|
|
|
|
|
|
Island Grill
To
many Jamaicans, both those at home and those who visit from all corners of
the globe, the Island Grill sign is a welcome sight. For years, Jamaicans
living abroad have been asking “so, when is
Island Grill coming overseas.” And, there have been dozens of
requests for franchises. So imagine their delight when they realize that
Island Grill “gaan a foreign” and
that the first international Island Grill opened up in Lauderdale Lakes at
the end of March. Island
Grill means good home-style Jamaican food – with a difference. What’s
the difference? – it’s a health-conscious version. Many Jamaican
dishes are cooked with oil, too much oil, and while the result is
invariably delicious, let’s face it, Jamaica does not have the most
health-conscious cuisine in the world. Island Grill has found the formula
for preserving the mouth-watering taste that can only come from a Jamaican
kitchen, without an excess of oils and fats. The
signature dish is real Jamaican jerk chicken, grilled over an open flame
in Island Grill’s own jerk sauce, a combination of just the right
seasonings - allspice, scallion, thyme and the essential scotch bonnet
pepper in tasty rather than mouth-searing proportions. A delicious
alternative is the jerk fish, or the very special Island Grill hamburger.
All these are complemented by scrumptious favourites like pumpkin rice,
coconut callaloo rice, soup, green banana fries, plantain or the popular
Festival, a fritter made from cornmeal. (Of course Island Grill have their
own lip-smacking Festival mix). Little
wonder, then, that anyone who has had an Island Grill experience would be
dreaming of having one just around the corner. The restaurants are
characterized by a bright Caribbean décor and a lively and friendly
atmosphere, designed to Island
Grill is also planning to cross the Atlantic – Birmingham, England is
one possible location. The intention is to choose locations that will
attract not only Caribbean people, but significant cross-over business as
well. And Island Grill will be up for the challenge of competing with
established large fast-food chains because,
in addition to the cooking ingredients, all the right marketing
ingredients are in place: quick service, value for money, a healthy
alternative and of course, the authenticity of its Jamaican Jerk cuisine.
Island Grill has also been building its strength in the “home
meal replacement” market. Now
Jamaican jerk is not a new discovery overseas - it has been on the
international scene for a number of years. Wherever Caribbean people live
in great numbers, (and there are very few places on this planet where they
don’t) and indeed whenever non-Caribbean nationals have visited the
island and tasted jerk, it has become a very popular seasoning. What’s
been missing is the knowledge about how to use it. Island Grill will be
filling that gap by putting on public tasting sessions and demonstrations
so that folks who flock to get a taste of the jerk can also learn how to
prepare really good jerk meals cooked by their own hands. In addition to
opening up new opportunities for the various Jamaican companies who
produce jerk seasoning, these hands-on sessions will help promote
Jamaica’s image abroad and that that has always been one of the
components of Island Grill’s corporate culture. All
in all, Island Grill seems set to take the world’s taste buds by storm! A
little History Chicken
Mistress Limited is a wholly owned Jamaican organization, which was
established in November 1991. The company began operating fast-food
outlets under the trade name Chicken Supreme and rebranded as Island Grill
in October 1998.
Island Grill is now the leading Jamaican Jerk quick service chain in the island. There are five very successful Island Grill stores, two in Kingston and one each in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Spanish Town. And Island Grill is the restaurant selected to operate in Chris Blackwell’s Island Jamaica entertainment village adjoining the cruise ship pier in Ocho Rios, scheduled to open in the winter tourist season of 2001 – 2002. Source:
Gracefoods.com
|
|
Contact | Site Map | Search | News & Articles | Home |
make you feel right at home. And in case you thought that Fort Lauderdale
residents were the only lucky ones, fear no more, because Island Grill
will be opening up before the end of the year in Pembroke Pines and the
plan is to open a total of eight restaurants in South Florida over the
next five years.
The
concept of Chicken Supreme was originally chicken cooked on the grill and
packaged in typical North American style. Experts seconded from a United
States chicken chain were brought in and their recipes were offered to the
public. But this strategy was not successful because Jamaicans, and even
resident expatriates found the food much too bland. That was a sign to get
back to our roots, using the essentials of a Jamaican kitchen