Sharon Jefferson's master jerk chicken. - photo by Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore

The annual Jamaican Jerk Festival, presented this year by Air Jamaica and Publix, promises to be more sensational and impressive. Scheduled for Sunday, November 9, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., the venue is Markham Park, Sunrise, Florida.

The festival has rapidly become one of South Florida's main Caribbean family events and was traditionally staged in September, but has been moved to early November in an effort to dodge heavy rains that have frequently hampered it.

The Jamaican Jerk Festival is a celebration of authentic Jamaican jerk in its various forms and includes an extensive food court, offering a variety of jerk food. The hotly contested Publix Jerk Cook-Off offers professionals, aspiring chefs and casual cooks an opportunity to win $1,500 and the Dutch Pot Trophy.

Tasty

Last year's winner, Sharon Jefferson, a dentist by profession, will be back with her team to defend her title and hopes to impress the judges, for a second time, with her tasty creations.

Supermarket chain Publix has signed on as a presenting sponsor as well as title sponsor of the Jerk Cook-Off pavilion.

Celebrating family

Publix Supermarket's spokesperson Kim Jaeger said in part, "...we believe in celebrating family and food. The Jerk Cook-Off is more than a friendly competition boasting some of the best jerk foods ever tasted."

Other sponsors already committed are: County Line Chiropractic Centers, Jamaica National, Hot105 FM, WEDR FM, WAVS 1170 and the National Weekly. For more information, visit the event's website at: www.jerkfestival.com.