Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards judge for the parish of Hanover, Aram Zerunian, indulges his taste buds at Valerie’s Restaurant and Bar

If you live in Hanover and don’t know about Valerie’s, then you are missing out on the best home-style cooking. Located on the Sandy Bay Main Road in Hanover, Valerie’s is in the path of all taxi drivers and minibuses plying the route to neighbouring communities. Drivers call when they are a few minutes away, order their meals, then pick them up en route. Valerie’s customers span the length and breadth of the parish and she supplies drivers going as far as Negril.

Valerie says she has a passion for food. She recalls that the business started some years ago when she went to a funeral in St Elizabeth and was really hungry on her return trip, but just couldn’t find an authentic Jamaican restaurant.

She quickly set up this prime lunch spot in front of her house, right at the roadside. The vista is great since across the road is the sea in all its splendour. It’s a popular spot for Tryall staff and guests alike. Team Hanover set out for lunch one rainy afternoon. We were there in less than five minutes. The rain didn’t dampen our spirits, and if it did, Valerie would have quickly put us in a good mood. What a fireball she is! She has a great sense of humour and she quickly told the men in the group to get going with the conch order as she was sure they could use something to make them stronger.

We ordered jerked conch, stewed peas and oxtail. We were served a healthy portion of fried plantain with our meals. To top it off we ordered soursop juice and beetroot juice. It was authentic Jamaican cuisine that tantalised our taste buds. We enjoyed every bit of it and paid only $4,000!

Open seven days per week, Valerie’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. She says fish is her specialty but on any given day there is cow foot, curried goat, peas soup and the very popular fried fish. If you are travelling abroad and want to take fried fish, place your order at Valerie’s!

Valerie’s Restaurant and Bar

Main Road, Sandy Bay, Hanover

Telephone 953-5048