Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

Caecus Scully (left), winner of the Jerk Joy competition, shows off his gift of Pepsi products and cheque from Pepsi representative, Gary Miller.

Food's Jerk Joy Competition has ended and we have a winner. Loraine Moses' jerk chicken fritters were very creative and her jerk sauce added a little extra oomph to her choice, but she was placed third. Donnie Bunting came with his herb stuffed tilapia that was succulent and tasty, but lacked the distinct jerk seasoning flavour - he placed second.

Caecus Scully, the man who came determined to win with his Hawaiian jerk chicken, captured the flavour to a T! The taste was enhanced by the smooth and delicious sauce. This definitely had the 'want more' factor. Scully boasted that it was made with his grandmother's recipe.

The 37-year-old plumber saidhe is a jack of all trades but learnt his cooking skills from his grandmother, Othilda Scully. As a youngster, he spent a lot of time with her. He told Food that his grandmother is of Chinese ancestry and she knows her way around the kitchen. In fact, she taught him to cook when he was eight years old. He said the first thing he cooked was oxtail and broad beans and it came out well. "I have never burnt or spoiled a meal in my life, I am just a natural," boasts the winner, who will now pit his skills against the contestants in next month's annual jerk festival at Markham Park in Florida.

Back in his community, Old Harbour, he was a vendor who once sold seafood soup and jerk chicken. But he said the soup usually goes faster than the jerk chicken. He no longer sells but his jerk chicken has now become the tastier treat. Plus, his friends and family cannot seem to get enough of his delectable jerk chicken.

The secret he says is to cover the chicken with pimento leaves while jerking and using the young pimento twigs in fire, the pimento smoke seeps into the chicken adding a unique flavour. He added that when the chicken is done, he places it on fresh pimento leaves and covers it to let the flavour settle in. Scully is overjoyed that he will be showing off his jerk chicken in Florida and he plans to take the 'Dutch Pot' trophy back to Jamaica.

Prizes

The winner receives a trip to Florida Jerk Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on September 23, courtesy of the promoters of the festival - Jamaica Awareness Inc., and Riddims Marketing. The other major contest sponsor Pepsi presented him with US$500 to cover accommodation and transportation as well as gift baskets for all three winners. All contestants received a bag of gifts from The Gleaner.

Loraine Moses, third-place winner in Food's Jerk Joy competition receives her gift basket from Gary Miller, promotion assistant at Pepsi.

(From left) Winners and sponsors of the competition: Loraine Moses, third-place winner; Sydney Roberts of Jamaica Awareness Inc.; Caecus Scully, the winner; Gary Miller - promotion assistant with Pepsi and 'The Gleaner's' Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore,... - Photos by Andrew Smith/Photography Editor