A Foodies Guide to Kingston Jamaica

Jamaican Food 

Thebirthplace of Bob Marley, a small tropical island rampant with reggaemusic, Jamaica has a lot more to experience than the beach and thestereotypical, dreadlocked rastafaris. It's also an excitingdestination for foodies seeking new adventures of the culinary sort,offering no end of options ranging from the tiniest of diners tohigh-priced, opulent restaurants where one can dine on a fish thatwas swimming a few hours before.

For the adventurous, intrepid traveller, though, street food iswhere it's at. Jamaica being an island, seafood is of course a commonoffering. Other meats are just as popular, including chicken, pork,and even goat. 

Fresh curried goat is something you have to taste tobelieve. 

Street food abounds in the areas around busy parks, like StWilliam Grant Park. 

Nearby is Coronation market, where you can findfresh tropical fruits and other products grown on the island.Breadfruit, ackee, plantains and avocados are very popular here.Remember, avocados are simply called 'pears' here.

Jamaica'scuisine can challenge the palate, and it can burn the tongue. 

It canseduce you with its sweetness, and in the next breath it can takeyours away. 

It's certainly something to be experienced. 

The islandhas been inhabited by so many different people of all differentcultures, and modern Jamaican food reflects that in a major way. 

It'san assortment of techniques and spices gleaned from native Caribbean,Asian, European, and Indian sources, and the inclusion of tropicalcrops imported from Southeast Asia only served to enhance it further.

Soperhaps you shouldn't come to Kingston seeking overly traditionalfare, at least by North American standards. 

It is widely varied, andit's all about fusion. Above all else, it is highly intriguing. For aglance at the rich culinary traditions of Jamaica, try to hit one ofthe island's many food festivals, like the Portland Jerk Festival orthe 'Rums of the Caribbean' festival in Montego Bay. 

Kingston itselfoffers the annual Restaurant Week, when some of the city's mosttalented chefs show off their abilities.

Jerk Chicken_red beans and rice

Exotic food from various origins
Ofcourse, this is not to say that Jamaica doesn't have its owntraditions. 

Perhaps the most famous of Jamaican dishes is jerk, whichis widely available just about anywhere on the island. 

This seasoningblend combines sweet with heat in a most interesting manner, and itis without a doubt 100 per cent Jamaican. 

According to ChristopherColombus, who visited the island several times, the native Arawakspreserved meat by combining sea salt, peppers and allspice into amarinade/seasoning blend. 

This served as the basic premise for jerk,although many variations of the idea are now available.

It can bemild, and it can be so hot that it makes your tongue scream. Jerk mayalso include other herbs and spices: thyme and green onions arepopular. 

Jerk has become so widespread that it's readily available injust about any supermarket's spice aisle.

Travel to Jamaica

Ifthis has inspired you to book your flightsto Jamaica, don’t forget to use a flight comparison tool tosearch and compare the best deals around. The less you spend on yourflights, the more money you can spend sampling the delicious food ofJamaica. Direct flightsfrom London to Jamaica take around 9 hours but you sometimes geta better deal if you chose non-direct flights which can take about13hours.