Spice things up! Scenes from the Boston Jerkfest

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Fans of Carribbean music and spicy food alike flocked to the Boston Jerkfest at the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology on June 29. Jerk, a blend of spices commonly rubbed on meat in Jamaican cuisine, was the star of the day, but there were plenty of other traditional foods to try. The day started out dreary, but between the fantastic eats and energetic atmosphere, it was impossible to be anything but delighted. Take a look at some of the tasty treats and friendly faces that made the day, as the Jamaicans say, irie!



Fans of Carribbean music and spicy food alike flocked to the Boston Jerkfest at the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology on Saturday. Jerk, a blend of spices commonly rubbed on meat in Jamaican cuisine, was the star of the day, but there were plenty of other traditional foods to try. The day started out dreary, but between the fantastic eats and energetic atmosphere, it was impossible to be anything but delighted. Take a look at some of the tasty treats and friendly faces that made the day, as the Jamaicans say, irie!


Fans of Carribbean music and spicy food alike flocked to the Boston Jerkfest at the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology on June 29. Jerk, a blend of spices commonly rubbed on meat in Jamaican cuisine, was the star of the day, but there were plenty of other traditional foods to try. The day started out dreary, but between the fantastic eats and energetic atmosphere, it was impossible to be anything but delighted. Take a look at some of the tasty treats and friendly faces that made the day, as the Jamaicans say, irie!


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Yvette Fair of Boston sold handmade patchwork dresses at her Yomolove Design Studios booth.

Yvette Fair of Boston sold handmade patchwork dresses at her Yomolove Design Studios booth.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Dorothy Jean of Providence, R.I. and Lauriette Howard of Boston browsed through the tents of handmade clothes and jewelry at the festival.

Dorothy Jean of Providence, R.I. and Lauriette Howard of Boston browsed through the tents of handmade clothes and jewelry at the festival.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Ann Chan of Somerville showed off her colorful face paint.

Ann Chan of Somerville showed off her colorful face paint.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Danaiya Simmonds of New York got her face painted by Angela Owens of Boston’s Painting as Art & Ritual.

Danaiya Simmonds of New York got her face painted by Angela Owens of Boston’s Painting as Art & Ritual.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Danielle Croley and Shaquana Mullings of Goodway Bakery in New York handed out samples of the bakery’s traditional rum cake. Mullings, a baker at Goodway, said that each cake is covered in a signature cinnamon rum sauce. The incredibly soft and flavorful treats come in plain, banana, pineapple and Malibu rum, and chocolate flavors.

Danielle Croley and Shaquana Mullings of Goodway Bakery in New York handed out samples of the bakery’s traditional rum cake.


Mullings, a baker at Goodway, said that each cake is covered in a signature cinnamon rum sauce. The incredibly soft and flavorful treats come in plain, banana, pineapple and Malibu rum, and chocolate flavors.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Festival-goers lined up to get a taste of R & S Jamaica Jerk Palace’s signature specialties, like curried goat, oxtails, fried plantains, and of course, jerk chicken and pork.

Festival-goers lined up to get a taste of R & S Jamaica Jerk Palace’s signature specialties, like curried goat, oxtails, fried plantains, and of course, jerk chicken and pork.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Greg Blair, Charlton Becker, Ernie Campbell, and Christy Moulin from the Jamaica Mi Hungry food truck took a break from cruising the streets of Boston to hang out at the festival.

Greg Blair, Charlton Becker, Ernie Campbell, and Christy Moulin from the Jamaica Mi Hungry food truck took a break from cruising the streets of Boston to hang out at the festival.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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The Tempo International Steel Band brightened up a gloomy morning with Caribbean beats.

The Tempo International Steel Band brightened up a gloomy morning with Caribbean beats.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Casey, Lilly, and Meredith Kokos grooved to the music of the steel band.

Casey, Lilly, and Meredith Kokos grooved to the music of the steel band.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Trey Hudson of New York via Jamaica sold colorful Bob Marley tapestries and woven bracelets at the indoor vendors’ pavillion.

Trey Hudson of New York via Jamaica sold colorful Bob Marley tapestries and woven bracelets at the indoor vendors’ pavillion.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Kettly Williamson of Haiti and Candice Hogu of Boston talked up Mama Pearl’s Hot Sauce, an all-natural line of sauces. They come in spicy Carribbean, mild, and strawberry flavors.

Kettly Williamson of Haiti and Candice Hogu of Boston talked up Mama Pearl’s Hot Sauce, an all-natural line of sauces. They come in spicy Carribbean, mild, and strawberry flavors.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Mrs. Peppa Spice’s jams have some serious kick to them! The seasonal Bing Cherry Pleasure was a big hit among visitors.

