Scotchie's jerk centre expands

Janet Silvera, Hospitality Jamaica Coordinator

Photos by Janet Silvera - Head chef at Scotchie's Too in Ocho Rios, Mark Miller, prepares the signature meal, 'jerked pork', at the restaurant.

Montego Bay's most popular jerk centre, Scotchie's has opened a new eatery just outside the cruise ship capital in Ocho Rios in St. Ann.

Tagged Scotchie's Too the casual 'let your hair down' restaurant is located to the left of the famous Drax Hall corner and across the road from the St. Ann Polo Club in Mamee Bay, St. Ann.

A renowned eating place, which made its way into the hearts of jerk lovers worldwide, Scotchie's is the joint where recently resigned co-host of ABC's 'The View', Star Jones, made known her preferred Jamaican eatery.

Serving Boston-style (Portland) jerked pork and chicken, steamed roasted fish, accompanied by sweet potatoes, yam, breadfruit, corn and festival, the thatched roof restaurant has the capacity to accommodate groups as large as 150 members comfortably.

creatively built

Authentically Jamaican, owner and operator of the two Scotchie's restaurants, Tony Rerrie has creatively built four zinc roof gazebos where diners meet, and a thatched roof bar for watering-hole lovers.

Innovatively designed, 'Scotchie's Too' bar chairs are made out of red mangrove, while the counter is carved out of Jamaican cedar. One of the areas taken into consideration was wheelchair access and ramps for the physically challenged.

Within a few months, Mr. Rerrie says he will be diversifying the business into an all Jamaican restaurant serving breakfast as early as 5:30 a.m. "We will have dishes such as oxtail, stew peas, and curried goat on the menu," he told Hospitality Jamaica.

filled a void

The restaurant has filled a void in Ocho Rios which currently boasts only one jerk centre, having lost the popular 'Double V' a few years ago.

Mr. Rerrie said his target market is the truckers who use the Chalky Hill main road through Steer Town, St. Ann.

The restaurant will also serve visitors housed in the many villas in the Mamee Bay Estate, Riu Ocho Rios and Sandals Dunn's River.

The reputable New York Times has described Scotchie's as the place to eat in Montego Bay. A quote from a 2003 article speaks to the pungent combination of wood smoke and Scotch bonnet peppers, which is almost as ubiquitous in Jamaica as the throb of reggae.

Popular sources of jerk, the country's mouth-searing version of barbecue, include Scotchie's, opposite the Holiday Inn west of Montego Bay. Typically, they are open from noon until late into the evening. A Red Stripe beer or soft drink and a slice or two of potato-like roasted breadfruit cost about US$15 for two, the article said.