Grilling time again

Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

Just five years ago, the All Jamaican Grill Off began as a small event to which friends and family came to enjoy the mouthwatering taste of all things grilled. However, since then, it has grown into a world-class event catching the interest of others outside the shores of Jamaica.

At this year's launch held at the Fiction Lounge, Market Place, on April 12, organiser Craig Powell reminisced about how the grill off has grown. He said that as a child he lived in the United States of America and had the opportunity to attend many barbecues and grill offs. When he became an adult he thought, why not stage his own. And with hard work and creativity, the All Jamaican Grill Off was born.

Powell also expressed his satisfaction with the growth of the event. It was first held at the American International School of Kingston, but by the fourth year it had outgrown the venue and had to move to a bigger space - Hope Gardens. Aside from enjoying scrumptious grilled treats and good company, the event also features teams in competition. Jamaica is now the only English-speaking Caribbean country to be invited to the American Royal BBQ competition in Kansas, USA. Michael Compton, president of the Caribbean BBQ Association, will again be chief judge for the June 12 grill off.

Powell said this year everyone can expect the usual high standard complemented by mouth-watering grilled treats and good entertainment for friends and family. Children will have a Kiddie Corner with rides, face-painting, snow cones and more, and adults will enjoy rum from the title sponsor, Appleton Estate. They will also partake of tasty Reggae Jammin frankfurters and lots more.