Sometimes it’s worth digging deep for good Caribbean jerk, and Tasty Jerk is somewhere I’d happily trek the extra mile for. I’ll warn you now – this rather run down shack near Selhurst Stadium is in zone 4 and quite off the beaten track. Another warning – the place ain’t pretty. It’s take away only, with little else other than a counter and giant size oil drums cut into giant barbeques that are covered in thick tar, belching out smoke day and night; you can only feel sorry for their neighbours. If you’re exclusively a ‘fine dining’ sort of person, the place may well horrify you so I’d avoid!
Those that make the effort will be rewarded with the deeply layered flavour of charred meat combined with an irresistible spicy heat – it’s soul food that keeps you coming back for more. I’ll usually get a combo of Jerk chicken and pork – which are generously portioned. It’s also worth trying the Jerk goat, which is quite hard to find elsewhere. I’d also recommend the classic rice and peas with gravy along with it. I’ll usually ask for the sweeter, BBQ sauce drizzled on the meat, and then have the incredibly hot-yet-fragrant scotch bonnet pepper sauce on the side to dip into as you go – no other sauce demonstrates the pleasure-pain principle as well as this. You can also purchase jars of the stuff to take home and remind you of the experience. You won’t regret it.
