- Contributed

Jamaicans just don't cook as much as they used to anymore. Not even good old Sunday dinner is being prepared at home every week. More people are heading out to purchase the Sunday meal and the evidence is in the sales from one of Jamaica's popular fast-food outlets, Island Grill.

"We make a lot of home-made comfort foods and they are always made fresh. People are realising that and are patronising us on a Sunday," explained Island Grill's chief executive officer Thalia Lyn.

The popular combo on Sunday is the Session Pack. In this pack, customers take home a whole chicken with any choice of three rice dishes (rice and peas, callaloo or pumpkin) or festival, plus a variety of side orders.

Sunday surge

The Sunday surge started when people realised that Island Grill was presenting rice and peas as part of the now popular Yabba meals. The real island barbecue chicken is also a hit especially with the young ones.

The variety of food, plus the fact that the food is traditional (especially the rice and peas), appeals to the customers. Sunday is also the day most household helpers are off, so the menu prevents customers from having to do the work themselves.

"Let's face it, rice and peas is difficult to cook!" Lyn said.

Customers are now asking for plain rice to be added to the menu. But it might be difficult to add another rice dish. However, there are plans to introduce the curry chicken and the barbecue chicken into a Sunday meal offering.

Anything else, Mrs. Lyn?

"We're still working on dessert, maybe something like cassava pudding."