Top 5 Reasons to Attend the Jamaica Food & Drink Festival in Kingston
Jamaica is globally known for it’s iconic sound of reggae, spice-forward flavours of jerk, dreadlocked rastas and even a ‘cool’ bobsled team. Some visitors choose to stay at seaside villas in Ocho Rios or all-inclusive resorts in Montego Bay, but for epicureans the must visit destination has always been the capital of Kingston. Not only can you enjoy the best street eats and fine dining restaurants in the country, but you can experience all of these and more at the phenomenal Jamaica Food and Drink Festival. In celebration of it’s 5th year I was invited alongside a handful of international food bloggers to attend the largest urban food festival in the Caribbean. This whirlwind of a week allowed me to not only indulge in their impressive food scene, but also see the artistic, resilient and energetic side of Kingston.
1. Events For Every Palate
Whether you like it spicy, crunchy, casual or stush there is an event for you. During my visit I attended events that showcased Jamaica’s best chefs and restaurants such as Crisp, where everything had a crunch and featured beers from around the world, Picante, where spicy food of all levels reigned supreme, and the exclusive Brunch in the Hills where guests dined among the clouds at the picturesque Strawberry Hills. If you want an extended trip then come the weekend before for Saturday’s Porkapalooza, a pork lover’s paradise where local chefs compete to be the ‘Top Hog’, and Sunday’s D’vine, an upscale event featuring an 11 course tasting menu.
2. the Stunning Decor
Every time I walked into an event my jaw literally dropped because the level of detail was that show stopping. From colourful signage at Crisp to red paper lanterns and modern pagodas at Chopstix, each event was so impressive. Out of all of the corporate tents the one by Visa was a fan favourite because they incorporated interactive ideas such as the live art installations, hookah and photo ops. The hosts, CB Foods, did a great job in choosing to host events at popular locations across the city such as the Kingston Waterfront, Hope Zoo, Devon House and Strawberry Hills.
3. experience Jamaica’s Talent
Expect the best of the best in regards to food and music when you attend the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival. As a foodie I enjoyed meeting and eating dishes by some of the country’s best local talent, such as Chef Simon Levy who made a delicious five spice and Coca-Cola based pork belly at Chopstix, Chef Jhanelle Mair of Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records with her flavourful jerk shrimp ceviche at Picante and Chefs Lisa and Christopher Binns of Stush in the Bush whose farm-to-table vegan spread at Brunch in the Hills was absolutely divine. Jamaica’s love of music is obvious so it was no surprise the festival included top artists and DJs. DJ Bad Gyal Marie completely owned the stage at Chopstix making me forget at times to go an eat instead of dance and a soulful performance by reggae artist Lila Ike at Crisp was the perfect ending to the evening.
4. Get Your Money’s Worth
I live for food festivals, but most of the time it can be ridiculously expensive to attend even one event. What makes the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival so unique is that they have events that fit everyone’s price range. Meet Street & The Market is only US$8 to enter and then once inside you can choose to buy from 40+ local restaurants and artisans who are selling dishes like Bad Dawg sausages, guava sauced turkey necks, rum cake and ackee doubles. On the higher end of the spectrum events like Picante will run you US$65 and includes food from a dozen of Jamaica’s best chefs and unlimited cocktails. If you want to do it all you can buy an inclusive pass that gets you into 5 of the main events for just US$190 - it’s a steal!
5. a chance to Explore Kingston
Almost all of the events at the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival are in the evening, so you have time to sightsee around Kingston during the day. Visit Coronation Street Market to purchase local produce, Life Yard on Fleet Street to see colourful street art, the passionate coffee growers and brewers at Deaf Can and Craighton Estates and gain a deeper insight into the legend himself when you tour the Bob Marley Museum. Craving more food? I can’t suggest enough that you visit Moby Dick for their delicious curry goat, Scotchies for some authentic jerk chicken and pork with festival, and of course the historical Devon House Bakery for their shrimp or curry goat patties. If you have the time take a trip down the highway to Ocho Rios and sail on a catamaran or zoom around in a mini with Island Routes. There’s honestly so much to do and not enough time!
Thank you to CB Foods for inviting me to experience the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival - it was amazing! Thank you to the Hussey family and Terra Nova hotel for their hospitality, delicious food and beautiful suites, I couldn’t have had better accommodation in Kingston. If you need anymore help in planning your trip to next year’s event, let me know!