Mrs. Peppa Spice’s jams have some serious kick to them! The seasonal Bing Cherry Pleasure was a big hit among visitors.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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A vendor displayed intricately embellished leather sandals at her table.

A vendor displayed intricately embellished leather sandals at her table.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Michael Agustin of San Francisco drank coconut water straight out of a fresh coconut shell.

Michael Agustin of San Francisco drank coconut water straight out of a fresh coconut shell.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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DJ Lewis of Dorchester kept an eye on the fresh fruit salad and Singh’s Roti Truck.

DJ Lewis of Dorchester kept an eye on the fresh fruit salad and Singh’s Roti Truck.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Danielle Allen, Domonique Johnson, Aiesha Powell, and Aysha Gregory enjoyed a lunch of jerk and curry at a gardenside table.

Danielle Allen, Domonique Johnson, Aiesha Powell, and Aysha Gregory enjoyed a lunch of jerk and curry at a gardenside table.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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This group might have had the best meal of anyone-- oxtails, curried goat, crabs, rice, peas, and sorrel, a drink made from an herb of the same name and ginger, sugar, cinnamon, and citrus.

This group might have had the best meal of anyone-- oxtails, curried goat, crabs, rice, peas, and sorrel, a drink made from an herb of the same name and ginger, sugar, cinnamon, and citrus.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Adam McGregor, business development manager at Sunset Resorts, turned himself into an ad for Jamaican vacations by sporting the country’s flag on his forehead.

Adam McGregor, business development manager at Sunset Resorts, turned himself into an ad for Jamaican vacations by sporting the country’s flag on his forehead.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Visitors to the Rum and Brew room sampled beers and rums from all over the world.

Visitors to the Rum and Brew room sampled beers and rums from all over the world.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Cleo Wolf of South Windsor, Conn., and Jason Schinis of Brighton sported faux mustaches from the Curious Traveler table and tasted the brand’s signature shandy.

Cleo Wolf of South Windsor, Conn., and Jason Schinis of Brighton sported faux mustaches from the Curious Traveler table and tasted the brand’s signature shandy.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Jack Dortmans, Julie Gottschalk, Tina Kalamut, and Emily Shaw tried Dark and Stormy rum and a specialty drink called Ginger Libation.

Jack Dortmans, Julie Gottschalk, Tina Kalamut, and Emily Shaw tried Dark and Stormy rum and a specialty drink called Ginger Libation.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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“We are Revolutionaries, and so are you!” members of the band Revolutionaries shouted into the crowd. They were one of several performace groups to take center stage on Saturday.

“We are Revolutionaries, and so are you!” members of the band Revolutionaries shouted into the crowd. They were one of several performace groups to take center stage on Saturday.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Dina and Antonio McDonald enjoyed a lunch of jerk chicken, rice, and plantains in the sun.

Dina and Antonio McDonald enjoyed a lunch of jerk chicken, rice, and plantains in the sun.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Kids got to see what it was like to be a couple of feet taller as volunteers helped them walk around on stilts.

Kids got to see what it was like to be a couple of feet taller as volunteers helped them walk around on stilts.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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vendor arranged his display of colorful handmade jewelry and dresses.

A vendor arranged his display of colorful handmade jewelry and dresses.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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This Jamaican-flag inspired dress hung as the centerpiece of a tent.

This Jamaican-flag inspired dress hung as the centerpiece of a tent.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Lugie, of Roxbury’s Back to the Roots store, sold cultural clothing and drums and modeled a traditional dress.

Lugie, of Roxbury’s Back to the Roots store, sold cultural clothing and drums and modeled a traditional dress.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Ten-month-old Kenzie Scott of Boston showed off her painted tiara and adorable smile.

Ten-month-old Kenzie Scott of Boston showed off her painted tiara and adorable smile.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Ella Clausen and Tiffany Leng, who both volunteered at the festival, posed in their Jamaican skirts.

Ella Clausen and Tiffany Leng, who both volunteered at the festival, posed in their Jamaican skirts.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Jenna Persson of Medfield and her friends Lina Birk of Denmark and Tomas Persson of Sweden had lunch in the garden.

Jenna Persson of Medfield and her friends Lina Birk of Denmark and Tomas Persson of Sweden had lunch in the garden.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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Four-year-old Milani Dacosta wore her Jamaican-themed dress to the festival.

Four-year-old Milani Dacosta wore her Jamaican-themed dress to the festival.


Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent


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