The Jerk Store called...

Jerk Chicken. Jerk Pork. Festival. Patties. Beef *and* cheese patties. Ting.
Mmmm.
The food in Jamaica is really good. Like, really good. Fortunately for me, I was traveling with a group of people who not only appreciate the simple joy of a cold Red Stripe (or many, cold Red Stripe)...but also like to eat. Cheers to that!

Not only was the food at the hotel pretty decent - a large selection at the buffet, a couple of themed restaurants (including a Teppanyaki grill with a chef called Blackie Chan!) there was a great beachside grill that served up Jerk everyday from noon till 3 pm. Really good jerk chicken and (sometimes) pork with a choice of three sauces from Hellfire to Smooth. Amazing.
Also on the property - authentic Jamaican patties! Sold inside a little pharmacy in the main square, the beef or beef with cheese patties were $2 a piece. So perfect with a nice cold bottle of Ting.
A bunch of us also decided to leave the resort to check out a local seafood restaurant - The Spring Garden - in nearby Ocho Rios. We (appropriately) took a "short bus" into town and invited our driver, Donovan, to join us for a fun dinner. My dinner - chicken curry - was great. Apparently the crab cakes were also good since my friend Norm tried to buy 35 of them (for $50) before we left. No deal.

And while all this food was amazing...it did not hold a candle to the holy grail of Jerk known as Scotchies. Or known as Sketchies, Skankies, Scootchies or Snatchies...depending on how many Red Stripes you'd had that day. I could tell you all about Scotchies gloriously smoked chicken and pork, homemade chicken sausage, festival bread and beautiful gardens but I think I will let my photos speak for themselves.