Curried God-a-Me, a fish dish that is popular in the western end of the island, was featured at last year's festival. - Herbert McKenis/Freelance Photographer

'Westmoreland Curry Festival' is one of Jamaica's leading community food festivals. Now in its seventh year, it has grown from approximately 2,000 persons to over 10,000. The festival is the largest of its kind and continues to be the major fund-raiser for the Manning's School Development Fund. The Gleaner sponsored event will be held at the Manning's School on Sunday, April 29.

Curry has a rich history in the parish of Westmoreland. This dish is always served at social events along with a drink of white rum which is very popular in the cane belts.

The Westmoreland Curry Festival is a family event and this year it is even bigger and better. We have expanded the variety of curry dishes to include those of the Chinese and Indian community.

Adorned with ornaments

The booths will be adorned with ornaments from India and China. The Chinese will showcase a wide variety of dishes including curried shrimp fried rice, curried pork, curried fish and beef. The Indians will entertain us with live roti-making demonstrations, and a variety of vegetarian dishes.

The Nigerians will also be showing off their skills while our own experts will be serving up some good old curry crab, lobster, goat and chicken.

Visit pastry booths and sample curry cake, pudding, pie, tarts and patties. There is also curry soup and a curry ketchup that can be applied to your meal to give it that extra flavour.

Jamaica's fine food is the product of a series of diverse cultural influences which highlight the colonial experiences of the Caribbean region.

We have created a large amusement park which will offer rides on the simulator, bounce-about, go-carts and many more. Children will enjoy these rides.

There will be four bars and 20 runners ready to serve up orders.'

Prizes and surprises

There will be lots of prizes and surprises. Come and see the sous chefs from the hotels in the county of Cornwall cook off in the 'Chef of the Show' competition. There will also be a cook-off competition between the high schools and vocational institutions in Westmoreland. The winners will receive $35,000 and $15,000 respectively.

The event will start at 9:00 a.m. and will go on until 9:30 p.m.

For more details, contact at curryfestival4@yahoo.com. or the Mannings School office at, (876) 955-2634, 955- 2835 OR 955-4022.