Jamaica 50 SKN Celebrations Food Fair

Jamaican Ackee and Saltfish dish

Basseterre, St Kitts; 10 August 2012: As part of Celebrations to mark Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary of Political Independence, the Jamaica Kitittian Association will be hosting a JAMAICAN FOOD FAIR at Independence Square in Basseterre on Saturday, 11 August 2012 that will run between the hours of 11:00am and 3:00pm. Caribbean food connoisseurs and the wider community are invited out to this taste fest, which will feature a modestly wide array of culinary delights from the island, which boast of food tradition as ancient and diverse as its music.

The purpose of the food fair will be predominantly to promote the island’s culture through food. It will feature the expected fare, such as, ackee and salt-fish (the national dish), jerk chicken, curried chicken, curried goat, brown stewed chicken, fish and festival. There will, however, be some more unique delicacies including mannish water and mackerel rundung (a coconut milk based dish which sautés the mackerel).

Of particular interest to some will be the fact that some of these food traditions hark back to Jamaica’s pre-Colombian heritage, with “Jerk” being a derivative seasoning and cooking style of under-earth curing and cooking of meat once used by the Taino and Ciboney indigenous groups, and then retained by the buccaneers of the Caribbean’s imperial era. Of particular note with the reference to buccaneering is the fact that the name ‘bucanneer’ derives from the Arawaki language word buccan, which referred to a rack frame, generally made of wood, used by Indigenous peoples to smoke meats.

The food fair is being held under the distinguished patronage of His Excellency Sir Cuthbert M. Sebastian G.C.M.G., O.B.E., MD, Governor General, St. Christopher & Nevis and with the support of several local and regional sponsors – Warner’s One Stop, Digicel, Cloud 9, Tapatap Promotions, Choice FM, Grace Foods (Jamaica), Kittivisian Life, Miyvue.com, Freedom FM, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education & Information (Federal Government), Ministry of Education & Library Services (Nevis Island Administration), NevisPages.com, and UWI Open Campus St. Kitts.

The members of the JamKit Association, organizers of the Food Fair, have indicated their keen desire for the residents of the Federation to come out and enjoy the food and feting that accompanies all eating experiences in Jamaica. The Association looks forward to a fun and enjoyable day for all. Food and drink purchases can be made at the venue.