Easter is a wonderful time to visit Jamaica for some fine dining. Sit back, relax, and let me tell you why. The island’s rich culture, beautiful scenery, and welcoming people make it a great destination for the holiday. When it comes to Easter, Jamaica has a long, deep history of the observance of the holiday period. This is due to the country’s strong traditional Christian values and belief system. Whether it is attending church, eating, indulging in Easter activities, partying, or spending time with family and friends, the Easter period in Jamaica can be a period of reflection or enjoyment of high-octane thrills. Of course, no true Jamaican Easter celebration is complete without the standard bearer of bun and cheese and escoveitch fish, among the abundance of food and beverage options that you will have at your fingertips, especially at The Tryall Club. Eating Jamaican Easter bun and cheese is taken seriously, as the highly sought-after snack can “Bolt” off supermarket shelves in 9.58 seconds 😉. Like most Jamaicans, you will be in for a surprising treat vacationing with us at The Tryall Club this Easter.
A Jamaican Easter
Easter in Jamaica typically begins with activities starting on Good Friday and continuing through to Easter Monday. Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday will see several sermons and special services highlighting Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday with Easter Sunday taking center stage as the main event. Jamaican Easter tends to be a busy and engaging time. It is a period for quiet Christian reflection during Lent. Which often see people choosing to give up something, whether it be an activity, food, or anything they deem fit for the period. It is said that during this period many people get married, with churches and cathedrals being as booked and busy as The Tryall Club. On the other hand, Easter for many is a time for “spring cleaning” (there are only two seasons in Jamaica; rainy and not rainy…hot and not so hot) where the fancy curtains and sheet sets will come out of storage and see sunlight yet again.
Jamaicans also engage in several cultural activities during the Easter season. These include attending the annual Kite Festival in Kingston, which takes place on Easter Monday, as well as participating in Easter egg hunts, parades, street festivals, or going to the beach. Overall, Jamaican Easter is a time of great joy and celebration for the Jamaican people to come together and remember our faith and cultural traditions.
What Do Jamaicans Eat During Easter?
Aside from the religious aspects of the season, Jamaica is known for its delicious cuisine and Jamaicans eat a variety of traditional foods during Easter. Outside of pounds of Easter bun, we tend to show out when preparing our Jamaican Easter dinner. At this time, you will be treated to some of the best culinary delights the country has to offer, especially seafood. Seafood tends to be of particular interest with different offerings of shrimp, crayfish, oysters, and conch, among other delectable dishes. Nonetheless, the pièce de résistance is nothing other than fish. Fish is probably consumed at its highest during Easter, with it being a staple in almost every meal. You can have it escoveitch, steamed, brown stewed, baked, or grilled. Escoveitch fish is an absolute mainstay on the palate of the island and a must try when vacationing in the country.
Jamaicans will also have family gatherings and prepare food buffet style. A wide variety of other dishes such as ackee and salt fish, jerk pork, baked, fried, or jerked chicken, oxtail, curried mutton, and roast or stewed beef will act as the mainstays. Oxtail is a national delicacy and would not be out of place on a Jamaican dinner table, especially for a Sunday afternoon get-together between family and friends. To wash it all down, carrot, beetroot, and cucumber juices are all common options, oftentimes made with the addition of Dragon Stout or J. Wray & Nephew white rum, or simply opt to have a perfectly chilled Red Stripe beer. It is almost impossible to eat a Jamaican prepared meal without your taste buds tingling and your stomach content.
In addition, there are many great places across the island to eat during the Easter season. If you choose to explore outside of The Tryall Club, here are a few restaurants and food spots across the island to check out this Easter.
1. Scotchies is a popular restaurant known for its delicious jerk chicken and pork. The meat is marinated in a spicy mixture of herbs and spices, then grilled over pimento wood for a unique smoky flavor.
2. Hellshire Beach is a favored spot for seafood lovers during the Easter season. Several seafood stalls serve up fresh fish and seafood, such as fried fish, conch, and shrimp.
3. Gloria’s Seafood City is a well-known restaurant in Kingston that serves up a variety of seafood dishes, such as curried conch, steamed fish, and escoveitched fish.
4. Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records is owned by Jamaican Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt. The menu features a variety of Jamaican and international dishes, such as jerk chicken, burgers, and wings.
