Delicious - Linstead Ackee and Jerk Festival impresses

Karen Sudu, Gleaner Writer

LINSTEAD, St Catherine:

THE LINSTEAD ACKEE and Jerk Festival has received high marks from Finance Minister Audley Shaw. Shortly after he declared the event, held on National Heroes Day in the Linstead town square, officially opened, he toured the booths and found flavour in two of the delectable products prepared by McGrath High School.

"It confirms my opinion that we mustn't just export the ackee as a fresh product, or canned, but we must export the value added in terms of recipes and in terms of even the finished product," he shared with The Gleaner after he ate an ackee fritter and ackee 'n' breadfruit pie.

But, ackee dishes were not the only thing that caught the minister's attention.

"I took note of the recipes in the book (Carry Mi Ackee Go A Linstead Market: Eat Jamaican) that has been published by Miss (Janeen) McNish, with all those exotic recipes for ackee, including ackee lasagna, as something that is so appropriate for maybe the French Revere, or other exotic corners of the globe," he said.

"People need, therefore, not just to look at ackee, but all the range of other potential items that we create here and to package more things, then set up a business to export and earn foreign exchange," he suggested to the organiser, Linstead Development Area Committee.

Community integration

The festival, the brainchild of the late cultural icon Ivy Hinn, was first staged in 2005. It aims to foster community integration and highlight economic benefits that can be derived from ackee, as well as to encourage economic development in the 13 communities, which comprise the Linstead Develop-ment Area, through the usage of the fruit.

In fact, Gregory Mair, North East St Catherine member of parliament (MP), a financial backer of the event, says empowering community for economic prosperity is critical.

"I do believe that the way forward as a nation, from an economic perspective, is empowering at the community level; it's just small businesses from which our economy will grow," Mair told The Gleaner while he munched on his ackee fritter.

And, Robert Pickersgill, North West St Catherine MP, also a sponsor, was flabbergasted by the wide array of products created from ackee.

"I really never knew that ackee can be prepared in these many forms and they look so scrumptious the one that puzzles me is the ackee punch," he chuckled.

Satisfied taste buds

Unlike last year when the festival was held at Dinthill Technical High School and patrons expressed disappointment with the little or non-existence of ackee dishes, attendees had the option to satisfy their taste buds to the fullest.

Arlene Brown of Linstead was one such.

"I had ackee casserole and it's the first time I had it and it's nice. I also had ackee and crackers. I had ackee something else, that one is nice also," she laughed, as she tried to remember the name of the third taking.

But, second-form McGrath High School student, Kemar Curwin, only had ackee macaroni and cheese.

"It tastes so good!" he exclaimed, as he continue to eat his dish. "The ackee festival is a very good idea."

Then, Marvel Palmer, and David Balfour, director Balrock Education Centre, stared steadily at Lorraine Lord, home economics teacher at McGrath High School, as she sliced the ackee pizza. As soon as both were served, the race began.

"It doesn't taste different from regular pizza. It's very nice, very delicious!" Balfour told The Gleaner.

"Delicious! Very delicious! Very nice!" Palmer said, as she bit into her slice.

For Suzay Bryan-Walker, her journey from Brown's Town, St Ann to attend the festival was worthwhile.

"The festival is good, the only thing I think that they could have included more schools, but how they used the ackee to create the different dishes, that's good. I saw ackee punch and ackee pie; I have never seen that before. The recipe book is excellent," she pointed out.

Of course, there was constant talk about the ackee rock cake, ackee sandwich, ackee jacuzzi, ackee au-gratin, ackee cake, ackee patty, ackee stout and ackee pie.

Amid all the ackee products at the event, which had financial backing from Bank of Nova Scotia, Linstead branch; St Catherine Co-operative Credit Union, Juici Patties and Refreshing Spring Book and Variety Store, lovers of jerk food were still catered for.

"We thought that adding jerk to the fest this year would bring some flavor and more persons would come out to support the event because Jamaicans love jerk. Also taking it to Linstead square, we wanted to create a kind of grand market scenario," Roogae Kirlew, chairman, Linstead Development Area Committee, took a break from having his roasted breadfruit and ackee and salt fish to talk to our news team.

And, Minnett Anderson-Myers, community development officer, SDC, integral to the planning of the festival, beamed with pride, as she spoke about the event's success.

"For the past seven years, we have been having this festival at different venues, but due to the magnitude of support of the festival in the square of Linstead this year, I think we have finally found a home," she told The Gleaner.

The day's activities also included the crowning of Miss Linstead Ackee Festival Queen, 18-year-old Jade McBean, who wore the sash Miss Time and Patience. Eighteen-year-old Velonique Palmer, Miss Cross Roads, was crowned first runner-up, while Miss Old Mount Diablo, 16-year-old Shamoya Francis, copped third place.

Patrons were entertained throughout the day by various artistes and groups, while Lenya Wilks, 2007 Rising Star contestant, and X-Ale closed the show.