The final gathering of the members of the Southeast Newcomers Services (SNS) and Estevan Family Centre’s collaborative event, International Kitchen, took place on May 18. The event, sponsored by Southeast Connections, featured Jamaican cuisine, an immensely popular choice.
Meeting in the kitchen of the Family Centre in the evening, the event entailed participants learning the cherished art of preparing the spiciest most succulent Jamaican jerk chicken they could. Guests were also taught the boiling, kneading and frying to perfection of an abundance of Jamaican festivals (fried dumplings).
“We wanted to find a way to integrate newcomers with people in the community, so we figured getting them to cook together would achieve that,” said Jay Roye, information services adviser for SNS. “It’s been really popular, gaining momentum since it started. Jerk chicken is one of the most popular dishes we’ve done. It’s a food that’s highlighted for tourists who visit Jamaica.”
Roye noted that the number of guests present for the jerk chicken event was one of the highest turnouts of the program in its entirety.
Sherrine and Fabion Dennis guided participants through the steps of preparing the spicy sauce for the dish, as well as how to wash, season and eventually grill the chicken on a large outdoor grill, where it was cooked to perfection under the watchful eyes of Fabion and Roye.
Participants were engaged in the process a great deal, working collaboratively in the kitchen, chopping mixing and blending the assorted spices and vegetables used to prepare the traditional Jamaican jerk sauce.
After participants were done helping out with the preparation, they sat down to feast on their work. The unanimous opinion of everyone involved was a positive one, with many going back for second helpings of chicken and festivals.
“It was an awesome time. I need a kitchen this big,” said Samantha Chenier, a participant in the event, over supper. “I now know how to clean a chicken. It’s quite interesting, watching the whole process.”