5. Devon House is a historic mansion in Kingston that has been turned into a shopping and dining destination. There are several restaurants and food stalls on the property that serve up Jamaican favorites, such as patties, ice cream, and fruit juices.
Overall, Jamaica has a variety of dining options to suit all tastes and budgets. Whether you are looking for fine dining options at The Tryall Club; in your villa, the Beach Grill, the Beach Restaurant, the Great House Restaurant, the Organic Garden, or even off the property, there is a dining experience for everyone to enjoy during the Easter season.
Jamaican Easter Bun Recipe
Now, we have spoken a lot about Jamaicans and our love for Easter bun, but what is it? Jamaican Easter bun is a traditional sugar loaf that is soft, spongy, and sweet and served with butter, fish, margarine, or most commonly, a thick cut of cheddar cheese. Are you interested in baking your own? If you are, here is a chance for you to follow along with a simple Jamaican Easter bun recipe.
For this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
• 2 ounce(s) Margarine
• 1 bottle(s) stout
• 1/2 cup(s) wine
• 1 teaspoon(s) vanilla
• 1/2 tablespoon(s) Browning
• 1 tablespoon(s) Guava Jam (optional)
• 1 medium egg
• 8 ounce(s) dark sugar
• 1 pound(s) counter flour
• 1 teaspoon(s) nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1 teaspoon(s) cinnamon powder
• 1 tablespoon(s) baking powder
• 1 tablespoon(s) mixed spice
• 1/4 pound(s) mixed peel, chopped (optional)
• 1/4 pound(s) raisins, soaked
With all of your ingredients ready, here is what to do:
Melt the margarine and allow it to come to room temperature, then add your wine, vanilla, stout, browning, and egg. If you decide to add the guava (or any other flavor) jam now is the time to do so as well. Stir in the sugar and mix until all the sugar grains are dissolved. Add in all the dry ingredients and then add in the chopped mixed peel and raisins. This ingredient is a hit or miss for many so again, you can forego adding the mixed peel and it will not take away from the Easter bun experience. Combine the liquid mixture with the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. After you have done that, put the batter into a greased, 12” x 4” x 3” loaf pan, or whatever size you have at hand. You may end up with multiple buns depending on the size of the container. Now bake everything in your preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius or 350 degrees Fahrenheit or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted. Place on a rack to cool, and voila, you have just made your perfect Jamaican Easter bun. Happy eating!
Things to Do in Montego Bay at Easter
Wondering what to do in Montego Bay? After you have had your fill of Easter bun and cheese, we can help you burn off some calories with fun activities to consider during your stay at The Tryall Club. Opt for a spot of golf maybe? You can come dressed in your Easter best and tee up for an 18 on one of the finest Montego Bay golf courses here at The Tryall Club. Maybe tennis is more your game? That will not be a problem. Our pristine courts are some of the best places to experience tennis in Jamaica. If tennis is too much for you to handle, then our Pickleball courts offer the same low-impact high-energy experience you will find anywhere in the world. For a much more subdued experience however, we would love for you and your children to experience an Easter Egg hunt with us at Tryall, with a Jamaican twist, of course. And if it is time to tie the knot, our wide range of private villas in Jamaica and beachfront properties offer several options to turn your Easter wedding into an Easter Wonderland. We look forward to having you and cannot wait to welcome you for a luxurious and relaxing stay at The Tryall Club.
Jamaica Carnival
Carnival in Jamaica is about having the time of your life from attending beach parties and dressing up in colorful stunning costumes, to masquerading in the Carnival Road March. You can revel in the elements of the Jamaican carnival experience. When is carnival in Jamaica you may ask? Jamaica Carnival will take place from April 12th until April 18th, 2023. Jamaica is renowned for being the birthplace of reggae music, paired with soca and calypso music, it contributes significantly to the country’s sense of identity. The parades and parties are dominated by reggae, soca, dancehall, and calypso, making carnival an important cultural event. Although Montego Bay is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island, it does not have its own dedicated carnival. However, there is no need to worry. Visitors to Montego Bay, during the carnival season, can still experience the excitement of Jamaica Carnival through various carnival-themed events and activities at The Tryall Club. We can enhance your experience by curating your very own in-villa carnival by booking your band, designing your carnival menu, and decorating your villa to provide you and your party with the best carnival experience.
Let us help you to experience the best Easter vacation in Jamaica.
