Brian Bonitto, Acting Entertainment Editor

Overseas visitors enjoy the island's jerk offerings. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

The steamy all-inclusive Hedonism III is planning to turn up the heat this Heroes weekend with the hosting of 'Jerkfest 2008'.

The hot and spicy annual event dubbed 'Spice Island' is scheduled for October 17-20 and will see the 'oasis of pleasure' being transformed into a bamboo village of mouth-watering Jamaican jerk cuisine.

"We'll have jerk men coming in from Boston (Portland) as well as chefs from other properties," said Aubyn Lewis, public relations manager at the Runaway Bay resort in St Ann.

The PR pointman at the SuperClubs hotel explained that in addition to those from the SuperClubs family, chefs from Round Hill and Point Village would complete the weekend's roster.

Promises to be bigger

While unable to give a figure on how much was spent on this year's celebration, Lewis said that the event - now in its fifth year - is growing.

"Last year was the largest and it promises to be bigger," he said. "It is very popular with our guests ... especially the Americans."

Lewis stressed that the delicacies would be prepared the traditional method using charcoal flame in order to preserve the authentic Jamaican taste.

But why a jerk festival?

Aubyn Lewis

"We're showing that we are not a one dimensional property," he said. He stressed that the resort's thrust was not only on entertainment, but food and culture.

The SuperClubs' manager said that the entertainment package for the weekend would include a celebrity cook-off as well as performances by this year's Digicel Rising Stars runner-up, Kahlil. Veteran sound system Merritone would bring a close to each evening's party.

"It will be three days of all things Jamaican," Lewis said. In looking ahead the PR manager hopes that the event becomes a calendar affair for locals.

"I would want it (the jerkfest) to be a must-do for October's Heroes weekend," he said.

Hedonism III was established nine years ago as part of the SuperClubs group of resorts, and like its sister property, Hedonism II, is known for its risqué entertainment. Its motto is mind, body and spirit.

brian.bonitto@gleanerjm.com