Country: Jamaica
Dish: Jerk chicken
Location: Lawrenceville
Stop: #20
It’s been more than a decade since Desmond Nembhard moved to Atlanta, but if the Kingston 30 chef wants to be transported back to Jamaica, jerk chicken can do the trick.
“We do it on the grill, not on the oven, ‘cuz it’s supposed to be done on the grill,” Nembhard said.
Served with rice and plantains, the jerk chicken is a hot item…on and off the grill.
“Everyone comes in wanting jerk chicken,’ Nembhard said.
“How does this dish represent Jamaica?”
“If you go to Jamaica [the jerk chicken is] on the street side, they have an open drum,” Nembhard said. “It’s just something flavorful, the smell? No matter where you are, you’re gonna smell it. It sits and it marinates for a while. If you go to Jamaica, they’re gonna talk about jerk. And now worldwide, everyone wants to do jerk.”
“How does this dish represent Atlanta?”
“We have such a huge Jamaican and Caribbean population here,” Nembhard said.
While the ATL vibe is not too far removed from Jamaica, according to Nembhard.
“The more laid-back atmosphere, it reminds me of home,” he said. “The pace is much slower.”