My mouth is still watering from the authentic Jamaican Jerk chicken. No, not the “authentic” food you’ll get at or right next to the resorts (although it was good), but the real stuff you can find off the beaten path.
A few years ago, my wife and I had frequent flier vouchers waiting to be redeemed. We took the opportunity to put our boys with the grandparents and jump for a quick three-day getaway to Montego Bay, Jamaica. For anyone who has had the pleasure of experiencing a retreat like this, you know food plays a major role in the adventure.
We sat on the beach with Red Stripe’s in hand as the sun went down, snorkeled, ate, and ate some more. But, it was on the way back from a glorious day-trip to the Dunn’s River Falls waterfall that I made the best decision on our trip. I poked my head up to our bus driver and said, “I trust you implicitly, we’d love to experience some REAL Jamaican Jerk Chicken. Can you take us to your favorite spot in town?”
As is usually the case when seeking “the best,” the wheels of the automobile left the paved roads. We headed down dirt roads and narrow passages of the nearby villages. It was a sea of thatched roofs.
We got out of the bus and walked under the thatched overhang. The smell and sight of the wood-fire grills smoking the chicken was magnificent. The taste was an explosion. We were now experiencing authentic.
If you’re seeking food advice for your next journey, trust the locals and venture off the beaten path! Trust me – and it’s not only the food where you’ll encounter authenticity.
Jason Barger is author of Step Back from the Baggage Claim: Change the World, Start at the Airport.
Jason Barger spent seven straight days flying 6,458 miles to seven different cities – without leaving the airports the entire time. He studied 10,000 minutes of observations at all four corners of the U.S. and reflected on how our airport experiences can teach us about our lives TODAY. The funny and inspiring stories remind us how to change our daily world in our personal lives, businesses, schools, and faith communities! Join the movement. All four editions of Step Back from the Baggage Claim are motivational books perfect for anyone looking to impact change in their life and work.
