It was a wholesome family affair at last Sunday’s staging of the 22nd Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival South Florida edition.

Several Jamaican companies, brands and vendors displayed their products, services and food to thousands of patrons who converged at the Miramar Regional Park in Miramar to enjoy the best of what the Caribbean has to offer.

Despite intermittent afternoon showers, patrons enjoyed themselves.

Grace Foods is the title sponsor of the event.

Andrea Reynolds, marketing manager for Grace Foods United States of American (USA), described the partnership with the event’s organisers as amicable and fruitful.

Andrea Reynolds, marketing manager for Grace Foods USA (second from left) greets patrons at the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival last Sunday at the Miramar Regional Park in South Florida.

“It was another successful event, despite the rains. It has been a long-standing, amicable and fruitful partnership over the years. We were able to welcome a wide cross-section of patrons from near and far, who wanted to enjoy good food, good vibes and just to have a fun-filled day.  Vendors had the opportunity to showcase a myriad of jerk dishes… jerk shrimp, jerk chicken, jerk pork and even jerk ice cream, courtesy of Grace Jerk. We look forward to many more years to come with this partnership as we take Grace jerk across the globe,” Reynolds told Observer Online.

The HTB booth located on the far-right hand side of the venue was a hit with patrons. Bread as well as bun served with cheese were sampled and there was a spin-the-wheel engagement which saw patrons winning attractive prizes.

Observer Online spoke to Korie-Page Jones, export marketing manager National/HTB brands, one of the sponsors of the event.

(From left) Korie-Page Jones, export marketing manager, National/HTB brands and Omega Harris, key account manager, National and HTB Portfolio hang out inside the HTB booth at the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival.

“As proud sponsors of this year’s staging of the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival, HTB offered free HTB Giant Hardo Bread to all jerk vendors for their patrons to pair with their favourite jerk meals.  At our booth, we sampled our bread and buns to patrons, and they all left with smiles and gifts such as tumblers, tote and caps from the brand,” said Page-Jones.

She added, “The HTB brand has been participating in the jerk festival for years. Each year we also highlight the Homade brand through sampling and giveaways.”

Garry Hanson, operator of Maam’s Restaurant, located in Miami, participated in the jerk festival for 13 years before a one year hiatus due to an accident. He returned this year and he described the experience as good for his business.

Garry Hanson, owner of Maam’s Jamaican Restaurant points in the direction of his booth at the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival.

“I do a lot of events but this one has good traffic. It’s a food festival and people are just ready to eat. At this event, they come with their appetites and I enjoy meeting different people while giving them a taste of the Jamaican flavour,” said Hanson, a native of  Portland.

Shameala Matthews,  the owner of Sannicoles Little Kitchen, who migrated from Clarendon several years ago,  has been in the food business for 12 years. And this was her eighth year participating in the jerk festival.

“What I enjoy most about doing this event is just seeing the happy faces after customers taste my food. That just makes my day because I love what I do,” said Matthews.

Guyanese Roy Maynard, who operates B&M Bakery and a catering business, said this was his first year participating in the event.

“I’ve been in business for 29 years and we do baking, fish and meat produce and take out food. I am always busy running my business and this year I decided to participate and it has been very successful, very good. I’ll definitely be here next year,” said Maynard.

Rusty’s Carib Cuisine offered patrons a melting pot of jerk meals with guava and pineapple jerk sauces to add flavour. The owner, Holly Scott, a native of Jamaica, said it was her first time participating as a vendor at the festival.

“This is my third time and it has been pretty good. We are giving our customers different Caribbean flavours. This is a part of what the community is about so I had to be a part of it,” she said.

Sandra Morrison, who resides in West Palm Beach, travelled all the way to Miramar just to get a taste of the jerk that she has been missing out on since she migrated from Jamaica 12 years ago.

“I’m from St Catherine and let me tell yuh, I had to be here. This is Jamaican, it is Caribbean, so I had to support it. The food is good and the event is very entertaining,” she disclosed.

Dwayne Johnson from Fort Lauderdale concurred with Morrison.

“This event is always a good showing. I enjoy the music, visiting the different booths and enjoying the different flavours and food. I even had some Grace bulla and Sorrel drink, which were really good,” he said.

African American Alicia Jalaal said she was invited to the jerk festival by her Jamaican friends.

“This is my first time coming here and my friends invited me. I’m actually enjoying this despite the rain,” said Jalaal.

Hazel Smith has been residing in the United States for 12 years and this is her first time attending the South Florida edition of the jerk festival.

“This is wonderful, I really enjoyed it. I’m here with my mother and she is also having a good time,” Smith explained.

The Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival also featured a show-stopping performance by Nigy Boy, the Energy God Elephant Man, veteran reggae band Chalice, the Fantells and former Digicel Rising Stars winner, Shuga.

In between sets, patrons enjoyed musical selections courtesy of Richie D, DJ Brad and DJ Stretch of Extatic Sound.