"To Fry or Not to Fry" # 2 - Sorrel, the official Christmas drink of choice.

  Carlene at home makin some Sorrel. Here's now it's done:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound sorrel, leaves picked
• 2-4 oz. ginger
• 2 quarts water
• Sugar
• Wine (optional)
• 8-12 pimento grains

1. Wash sorrel thoroughly, using the finger to lift it from the water.
2. Put into stainless steel pot.
3. Scrape and wash giner. Grate and add to the sorrel. Add pimento grains.
4. Boild water and pour over sorrel.
5. Allow to stand 4-6 hours. Strain.
6. Sweeten to taste and add rum to taste
7. Add optional wine.
8. Serve over ice.

Jam Pic Series # 9 - Lionel Denship Airstrip opening



Pictures: Top Left – Prime Minister Bruce Golding     

          Bottom Right – Jason Henzel Chair of the SEPDC, 

Yesterday the planning department was invited to attend the grand opening of the Lionel Densham Airstrip. Although St. Elizabeth, in particular the greater Treasure Beach area, has seen increased levels of tourism in recent years, many foreign and local travelers note how difficult it is to access the region. The distance from other major tourist nodes, combined with the general condition of the regional  road network, prevents many visitors from accessing the area.  The airstrip will allow people to connect to southern St. Elizabeth from other major airports around the country, increasing the overall connectivity and accessibility of the region.  

Amazingly, the airstrip was funded entirely by private investment.  Actually Jason Henzell owner of the popular luxary boutique hotel ‘Jakes’ and the amazing ‘Jack Sprats’, a restaurant I’ve been to 7 times already, was solely responsible for its development.  The name Henzell may sound familiar as his father, Perry Henzell, directed the famous Jamaican film ‘The Harder They Come’  (http://www.imdb. com/title/tt0070155/). Mr. Henzel is also the Chair of the St. Elizabeth Parish Development Committee, and has helped to establish a number of programs for children in the local community.  He has been a major player in the revitalization of the greater Treasure Beach area and the promotion of the south coast as a sustainable tourist destination that focuses on small scale, locally owned development.

              

Reggae Christmas

Last week I attended the St. Elizabeth Parish Council monthly meeting and was surprised when a large quantity of Appleton's Rum was consumed. Nothing beats a little afternoon rum and ginger beer at work I say.   Apparently it's a Jamaican Christmas tradition for the councillors to have drinks at the meeting prior to Christmas.  Sadly I did not partake, as I was trying to be on my best behaviour. I did however find it highly entertaining to be at a council meeting, discussing community and political issues surrounded

by cheerful rum drinkers (because of course,

when drinking at work one can’t help but be cheerful).

I love all-things Christmas. I’m a Christmas fanatic one could say.  It’s a bit of a weakness of mine, and the thought of missing Christmas was one of my initial hesitations about taking a job in another country. Not to worry though, I’ve got a flight booked for next week, and will have a white Christmas after all. I’m not quite sure what I expected, but when I pictured a Caribbean country, I didn’t picture Christmas trees, lights or music. However, December 1^st came around and lights began showing up on houses and storefronts in town. Apparently most people decorate a fake tree at home. I recently heard that real trees are becoming more popular though, with the occasional tree farm even sprouting up here and there.

Jamaican’s tend to use music as a focal point for celebration, and Christmas is no exception. I’ve heard countless reggae versions of Christmas songs and last week there was a Christmas reggae party/concert happening down the street from where I live in the parking lot of a department store. This week there is the annual Christmas tree lighting in downtown Black River with performances by the Black River High school Choir and a bunch of other local groups. No doubt it will be a reggae Christmas celebration of immense proportions.

Jam Pic Series # 8

The heart and soul of Jamaica - Coffee planters

The real deal - the bean

"To Fry or Not to Fry" - # 1

This is the first pic in my Jamaican food series "To Fry or Not to Fry". My sister and some of my close friends are chefs..so this is as much for them as it is for me. I was told explicitly I must photograph food.  So here goes...

When I first moved into my house I was having all my meals cooked for me. This is a perfect example of Jamaica food...rice, meat, and a little bit of vegetable..often cabbage. Actually usually it's rice and peas aka rice and black beans, rather than white rice. The rice in the rice and peas is typically cooked with coconut milk and takes on a brownish tinge because of the beans. Rice is served with everything...and I mean everything. Almost every authentic Jamaican restaurant I've been to serves the exact same thing: Chicken (fried, baked, Jerk) Pork (usually stewed) Beef (usually stewed) and maybe Oxtail or curried goat...all with rice and peas of course. There are variations,  but those are the staples you get on every menu.   I'm going to take a swing at it and say that the meat here in this pic is pork. Through my experience, pork is typically served with a thick trim of fat (like a good inch or more). Jamaicans love it. Me...not so much. In the future I should probably write about the dish closer to the time I actually ate it seeing as many dishes look the same.

Jam Pic Series # 7

Little fun in the sun, Jamaican style