by Howard Campbell
SOUTH FLORIDA – Eddy Edwards, co-founder of the Grace Jamaican Jerk Competition, is happy with its 2023 staging which came about November 12 at Miramar Regional Park.
The twenty first renewal of the present which is a staple on South Florida’s leisure calendar, drew over 8,000 patrons. They savored jerked meals and watched the performances of Bermudian singer Collie Buddz, Grammy winners Morgan Heritage, deejay Ding Dong and his Ravers dancers.
There have been additionally lengthy traces of patrons on the many cubicles who offered varied kinds of jerked delicacies — rooster, pork and fish, in addition to in style Jamaican dishes corresponding to escoveitched fish, curried goat and roasted corn.
“Primarily based on suggestions we’re receiving, numerous positives and most friends had an pleasing expertise. Some friends had challenges, some with the wait to get in, or with the lengthy traces to buy meals, however general we’re happy with the result of this 12 months’s pageant,” mentioned Edwards.
The all the time in style Superstar Chef Problem was retained for a second 12 months by NBC-6’s Cherney Amhara, who acquired the higher of WPLG’s Alexis Frazier.
Key Advertising and marketing Efforts
Edwards, who was one of many companions who began ‘Jerk Fest’ in 2001, believes renewed focus on their prime attraction paid dividends this 12 months.
“Our advertising centered on the meals and positioned the pageant extra as a meals pageant than a live performance and we had been blissful the best way the general public responded with a robust turnout. To see everybody having fun with the culinary and cultural shows on the Western Union stage was a excessive level,” he mentioned.
The over 8,000 followers who turned up at Miramar Regional Park bettered final 12 months’s turnout by over 1,000 which Edwards famous was the 2023 Grace Jamaican Jerk Competition’s largest accomplishment.
Excellent Day
“There’s nothing to be disillusioned about. Climate-wise we had an ideal day, good attendance and all the weather got here collectively to ship an superior expertise for our friends,” he mentioned.