A Jamaica On A Plate dinner will be held on Thursday, July 21 at 6 p.m. at the Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace Road.
"Jan Goldsmith, a native of Jamaica, will be preparing mouth-watering dishes and beverages including the world famous Jamaican rum punch and jerk chicken, rice and peas, soup, fish and desert, all influenced by the spices and flavors of Jamaica," organizers said.
The cost is $12 person. Guests should register at rsvp@jewishchattanooga.com or by calling 423 493-0270.
"Jamaican food includes a mixture of cooking techniques, flavors and spices - Spanish, African, British, Indian and Chinese all of whom have inhabited the island. Jan grew up eating a wide variety of tropical fruits, meats and seafood like Jamaica’s national dish ackee and saltfish, a popular breakfast dish but is eaten at any time throughout the day. Soup, an important part of the Jamaican culture, and of course the famous 'jerking' method of spicing and slowly cooking meat to preserve the juices and produce a unique flavor will be sampled during the evening.
"Jan started cooking at a young age, being fascinated with the sight and smell of the food. She quickly learned what seasonal foods were and incorporated them. Moving recently from South Florida, where Jamaican spices and fresh vegetables were abundant, Chattanooga has been a culinary challenge," officials said.
“Making changes in traditional recipes is done through experimentation with different flavors”, said Ms. Goldsmith. “I always add something special, but keep the sense of tradition.”
In addition to shopping at one local market, she travels to Atlanta where there is a large Jamaican community to get specialty fresh meats, fish and vegetables. Although Ms. Goldsmith considers herself a home cook, she is a graduate of the Hospitality Management Program from Florida International University
"Food plays a crucial role on how Jamaicans identify themselves. Always preparing for a drop-in guest or two, the culture likes to see the enjoyment of others at their meal tables. This is one of the ways the culture has created a sense of community. Mealtimes are a time to catch up on gossip and the sharing of ideas. Mealtimes are usually social and relaxing time and often accompanied by music," officials said.