Pan chicken is as rooted in Jamaican cuisine as our national dish of ackee and saltfish. So it was a grand affair at the Caribbean Broilers (CB) Eastern Region Pan Chicken Festival on Sunday at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in St Andrew.

The utensil of choice was aluminium foil with pieces of succulent pan chicken. The stalls that dotted the grounds represented the eastern parishes of Kingston and St Andrew, St Mary, Portland, St Catherine and St Thomas.

While the adults feasted, the children had much to entertain them. From merry-go-round, bounce-about, rock climbing and tin can alley, to vienna sausage eating and dancing competitions. Grace Cock Soup was also a favourite, especially as the skies opened and a light shower dampened the grounds.

Each of the contestants was confident in their special seasoning while others hoped for the best, like Michael Jackson from St Mary with his mild jerked chicken. "You never know but like Bob (Marley) said , 'Chances are,'" said the first-time contestant. While feeling a little pressure being from the parish of the famous Boston jerk, André Moore was confident about his sweet and spicy chicken. The seasonings are a well guarded secret but he did reveal that ginger and guava were included.

Champions

Michael Jackson from St Mary's mild jerked chicken served with yam.

The judges declared that the Pan Chicken champions were Mark Stennett from Kingston and St Andrew, Karena Dare for St Thomas, Clement Dixon from St Catherine, Reveil Thomas from Portland and Claudia Mitchell for the parish of St Mary.

As the afternoon wore on, entertainer Merciless, Digicel rising star Cameal Davis, dancer Kieva, radio personality Dr Orville Taylor, and MC Kiki, trickled onto the grounds with their specially seasoned chicken for the celebrity cook-off.

When the smoke cleared, Cameal Davis proved that not only could she sing but she could cook as well, winning the cook-off.

André Moore's sweet spicy chicken.