wings.

Known for being all the rave at parties, Bad Dawg elevated the celebrations when caramelised curried onion entered the toppings list. Just imagine the flavour frenzy that ensued! Persons were truly delighted by every scrumptious bite. Another vendor that entered the winning chat is Khanzana Foods. Patrons lined up in droves for the authentic curried goat, curried chickpeas and potatoes, and curried mango experience. Surely, all agreed that it was worth the wait.

Pleasing palates from the first bite, TriniYaad presented the doubles aloo pie ‘bussupshut’. Super Spicy Doubles also paid homage to the curry culture with similar Trinidad-inspired dishes as well, which had many lining up for seconds and thirds.

Sheriff Gourmet BBQ showed foodies who is boss with their rendition of curried jerk pork while Spicy Hill Farms gave a Sunday dinner line-up of curried goat, jerked chicken and white rice, as well as chicken soup.

All in all, it was a Sunday well-spent among family members and friends bonding over all things curry. If you weren’t able to make it over the weekend, you missed out on the wonders and tasty treasures of dishes both savoury and sweet. But don’t worry. There’s always next year.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com