Pan chicken: A Jamaican institution

When one thinks of Jamaica's cultural mainstays, reggae music, street dances, cricket and pristine white sand beaches all come to mind.

Since food plays such an integral role in our social fabric, ackee and salt fish, callaloo, breadfruit, fish and festival, and the irresistible pan chicken are all important elements in Jamaican life. Pan chicken has not only attained a strong local following, but it has become a global phenomenon, so much so that world-renowned celebrity chef, Anthony Bourdain, travelled to Jamaica to sample the island's famous roadside cuisine. Pan chicken's popularity stems from its tender meat and added natural spices, which combine to form a blend of mesmerising flavours that tantalise the senses and excite the taste buds.

To experience first-hand the cornucopia of savoury aromas from the intermingling of smoked meats and zesty seasonings, you just have to swing by Caribbean Broilers' (CB) 2010 Ultimate Pan Chicken Championship, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 28, in Kingston. In addition to succulent food, the event will offer a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, complete with exciting entertainment options for everyone.

Culinary skills

In addition to bragging rights, the winner will receive a cash prize of $150,000. Celebrity chefs will also showcase their culinary skills and compete for a chance to win an assortment of attractive prizes for a charity of their choice. The competitors are gearing up for what is guaranteed to be an upbeat and highly energetic contest. This is the competition's fifth year, and once again, admission is free and open to the public.

We have our ancestors to thank for developing and perfecting this unique food-smoking method. Today, drums are a fixture on busy thoroughfares such as Red Hills Road and in popular food haunts in Faith's Pen, St Ann, and Boston, Portland. Additionally, the diaspora has been credited with introducing pan chicken to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.