I've found my absolute favorite Jamaican restaurant, and it's in Somerset, NJ. It's called "Real Jamaican Jerk An' Ting" (http://www.realjamaicanjerk.com/), and it is truly the real deal. The restaurant's website tells a bit about what REAL Jamaican jerk cooking is all about, and how the meat is prepared and flavored. It's a process that involves a bit more than slapping some sauce and seasoning on a piece of meat and throwing it on a grill or in an oven. I can't put my finger on each spice used in the Jerk seasoning this place uses, but I know there's plenty of LOVE in it, because I've been greeted with a smile and warm reception each time I've walked in to get my take-out order. There are only a few tables in the place, but I do plan on eating a meal there sometime very soon.
So let's talk about the situation here: It was my friend Steve's birthday, and I was on my way north, past New Brunswick, when I realized I was hungry and it was Steve's birthday. I arranged to stop by and bring a Birthday feast for him, and asked if he'd had real Jamaican food. The answer of "I don't think so" put me into hyper-food-introducing mode, and I made a bee-line to Hamilton St. for the good stuff. I have this place's number saved as a contact in my cell phone, so I called when I was 15 minutes away and put together a take-out order. Chicken Soup, Jerk Chicken, Jerk Pork, and Curry Chicken. The meals come with rice and (pidgeon) peas, fried plantains, and a sort of slaw of lightly cooked cabbage, bell pepper, and carrots. All of this for 7-9 bucks a pop. SERIOUS bang for the buck, here, folks. I figured we could all share the goods.
The Jerk chicken and pork here is simply the best I've ever had. They're both incredibly tender and succulent, and you can tell they've been cooked for a long time in a unique way. The pork might be one of the best-prepared meat dishes I've ever had, all around. Texture, flavor, quality, and price....simply unbeatable. The chicken isn't far behind. The curry chicken is also absolutely awesome, falls off the bone, and is spiced perfectly. The rice and peas are a great starchy compliment. The fried plantains are absolutely perfect, and the (steamed?) veggies on the side were surprisingly PERFECTLY cooked and flavored. This is the best take-out meal for this price in Somerset or New Brusnwick, as far as I'm concerned. The chicken soup was even unique, sort of thick and creamy, but spicy, and a bit different from your standard cream of chicken with rice.
I love Jamaican food and music, and New Brunswick and Somerset have great places to seek out both elements of this unique Island culture. It's an area I've adopted as one of my many "second homes", and this bright green little building on the Somerset/New Brunswick border is my new favorite places to get my fill of the food part. The music part can be had down the very same street, on the New Brunswick side, in my friend King Django's recording studio and record label, Version City (http://www.versioncity.com/, http://www.stubbornrecords.com/). He specializes in reggae, ska, and all Jamaican music of the last 50 years.
Well, I'm a hopeless culture junkie. Contact me, or anyone I've linked in this post for more info!
Jerk Pork
Curry Chicken, Jerk Chicken, and Jerk Pork
