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What is Jerk Cooking?
Jerk cooking is an old jamaican way of cooking
meat over 250 years old, brought to the island by
the African hunters who were enslaved by the
British during the seventeenth century. Jerk
cooking is an authentic jamaican way to cook pork,
chicken, beef and seafood over a fire pit or on a
closed barbeque smoke pit. What makes jerk, is its
taste. In the combination of the blended spices
used [scallion, onions, fresh hot peppers, salt and
many more] that is what makes jerk what it is.
Jerk cooking is the perfect reflection of jamaican
life style, sweet, spicey, hot and irie [charismatic].
The spices used that are in jerk seasoning have a very
special pungency taste. These spices are world famous
for their natural oil and aromatic contents and are
pronounced to be lower in cholesterol intake than any
other spices in the world. However the combination of
these spices that is what increases the appetite of
the people in the consumption of jerk. Jerk is
traditionally served with jamaican festival.
The Truth in Jerk Cooking
"Jamaica Me Krazy" or "JMK" is the buzz on the island of Aruba. Yes, the word
is out about the only restaurant on the paradise island of Aruba to serve authentic
Jamaican cuisine. The specialty and mouthwatering-spiced flavor, which is
attracting so many is called "jerk". No kidding. Who in their right mind would
think that "jerk", an old Jamaican method of cooking! It's true. This way of
cooking meat is over 250 years old. Introduced to Jamaica by African hunters
during the seventeenth century.
Little is known why the word "jerk" was used to describe this method of cooking
pork, chicken, beef, fish and lobster. However, the result is always the same once
the word "jerk" is mentioned - one begins to salvitate and resistance to try the taste
becomes zero.
Any given weekend night in Kingston on the side walks of Manning Hill Road or
Red Hills Road or by Chelse Jerk Center smoke can be seen like fog from a far
coming from the various Jerk stands lining the sidewalks. Although the stands do a
significant amount of business everyone will admit Boston in Portland, Jamaica was
the originator of Jerk Cooking. Jamaica Me Krazy's overseas operations ranked next to their counterpart
in Jamaica said visiting Jamaican living overseas as the same process is used right
here on Aruba
The reason this method of cooking is so appetizing is the combination of the freshly
blended spices marinating the meat for at least one day, and cooking the meat over a
fire smoke pit for approximately 2 hours. The spices used in the Jerk seasoning
have a special pungency taste. These spices are world famous for their natural oil
and aromatic contents and are known to be lower in cholesterol than any other
spices in the world. Jerk food is healthy and is a favorite for weight watchers, Gym
Trainers and trainees as no oil or artificial flavoring is used in the preparation or
cooking
Jerk cooking is not as easy as it sounds and the species used daily are imported
directly from Jamaica. Danny Wilson, the operator of the restaurant Jamaica Me
Krazy, reports there is nothing crazy about bringing the spices of the island of
Jamaica to blend in the flavor of the island of Aruba because like Jamaica, Aruba
reflects the same lifestyle - sweet, hot and Irie (charismatic).
Danny is not a newcomer to the restaurant business. He opened his first Jamaican
restaurant in Bonaire in 1994 where he introduced jerk cooking to the residents and
tourists alike. Together with his chef "Jamaican Man Lester" a native of
Clarenden, Jamaica, a certified Chinese Chef, originally, now specializing in Jerk
cooking and Jamaican cooking, lived his adult career life as a chef in Kingston and
last worked with Danny on the island of Bonaire, where they succesfully operated a
restaurants, which was regarded an Oceanfront "jewel". Here people mingled after
work and on weekends, enjoy Reggae Music.
This concept led Danny, Jamaican Man Lester and "Galley Man" O'Neal (Little Pimp),
(a very young talented Spanish tonian, worked his professional life in Kingston, last
at the famous Devon House where returning Jamaicans and tourist traditionally
visit when in Kingston) to do the same in Aruba. Together, they wanted to bring the
unique taste of "jerk" to "spice up" the island of Aruba for the residents and
tourist. Real jerk cooking "from the big yard of Jamaica" as Danny puts it. While
this threesome boasts of their jerk dishes, they also specialize in other traditional
Jamaican favorites such as Ackee and Salt Fish, Curry Goat, Mackrel Rundown.
A visit or taste of Jamaica Me Krazy will blow your mind. The sensational
experience you will encounter, cozy atmosphere, laid back and relaxed (Leggo)
warm friendly service blended with authentic Jamaican Cuisine, colorful paradise
setting which embraces all one would dream of when you hear these words and fun
listening to Jamaican national sound Reggae Music, to quench your thirst from
JMK non-stop sound system or with some Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee,
Redstripe Beer, ting, the great Jamaican Grapefruit drink or some natural fresh
carrot, sour-sap, ginger juices or Front End Lifter ("Irish Moss, Linseed, Gum
Arabic, Icing Glass etc...") otherwise known as "Island Viagra", found nowhere
else in the world but on the paradise island of Aruba. The innovation and creation
by the owners introduce this unique restaurant with the concept of a "little bit of
this and a little bit of that" of Jamaica on Paradise island of Aruba.
If you have never been to Jamaica, the Mother Land visiting Jamaica Me Krazy is
like being in Jamaica with out leaving Aruba. Try it you might like it, Reggae
Music and Jerk Food is your meal ticket when on Irie Aruba.
Come back to Jamaica Me Krazy, the real Reggae Riddim Restauranta and be all right.
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