By Janet Silvera, Freelance WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
SIXTEEN EUROPEAN teams, a host of Americans, South Africans and several Jamaican chefs will fire up their grills in anticipation of winning a combined US$25,000 purse in the fifth International World Barbecue and the second International Jerk and Southern Barbecue Championships.
Set to cost $2 million, both events are being staged by the Sunset Beach Resort and Spa, Montego Bay, in collaboration with Air Jamaica Vacations and the World Barbecue Association and are set to take place on September 19 and 21 respectively; a week ahead of World Tourism Day, September 27.
At a press luncheon last Tuesday, the media were informed by Ian Kerr, the resort's Managing Director, that Jamaica was chosen as the venue for the prestigious World Championships as a result of its culinary prowess during the successful staging of the first International Jerk/Barbecue Cook-Off here last year.
According to Kerr, whose 430-room hotel just brought home the International World Championship Trophy for Barbecue in the Jack Daniels Invitational Competition, there were several other countries vying to host the coveted event. "Having the World Barbecue Association stage their event here is an enviable achievement," he remarked.
The competition, comprising 16 teams from Europe, 20 teams from the United States, four out of Africa and 20 from Jamaica will compete over the two-day period showcasing their skills in the use of pork, chicken, seafood and sauce.
Already the tourism mecca's political hierarchy is lauding the event, and Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay, Cecil Davis, who is very optimistic about the second city's prospects, told the Gleaner:
"This event should surely enhance our tourism product, especially during the slow period of September."
Consequently, he feels that the publicity the event will garner from the large following foreign press booked to cover the event will be invaluable.
His comments were cemented by the Director of the World Barbecue Association, Jeremy Fowler, who said that when the event was held in Estonia, 20,000 persons turned up at the venue, and the people in Cape Town, South Africa, are still reeling from the benefits derived two years ago.
According to him, the exposure given to local products, tourism and the promotion of a country are immeasurable. "All the chefs use the spices and local produce, during the competition," he added.
The International Jerk and Southern Barbecue Cook-Off, dubbed, 'Whose Sauce is da Boss' is the brainchild of Sunset Beach Resort. The event is being sponsored by Jamaica Broilers, CVM Television, Happy Ice, Groovy Grouper, Margaritaville and Busha Browne.
