Lifestyle & Food: Culinary feast at Rebel Salute

Patrons attending Rebel Salute over the years go to the show for the music, of course, but the food - with its exclusivity policy - is always quite an enjoyable addition to the party.

No alcohol or meat are served at Rebel Salute, but fish is. And it was served on Friday night in a variety of mouth-watering ways - jerked, fried, steamed, stewed, baked, roasted.

So, even while the likes of Big Youth, Anthony Cruz, JC Lodge, Tony Rebel and others were thrilling the audience, patrons were flocking the food court to satisfy their taste buds.

One of the popular stalls was Little Ochie from Alligator Pond, St Elizabeth, a regular at Rebel Salute over the years, and one of the sponsors for the event this year.

"It come een like our place right now. From Manchester days, we nuh change. We just try bring everything from St Elizabeth to St Ann," said supervisor Garel Kirlew.

Patrons also flocked the stall to enjoy natural juices, jerked corn, jerked breadfruit, grilled conch, and fish prepared in a variety of ways.

Another regular vendor who gave his name as Thomas, from St Catherine, served up fried delicacies such as breadfruit, sweet potatoes, plantains, along with ackee and salt fish, bammy, roasted yam and boiled corn.

"No complaints," Thomas told THE STAR, when asked how business has been at the festival over the years.

A wide variety of fruits and natural juices were available, as always - sugar cane, pineapple, watermelon, ripe banana, jelly coconut, fruit baskets that included strawberries and grapes. There were also traditional Jamaican foods like fritters, while menu boards advertised dishes such as stewed conch, curried conch, conch soup, curried shark, curried shrimp, garlic lobster and other items.