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Jamaicans win jerk 'World Cup'
Published: Thursday | March 26, 2009
Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer
( L - R )Rupert Bourne, Max Miller - Photos by Carl Gilchrist
Two Jamaicans can now consider themselves champions of the world after emerging tops in the first ever Jerk Challenge last Friday in Ocho Rios.
It all started when United Kingdom celebrity chef and well-known television personality Antony Thompson boasted on his TV show that he had the best jerk recipe in the world, and Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) officials refused to take it lying down.
Jerk cook-off
They invited Thompson to a jerk cook-off, pitting him and US cooking diva from New York, Cheryl Smith against Jamaica's most well-known jerk masters, Rupert 'Shaggy' Bourne from the jerk capital, Boston, Portland and Mark Miller, also known as Max, from Scotchies in Drax Hall, St Ann.
Thompson came highly recommended as the winner of the Mouton Rothschild Menu Competition, the Meilleur Ouvrier de Grende Bretagne (MOGB), considered the chef's Oscar, and several years as host of cooking shows on television.
Self-taught
The self-taught Smith has starred in her own cooking shows on television and her knowledge of cuisine is vast, spanning from classical French, contemporary pan-Asian, Pacific Rim, Moroccan, to home-style American.
The overseas participants took along all that experience, their special recipes, sauces and the like.
But the Jamaicans were ready. Yes, they brought their own sauces and spices but, more important, they brought jerk experience. Lots of it. Bourne came, backed with 30 years experience, and Max, 18.
So on March 20, on the beach at the exquisite Jamaica Inn hotel in Ocho Rios, the clash took place before the esteemed panel of judges Virginia Burke, Gariel Ferguson and Dennis McIntosh.
The meats of choice were chicken and pork.
Hot and Sunny
The winning dish. - photos by Carl Gilchrist
It was hot and sunny on the beach and each participant gave it his or her best. In the end, they gave the judges a much harder task than anticipated.
"We can't choose a winner, there is a one point difference between (dish) 'C' and (dish) 'D' so they're both winners," head judge Virginia Burke said.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett then announced the names of the winners.
Bourne, the self-acclaimed jerk master, emerged joint winner with Max, much to the delight of everyone, including guests at the hotel who stuck around to witness the cook-off.
An animated Bourne was ecstatic.
"I tell myself I'm going to win the competition because I come from the home of jerk pork - Boston, Jamaica - so I'm feeling good right now in Ocho Rios, taking the prize," Bourne told the host of local and overseas media.
Max also expressed satisfaction with the result.
"I'm feeling good, I'm very happy," he said.
The good-natured Thompson took the loss in stride.
Launching the challenge
Second-place winner
"I was a bit cheeky launching the challenge on British television, saying I felt my jerk was as good as you get in Jamaica. I haven't changed my mind, but I didn't win and what have I got to learn from this? I got to learn not to be so cheeky, taking on the masters at their own game," he said in good humour.
He explained the difference in how jerk is prepared in England as opposed to Jamaica.
"We have a slightly different taste in England where we have a milder taste but I give a big, strong sauce to go with it. Having tasted the others, I think I probably need to put more Scotch bonnet (pepper) into the marinade for the pork and I possibly need to cook it a little bit longer because I like when the pork and chicken are really juicy.
Look forward
"I notice the two winning chefs' meat was much drier, and that's not what we're used to in England, so when I come back again, I hope to conquer, I got to win some time and that's the day I look forward to.
"I'm coming back, stronger, leaner, spicier; I had a great time," said Smith.
"Food is a passion of the people we are trying to tap into. This event helps fulfil this for us. Today was great, it's the start of a trend," Bartlett said.
Cheryl Smith and Antony Thompson take a break from competing in the first ever Jerk Challenge last Friday in Ocho Rios, St Ann.
Published: Thursday | March 26, 2009
Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer
( L - R )Rupert Bourne, Max Miller - Photos by Carl Gilchrist
Two Jamaicans can now consider themselves champions of the world after emerging tops in the first ever Jerk Challenge last Friday in Ocho Rios.
It all started when United Kingdom celebrity chef and well-known television personality Antony Thompson boasted on his TV show that he had the best jerk recipe in the world, and Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) officials refused to take it lying down.
Jerk cook-off
They invited Thompson to a jerk cook-off, pitting him and US cooking diva from New York, Cheryl Smith against Jamaica's most well-known jerk masters, Rupert 'Shaggy' Bourne from the jerk capital, Boston, Portland and Mark Miller, also known as Max, from Scotchies in Drax Hall, St Ann.
Thompson came highly recommended as the winner of the Mouton Rothschild Menu Competition, the Meilleur Ouvrier de Grende Bretagne (MOGB), considered the chef's Oscar, and several years as host of cooking shows on television.
Self-taught
The self-taught Smith has starred in her own cooking shows on television and her knowledge of cuisine is vast, spanning from classical French, contemporary pan-Asian, Pacific Rim, Moroccan, to home-style American.
The overseas participants took along all that experience, their special recipes, sauces and the like.
But the Jamaicans were ready. Yes, they brought their own sauces and spices but, more important, they brought jerk experience. Lots of it. Bourne came, backed with 30 years experience, and Max, 18.
So on March 20, on the beach at the exquisite Jamaica Inn hotel in Ocho Rios, the clash took place before the esteemed panel of judges Virginia Burke, Gariel Ferguson and Dennis McIntosh.
The meats of choice were chicken and pork.
Hot and Sunny
The winning dish. - photos by Carl Gilchrist
It was hot and sunny on the beach and each participant gave it his or her best. In the end, they gave the judges a much harder task than anticipated.
"We can't choose a winner, there is a one point difference between (dish) 'C' and (dish) 'D' so they're both winners," head judge Virginia Burke said.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett then announced the names of the winners.
Bourne, the self-acclaimed jerk master, emerged joint winner with Max, much to the delight of everyone, including guests at the hotel who stuck around to witness the cook-off.
An animated Bourne was ecstatic.
"I tell myself I'm going to win the competition because I come from the home of jerk pork - Boston, Jamaica - so I'm feeling good right now in Ocho Rios, taking the prize," Bourne told the host of local and overseas media.
Max also expressed satisfaction with the result.
"I'm feeling good, I'm very happy," he said.
The good-natured Thompson took the loss in stride.
Launching the challenge
Second-place winner
"I was a bit cheeky launching the challenge on British television, saying I felt my jerk was as good as you get in Jamaica. I haven't changed my mind, but I didn't win and what have I got to learn from this? I got to learn not to be so cheeky, taking on the masters at their own game," he said in good humour.
He explained the difference in how jerk is prepared in England as opposed to Jamaica.
"We have a slightly different taste in England where we have a milder taste but I give a big, strong sauce to go with it. Having tasted the others, I think I probably need to put more Scotch bonnet (pepper) into the marinade for the pork and I possibly need to cook it a little bit longer because I like when the pork and chicken are really juicy.
Look forward
"I notice the two winning chefs' meat was much drier, and that's not what we're used to in England, so when I come back again, I hope to conquer, I got to win some time and that's the day I look forward to.
"I'm coming back, stronger, leaner, spicier; I had a great time," said Smith.
"Food is a passion of the people we are trying to tap into. This event helps fulfil this for us. Today was great, it's the start of a trend," Bartlett said.
Cheryl Smith and Antony Thompson take a break from competing in the first ever Jerk Challenge last Friday in Ocho Rios, St Ann.