The scorching afternoon sun pounded the Liguanea Club grounds, creating an unending queue at the combined bottled water juice bar and adding to whatever pressure was presumably placed on the entrants in this year’s edition of “Who Sey Men Cyaan Cook”.

The celebrity male chefs were principally drawn from media and entertainment but also included peace officer Sgt Steve Brown – who was good-naturedly chided by his superior, Supt Ionie Ramsay, on the lengthy preparation time. Brown was later redeemed, however, as his meal was assessed to be worth the wait.

Air Jamaica in-flight chef Louis Bailey also earned kudos for his mango-pineapple pasta as well as for his dexterity in slicing, dicing and carving. Telecoms executive Lloyd Distant Jr had a welcome flashback to his college days when, by his own recollection, he regularly cooked for his roomates and friends. His chicken in creamy cheddar sauce, topped with Parmesan, was also well received.

Arguably the most exotic-sounding dish for the afternoon came from designer Roy Riley, of Squint Designs, who unleashed a teriyaki honey-glazed pork with mango accents. That too, lived up to its billing.

Journalist Cliff Hughes earned respect for his oxtail, and FAME-FM’s Francois presented jerk chicken strips in a wine sauce. Dub poet Mutabaruka whipped up much interest among patrons in his “no-fire” meatless cuisine, featuring finely diced bits of pak chow and other vegetables doused with coconut oil and fermented bean paste. “Is a substitute fi de salt,” he explained and stirred. Also on the ital side, Reggae popster Yogie prepared a curried stew potato with beans and COK’s Ewan Shaw opted for the more prosaic ackee and festival.

With the first round of culinary expositions over, it was time for entertainment. Michelle and the Glory Lights breezed through their curiously endearing brand of country-tinged gospel, complete with southern drawls, but the real highlight of the showtime segment was Keisha Paterson who fortuitously “acquired” a persistent but very talented and charming young dance partner to enliven her already sprightly jazz vocal improvisations. She opened with a suitably impassioned reading of Etta James’ “At Last” before doing “Cheek to Cheek” from Cole Porter (who’s currently the subject of a Hollywood bio-film) and the Nina Simone chestnut, “My Baby Just Cares for Me” and but for the presence of another act, could well have stayed and done more.

That next act, Sounds of Joy – comprising a keyboardist – delivered a pleasing if unspectacular package of traditional Jamaican songs (“Hol Im Joe”) pop classics (“Islands in the Stream”) and more recent fare (Alicia Keys’ “Fallin'”).

Thereafter, TVJ brand manager Rowan Wade and “moonlighting” cabaret singer-pianist Harold Davis (by day, he directs the affairs of the Jamaica Business Development Centre) took their turns over the stove, Wade opting for fish fillets and Davis offering a saltfish rundown.

The celebrity participants aside, there was lots more comestibles on offer, from the flavourful chorizo sausage and grilled chicken pasta of Caribbean Broilers, to the choice cuts of ham and roast beef from Universal Meats. Seprod, Lasco Foods and Maggi also offered mouth-watering choices for patrons.

Rapture Disco, with inputs from guest selectors Tricia “Wild Chile” Spence and Rosamund Brown worked in tandem with hosts Jenny Jenny and Heather Grant to keep the proceedings lively.

By day’s end, the pressure had shifted, along with the slowly fading sun, away from the cooking tents and onto the laden bellies of those who had been the recipients of the men’s culinary skills. Who sey men cyaan cook indeed.