Trekking through The Rock’s largest parish, St Ann, our senses were awakened and intrigued by the sweet scent of spices emanating from the steaming pots of nearby eateries. Of course, our curiosity got the better of us and we just had to indulge. Thursday Food shares scenes.

The Coffee Shop

The Coffee Shop has been a must-stop for many motorists travelling to Ocho Rios, as well as vendors in the surrounding area. “It is the best place to stop and pick up a hot cup of tea or coffee, breakfast or even lunch, en route to Ochi,” one vendor told Thursday Food.

Café Express

Once you arrive in the town of Ocho Rios there are a number of food outlets to choose from. Café Express, the only restaurant situated upstairs the Taj Mahal Shopping Centre, caught our attention. The eatery has been operating for two years and boasts a diverse menu. Customers can enjoy soups, salads, appetisers (wings — jerk, barbecue and buffalo), paninis (chicken, ham, fish and pork), curry goat, jerk chicken, jerk pork, pasta, Thai chicken, Thai fish curry and Thai shrimp. The bistro also serves a variety of cocktails and coffee beverages. Although the café has a set menu, manager Sushil Kumar told Thursday Food that they are known for combining the different food items. “We would, for example, mix our chicken kati roll with vegetables or chilli chicken and sizzlers,” Kumar said. Since they are the only eatery in the shopping centre surrounded by electronic and jewellery stores, they do amass a fairly decent gathering, especially on the weekends and in the evenings.

Location: Shop #8 • Taj Mahal Shopping Centre, Ocho Rios • Tel: (876) 974-6487

Reggae Pot Restaurant

Operating for 10 years on Main Street, Ocho Rios, the owners of the Reggae Pot Restaurant were more than happy to welcome us. Besides the inscriptions and clippings with the teachings of the Rastafarian religion on the walls of the restaurant, the eatery provides a number of health-conscious food items for customers. Deano Wynter and Donovan Slythe, who are co-owners of the Rastafarian eatery, also manufacture their own roots drink, Reggae Pot Roots, which the duo tells Thursday Food includes a recipe that is over 20 years old. Other popular items include roots syrup, roots wine, and tube cleansers.

Miss T’s Kitchen

Miss T’s Kitchen is a popular stop for residents of Ocho Rios and a favourite for tourists in search of an authentic Jamaican experience. Known for her innovative food ideas, the creative Anna-Kay Tomlinson has added more spice and diversity to her eatery’s lunch specials. The additions include curry goat patty — curry goat fillet served with a salad and mango chutney, the Red Stripe seafood mix (mussels, octopus and shrimp), curry goat wrap — curry goat fillet wrapped with fried plantain, grilled lobster with plantain chips and wrapped with French bread. Tomlinson has also upped the lunch specials menu a notch by pairing each meal with different wines and the bistro has also diversified with the opening of Miss T’s Vegan Restaurant. Tomlinson told us that her vegan menu includes: curry ackee, coconut and lime tofu, smoked chipotle and basil soup and vegi-burgers with more options to be developed.