Jamaica Tourist Board serves up authentic island flavours at Food & Wine Expo

Canadians were treated to a taste of Jamaica recently during the 25th annual Gourmet Food & Wine Expo in Toronto. Hosted at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the high-profile event is Canada’s largest annual food and drink festival and attracted more than 450 exhibitors and more than 40,000 attendees over the course of the weekend.

Throughout the three-day expo, attendees were invited to visit the JTB booth to learn more about the destination, while tasting delicious food and drink samples from local partners. Guests enjoyed savoury beef, curried chicken, vegetarian Jamaican patties from Toronto patty purveyor Crumbs Patties and, sipped on ‘Tropical Rhythms’, an island-inspired fruit punch featuring Grace Coconut Water.

Jamaica also turned up the heat on the Chef’s Stage, hosting two live cooking demonstrations with Chef Lily Pottinger from award-winning Toronto restaurant The Real Jerk. Pottinger put Jamaican cuisine in the spotlight as she showcased her cooking techniques while preparing shrimp rundown – a classic Jamaican fish stew prepared with coconut milk, onions, hot pepper and spices served with rice and peas.

“Participating in the Gourmet Food & Wine Show allowed us to display destination Jamaica to a large group of consumers who are interested in food and inclined to sample Jamaica’s culinary delights,” said Dan Hamilton, district sales manager for the JTB. “Together with our partners Crumbs Patties, The Real Jerk Restaurant and Grace Foods, we brought a taste of Jamaica to ­patrons at the show and invited them to come try authentic Jamaican cuisine back on our island!”

Jamaica also partnered with Sunwing Vacations to host a prize draw for an ‘Escape to Jamaica’ giveaway, featuring a seven-night stay at Excellence Oyster Bay Resort, a luxury all-inclusive adults-only property in Trelawny, Falmouth.

Toronto is Canada’s multicultural hub and home to a large Jamaican diaspora community. With the winter season in full swing, the event served as a prime opportunity for the JTB team to connect with Canadian consumers to highlight the unique regional cuisine of Jamaica and promote the island as an exciting must-see culinary destination.

For more information about Jamaica, visit www.visitjamaica.com.