From jerk chicken to coconuts.
Why Canadians are crazy about Caribbean cuisine.
Welcome to our new Grace blog. This is where we celebrate all the delights and irresistible appeal of Caribbean cuisine. If you love Caribbean food as much as I do, then you’ve definitely come to the right place.
Let me introduce myself … I’m Janice … and I have the good fortune of being the Marketing Manager for Grace Canada, one of the most popular manufacturers in the world of authentic Caribbean food and beverages.
I was already a big fan of island cuisine with its distinctively rich and spicy flavours before I joined the company just over a year ago. But now my taste buds have discovered all kinds of incredible new flavour combinations I never tried before. It seems like every couple of days someone here will suggest an inventive new twist to try … like coconut water and vodka with a slice of lime. Doesn’t that sound refreshing? Trust me, it’s fabulous!
Overlooking Kingston Jamaica, what a great view!
To kick things off, I’d like to tell you about my recent trip with our Canadian Sales and Marketing team to visit the head office in Kingston, Jamaica. What a treat it was to get off the plane and step into 30º C weather (and escape our sub-zero Toronto temps).
As we drove around Jamaica, I noticed how the Grace brand name and products were absolutely everywhere! From the street vendors selling Tropical Rhythms juices in their carts, to the butter on the table at the hotel in the morning, to the grocery stores with huge sections of the same Grace products we enjoy here in Canada (like our jerk sauces, marinades, seasonings and soups). And it didn’t stop there – along the streets you saw plenty of Grace billboards, and even the road signs have Grace products on them in the area downtown near our office. Clearly this is a name that everyone knows and loves.
One of the highlights of my trip was the day we drove out to Port Royal which was famous back in the day as a pirate hideout. We took a quick walk on the beach and enjoyed a fried fish lunch with the ocean breezes keeping us cool. We also visited a famous jerk restaurant where we could see authentic jerk being prepared over a smoky wood fire. Delicious!
Jerk chicken being prepared the traditional way
Fortunately, you don’t have to fly all the way to Kingston to enjoy the classic taste of Caribbean jerk. Just pick up some jerk seasonings or sauces from the Grace at your local grocery store. You can use our Jerk Seasoning or Jerk Marinade to marinate raw meat before grilling or barbequing. Or you can brush on our versatile Jerk BBQ Sauce while you’re cooking. (By the way, if you can’t find the Grace products you’re looking for, please be sure to speak to your grocery store manager or email us and we’ll be happy to help you find a store in your neighborhood.)
We also have lots of exciting things in the works here at Grace that I can hardly wait to tell you about. So be sure to read our blogs regularly. You’ll hear about our new products like our organic coconut line-up, as well as you’ll discover great tips and recipes for whipping up a taste of the islands right in your own kitchen.
That’s all for now. Be sure to read our next blog when we explore all of the fabulous ways you can use one of the world’s most nutritious superfoods. (It’s coconut in case you were wondering).
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