Food's King of Buns team of expert judges (from left) Lisa Hanna, bun fanatic and celebrity judge; Robert Bonner, pastry chef, Hilton Kingston hotel; Candice Westley, security officer and bun lover; Leonardo Blair, food enthusiast; and Leonie Clarke, senior lecturer, family and consumer studies programme at the University of Technology. - PHOTOS BY SHELLY-ANN THOMPSON
WE ASKED if your bakery made the best Easter bun in Jamaica and you took up the challenge and submitted a sample for the test.
Food received buns and put our judges to the test. Were they delicious and irresistible? Did they leave judges wanting more? Only one brand had the 'want more' factor for all of our judges.
Judges in Kingston and Montego Bay - consisting of culinary experts and just plain bun lovers - bit through the raisins and put their palates to the test to find the ultimate 'King Of Buns!' But while you wait for the winners to be announced, here are some of the comments from the judges. Watch out for more on the bakeries next week.
LEONARDO BLAIR
Staff reporter at The Gleaner and a self-professed bun lover (of food really): "AML Bakery's bun's almost tastes like Christmas cake in bun form and I like Christmas cake. It can be had without cheese."
LEONIE CLARKE
Senior lecturer, family and consumer studies programme, at the University of Technology: "Golden Crust Easter bun is just OK."
LISA HANNA
Celebrity judge and a bun fanatic: "Golden Bakery tastes home-made, very nice! Just right - everything just right."
CANDICE WESTLEY:
"I recommend Golden Bakery's bun."
ROBERT BONNER
Pastry chef at the Hilton Kingston hotel: "Although Purity's bun was a little bit spicy overall it was not bad."
Don't miss the Bun & Cheese Festival
Yam, stout, ginger and other types of bun will be on display this Sunday at the annual Bun and Cheese Festival.
Scheduled for the front lawn of the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, Hope Road, St. Andrew, patrons will be able to buy buns, sample them and even witness a bun making competition. Bun
making enthusiasts can also collect bun recipes.
Organisers, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), are encouraging patrons to come and have brunch and
dinner at the festival. Included in the entertainment package is a treasure hunt, egg and spoon race and an exhibition about buns.
"Patrons can expect the widest range of buns they have ever
seen in one place in Jamaica. The idea is to celebrate Easter food while placing the spotlight on buns," said executive director of
the JCDC, Marcia Hextal.
The festival will run from noon to 6:00 p.m. Admission for adults
is $100 and children under 12 years will be admitted free.
- Shelly-Ann Thompson
