Four days of non-stop vibes, quality entertainment, and exciting flavours are planned for this year’s edition of Jamaica Food and Drink Festival (JFDF).
Set for November 13-16, JFDF celebrates 11 years of culinary experiences.
Held at the gardens at Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Friday night, the event’s official launch gave guests a glimpse into what is to be expected.
Music provided by DJ Franco and delectable treats on hand, the festival, which will once again be presented by Visa, the event’s platinum partner, is gearing up to be one for the books.
According to Co-Festival Director Nicole Pandohie, the offering has grown tremendously over the past decade.
Having been established on delivering a premium culinary event paired with unparalleled entertainment, it will continue to be a staple on the local foodie calendar.
“I am honestly extremely proud of the growth, because when we started this 11 years ago we kinda thought, ‘Let’s test the waters and see what we can do with food and drink in Jamaica.’ Those first two years, every event sold out, and we thought, “Okay, let’s do this again,” and now at 11 years [on] it has grown leaps and bounds, and we now have international chefs asking us to come in, international media. It’s been an amazing, amazing ride,” said Pandohie.
In what was a true testament to the JFDF’s place on the gastronomy landscape, not even rain could dampen the spirits at the launch. Guests lingered across the gardens of the Jamaica Pegasus engaging in good conversation, soaking up the vibes, and indulging in the treats.
“It warms my heart to see the turnout every year. We have an amazing product, and the possibilities are limitless: Food, Brand Jamaica, and the vibes, it’s a winning combination,” Pandohie added.
Heaping praises on the JFDF, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Floyd Green said the festival has become a bridge connecting a product with local farmers with the work done behind the scenes to help produce an event of this magnitude. He expressed that too often farmers and fisherfolk get lost in the narrative, but the JFDF has presented the unique opportunity to not only make the connection but also to thrust much-needed spotlight on the men and women who form the base of the food industry.
“I think a lot of times people divorce food from our farmers and fishers not recognising that they are the ones who give us the food we eat and when you do a food festival again people think about the entertainment, the excitement, but do they make the connection that its all because of our agriculture and fisheries sector and that is why we at the ministry have supported this event,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “We have to be on board to provide that connection and help celebrate Jamaica. We do have the best food in the world, and when you put it in a fashion like this, it becomes an attraction for people all over the world. The festival has been amazing, and each year they outdo themselves. Last year, I was happy they had an event specifically about Jamaican food reimagined, Kuyah. Pork Palooza over the years has been a favourite, and the Meet Street now we at the ministry have partnered with them to do a farmer’s market that enhances the experience. Not only will you get food, but also fresh produce, and the farmers came last year and did very well and will be back this year.”
Kuyah is set for November 13 in downtown Kingston; Decade 2.0, which includes the popular Pork Palooza, will be staged on November 14; while Meet Street and the Market are set for November 15 at Port Royal Naval Dockyard. The festival will close the curtains on the 2025 staging with Boozy Brunch on November 16.
