Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards judge for the parish of Clarendon, Kurt Chin, is a veritable foodie and is eager to tantalise your palates with the tasty offerings of his parish.

“Food to me is more than just eating for life sustenance. I love cooking and eating food both simple and complex. There is nothing like sharing a meal with the ones you love. I also love tasting different combinations of ingredients that are so unexpected but end up matching perfectly”. — Kurt and Ezmine Chin

Garlon Steir proprietor of Steir’s has been a part of May Pen’s food scene for many years now. I’ve been eating his jerked chicken since prep school days. Steir’s is located on Manchester Avenue right across from the LIME Store. On your way out of the town it’s on the left, a few metres past Sagicor Bank on Manchester Avenue just before Church Street.

This current location is not where he started, but he has been here for more than 20 years. The location may have changed but the chicken is still the same: smoky, spicy and delicious. If you’re not one for spicy food, though, you’ll still enjoy it because the spice is more on the mild side; extra pepper is always available and so is ketchup. It’s a small shop with a counter where you pay and buy drinks and bread, with a small back area where the jerking takes place. The chicken, and only chicken, is jerked the authentic old-time way – over pimento wood and covered with more wood. I think it gives the chicken a mildly sweet flavour and also an aromatic and smoky flavour as well. The chicken is always seasoned perfectly with his special homemade jerk seasoning. Steir starts his chicken every morning, so you know that you’ll be getting a freshly jerked piece of chicken. For this reason the chicken is not usually ready until around 2:00 pm. So if you’re planning to have it for lunch, it will have to be a late lunch. The chicken is sold by the quarter, half and whole. Prices are reasonable, with the quarter costing $400.

The first thing that greets you when you walk into this shop is that intoxicating jerked chicken smell that every Jamaican knows all too well. It fills your lungs and you can’t wait to taste a piece of the delicious chicken hot off the wood. This smell is something that most Jamaicans have experienced. Indeed, there are times in life we might recall hoping that the chicken would taste half as good as the smell. At Steir’s the chicken never disappoints: it tastes just as wonderful as it smells. The service is friendly, with the staff consisting of Mr Steir and his wife Carol; he jerks and she collects. Don’t expect a fancy place when you come here, but do expect friendly service and sensational jerked chicken. There’s not much in the way of seating – a small table in the corner with two chairs and two stools at the counter pretty much sums it up, so you’ll either have to get your chicken to go, or just eat it standing if you can’t manage to wait until you get home. I find myself picking at the chicken in the car and by the time I’m home it’s pretty much all gone. So grab a beer or a soft drink, order your chicken and a slice of bread or two; eat your chicken and enjoy.

Steir’s Jerk Centre gets my nod because the chicken is unlike any other in Jamaica. Perfectly seasoned and cooked. It’s a must when visiting or passing through May Pen. Everyone knows Steir’s, so finding it won’t be a problem. You can even use Google Maps to show you the way!