Jamaica 2011

Josh and I just got back from our honeymoon and WOW! I fell in love with Jamaica pretty hard. I didn't really know much about the country before we left. I knew it was very poor as most of the Caribbean is. I didn't know how hilly and extremely lush it is. The Caribbean Sea was more beautiful than I had imagined. A color that words could not do justice. The people were just as beautiful, inside and out.
I know that this is a food blog and we did have a lot of great cuisine but I am dedicating this entry to the island of Jamaica. Our new home away from home.
Being home, in Chicago, for a full day, I have found myself slip into a bit of a depression. I cried so much our last day and as our flight took off. Yes, I wanted to see my daughter, and yes I missed our cats and family but Josh and I had such an amazing experience it was too hard to say good-bye. Jamaica is magical and the people, however poor they are, know it. A lot of them have nothing but make shift shacks to live in and no shoes on their feet but what they do have is the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen. A "no problem, mon" attitude and Jamaica. They don't have much but what they do have is all they need and that is why I see so much happiness in their faces.
Most of these faces were the staff at Sandals Grande Riviera in Ocho Rios and I know that it's their job to put that smile on but being there a week, we opened up to them and got to know a few of them pretty well. On some of our excursions we met a few more and yes, they want to sell you things, and yes they want to braid your hair but it was never overwhelming or frightening. The 2 hour bus ride from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios is where I saw most of the real Jamaica. The homes, people, lifestyle. It was sad at first. Seeing all these places that I knew I could never live in...or could I? If I knew nothing else would it be so bad? We, here in America, have so much. Our big screen TV's, mac computers, ipods, iphones, video games, fancy cars, and huge homes...but do we need them? No. Do I enjoy them...well heck yes! Having to go just 1 week without all of that and not missing one thing, I truly surprised myself. I will admit that I am a pretty hardcore phone junkie and I really enjoyed keeping it locked up in the safe for a week. It was freeing. It was also great to discover that Sandals was a good company to work for. A lot of them said that it paid more than the other resorts and had benefits. One of the play makers Lori, said that on her work schedule would be a spa day that she got to enjoy while on the clock...now that is a perk that I am talking about.
The staff at te resort was another big part of Josh and I falling in love with Jamaica. Those infectious smiles on their face. Such truly laid back attitudes. I vowed to bring some of that philosophy back home with me. What you have is all you got and what you got is all you need and it's no problem mon.
Now....on to the food!

I enjoyed the Jamaican cuisine so much that I brought home 3 huge bottles of the Jamaican Jerk sauce and we are already trying to find out ways to make it when it's gone. Josh and I were walking through the gardens when a chef at the resort approached us just to talk and we got into a big conversation about jerk and he told us in depth how to make it at home and reassured me that the sauce we bought was the best kind. That right there is just an example of how great the staff at Sandals was. Everyday I bugged our concierge, Lanjay, and everyday he greeted me with a smile and open arms. They all did. I will be sure to right up a solid review on tripadvisor.com but now, back to the food.
Jerk...I am obsessed! I want to put it on everything. Jerk fish tacos, jerk lamb Kabobs, jerk adobo..etc. If anyone out there knows where we can go for some good authentic jerk in the city PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE let me know.

Throughout the resort there were about 11 different restaurants and 4 grills. I enjoyed so much of it. It was way above average to me. Especially the curry and jerk dishes. I don't really remember what we had where, but I will scatter some pics throughout the blog.
The appetizers were some of my favs. We really enjoyed the crab cakes...

...we also had this really good shrimp and scallop appetizer. It was rolled up in a white cabbage, so good!

It was great to have an all inclusive resort because we used it up. Ordering as much as we could so that we could taste everything.

We enjoyed many of the desserts as well.

But still my favorite was the Jerk. It has now become one of my new favorite cuisines. I had never had before we went to Jamaica and now I just can't wait to recreate it. Stay tuned for that blog entry!

Yeah Mon!