Sunday grilling!
Published:Thursday | June 13, 2013 | 12:00 AM
The sunny skies made last Sunday perfect for an afternoon filled with family, friends, fun and, most important, food. And all that was available for the large number of families who turned up at the Hope Botanical Gardens to share in the highly anticipated annual All Jamaica Grill Off.
The sweet aromas perfumed the air as patrons visited the numerous booths with one aim - to tantalise their taste buds. Mouth-watering jerked pork, chicken, beef, and fish were the main dishes, but there was also the rare rabbit, which went perfectly with the variety of beans, sauces and pastas.
Chefs were kept busy as throngs flocked to some of the more popular tents which included; Chillin' on the Farm, Juicy BBQ Bums, Walkerswood, Wi Jammin and Reggae Jammin, BBQ Nation, JoJo's Jerk Pit and More, Home Chef, Street Team, Chopped Grillers, Backyard BBQ, Rustic Grillers, and Grillionaires.
The JCF Grillers rose to the challenge and were aggressive in their recipe tactics, with many flocking their tent to 'defend' a serving. Media houses RJR Grillers and the Gleaner Grillers could not be left out, as they seduced palates with each serving.
Kraft provided a nice balance of branded macaroni and cheese, mixed with Oscar Mayer's turkey smoked sausages. Reggae Jammin also set up a tent designed for supplying chicken pastas.
As the day got older and patrons grew fuller, the chefs became hungry for the main prize - to be the ultimate Grill Off champions.
DIFFICULT DECISION
The judges had a very difficult decision to make. In the end, the people's choice award went to Juicy BBQ Bums, while best booth award went to Chillin' on the Farm. In the baked beans category, third place was Chillin' on the Farm, second place went to our very own Gleaner Grillers, and in first place was Home Chef.
In the sauce category, Jojo's Jerk Pit and More were third, BBQ Nation second, and Street Team dominated the category in first place. The seafood category revealed a repeat in winners with Jojo's Jerk Pit and More in third place; Chillin' on the Farm in second, and new to the podium was Grillionaire who came out on top for this section.
The meats categories were dominated by JCF Grillers, who placed third in the chicken and pork; Juicy BBQ Bums came third in the beef category and second in the pork category; and Chillin' on the Farm were second in the chicken and the beef category. Among the winners was Street Team, who now hold the title for best chicken, Wi Jammin who prevailed in beef, and Jojo's Jerk Pit and More who triumphed in the preparation of pork. Runner-up for the competition went to Jojo's Jerk Pit and More. But the champion of all champions for 2013 was Chillin' on the Farm.