Out of Many, One: The Outameni Experience
My cousin and her husband kept raving about this place he said they knew I would love. But they wouldn't say what it was or why they were so sure I'd love it. I was curious. We loaded up the car and headed north east from Montego Bay towards Trelawny. Once at the sign to the Outameni Experience, we turned off the road. [caption id="attachment_2237" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Sign to Outameni in Trelawny"][/caption] So this is where we were going! [caption…
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Tasty Thursday: Ackee and Saltfish (Cod)
This dish has won me friends and lovers each time I serve it. [caption id="attachment_2215" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Ackee and Saltfish with Johnny Cakes"][/caption] Every Jamaican I know either has an ackee tree out back or ackees in the freezer. And the ones "a foreign" have a can or two in the pantry and/or frozen ones they or someone brought back from Jamaica for them. Ackee is a very popular and versatile dish. Serve on toasted bread for a tasty bruschetta…
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Catching the Vibe in Treasure Beach
Treasure Beach is small community on Jamaica's south western coast that prides itself with being friendly and very laid back. A fishing community with six miles of beaches, rocky coastline and private coves, it is the perfect place to get away from it all and with not much activity besides swimming, snorkeling, bicycle rides, etc., you've got little choice than to relax and catch the vibe. I've been going to Treasure Beach for several years now, most times to attend…
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Jamaica: Royal Palms Nature Reserve
Just beyond the hustle and bustle of Negril's Hip Strip, that stretch of road that marks off the beach and the hotels that spill out on to the famous white sands, is a secluded place known mostly to nature lovers. The Royal Palms Nature Reserve, part of the 6,000 acre Negril Morass, is a 300 acre expanse of towering Royal Palms - the largest stand in the world - and long thatch palm. This popular eco-tourism spot teems with about…
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What’s Great About Jamaica’s Great Houses?
Jamaica's nearly 300 year old great houses provide a peek into a byegone era. Some have been turned into museums, others offer a beautiful backdrop for weddings and events. Today, we'll visit three: Bellefield Great House and Gardens, Good Hope Great House and Devon House. Bellefield Great House, located just outside Montego Bay, has played host to Queen Elizabeth [caption id="attachment_2120" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Bellefield Great House & Gardens - photo courtesy of Bellefield"][/caption] II, John F. Kennedy and Winston Churchill.…
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Traveling to Music: Pierre Akendengue
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Image via Wikipedia"][/caption] The customs and immigration officer at Léon M'ba International Airport in Libreville, Gabon began digging into my suitcase all the while asking me the usual questions, what is your purpose for visiting Gabon, where will you be staying, etc. Then he saw my music and stopped. You know Akendengué? he asked, surprise and delight registering on his face simultaneously. Normally, when I travel in the Caribbean and especially in Africa, my Jamaican passport…
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A Step Back in Time: Greenwood Great House
Great houses provide a wonderful opportunity to step back in time to see how life was lived in a particular period. Greenwood Great House, which is located on the border of Trelawny and St. James in the [caption id="attachment_2066" align="alignright" width="155" caption="Ring the bell to enter"][/caption] town of Greenwood is a time capsule that has carefully preserved the legacy of its previous owners. Part of an 84,000 acre plantation, Greenwood has an impressive pedigree. Built in 1790 by Richard Barrett,…
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Rose Hall, Jamaica’s (Haunted) Great House
Jamaica, the third largest island in the Caribbean, was ‘discovered’ in 1494 on Christopher Columbus’ second voyage to the New World. He was in search of silver and gold. Columbus declared Xaymaca, as it was then known “the fairest island that eyes have beheld.” Among the 'gifts' he brought to the New World was sugar cane, but the indigenous Taino (Arawak) population was decimated before it could be developed into a viable industry. This forced the Spanish to look elsewhere…
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Escoveitched Fish: Caught in a Pickle in Jamaica
I love food and I love to eat. But I'm very particular about what I like. I nearly ditched my last year of [caption id="attachment_2017" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Scotch bonnet peppers, essential to Jamaican cooking"][/caption] university so that I could stay in Barcelona. For the food. In terms of spices and richness, the food in Spain comes pretty close to what I grew up eating and what my body responds to. When I'm in Jamaica, one meal I enjoy thoroughly is…
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Jamaica: In Search of The Real Jerk
[caption id="attachment_6128" align="alignright" width="300"] Scotch Bonnet[/caption] The first thing I do when I arrive in Montego Bay is find a spot for jerk pork. I’d start tasting it, and yes, it’s always pork, before the plane even lands. For years, Scotchies, a little joint about 1-2 Jamaican miles from the airport on the north coast road between Montego Bay and Falmouth did the trick. But the last time I went to Scotchies (MoBay), my mouth watering in anticipation of the…
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