Jerk Chicken

One commonly known and important cultural dish in Jamaica is jerk chicken. Jerk chicken is a spicy grilled meat dish and describes a style of cooking where chicken, beef, pork, goat, boar, seafood, or vegetables are seasoned and cooked over fire or on a grill. The preparation of jerk chicken is culturally significant because African slaves were able to "jerk" their meat underground without smoke being detected by others. The dish typically includes a marinade that consists of scotch bonnet peppers and allspice, and side dishes such as: rice, beans, plantains, sweet potatoes, and small cornbread fritters known as "festival".