*** PHOTO Trip Journal aboard Carnival's CONQUEST (Sept. 2012, Caribbean) ***

"Scotchies" has 3 locations in Jamaica and it's famous for it's authentic jerk food - "Best Jerk Chicken in Jamaica."

At first, truth being told, we did question whether this was a true local favourite and really "the best Jerk Chicken in Jamaica,"

or just the most popular.

Well, after a DELICIOUS LUNCH at "Scotchies" on a hot-hot-hot day, the verdict is in: EXCELLENT Jerk Chicken (and Jerk Pork too) !

NOTE that authentic Jamaican Jerk Chicken is grilled over sweetwood and pimento wood logs.

Therefore, authentic Jamaican jerk chicken is challenging to get anywhere else

because the “grill” is literally made and grown in their natural environment.

You could smell the smoke and spices of the Jerk chicken (and pork too) grilling!

If this does not spark your hunger, then you must be vegetarian! : - ))

And what's better than a COLD "Red Stripe" beer in a hot Jamaican day, so CHEERS!

 

That DOES look DELICIOUS!! Amazing picture review!

Glad that you enjoy it!

It was indeed very, very good! And for $15.00 USD, it was also a bargain!

When possible, we like to mingle and eat with the locals, so this was a good call in Jamaica!

For comparison, take a look (and a listen) to a similar lunch experience in the streets of St. Kitts:

VIDEO (delicious lunch in St. Kitts):

Another note - Any person that enjoys real “Indian people hot” or “Thai people hot” you’ve met your match with

Scotchies' house made Scotch Bonner Pepper Hot Sauce!

I found a perfect description of the hot sauce by a blogger that eat at this place (different location but same great food!):

"The dangerous thing about this sauce is that it’s addicting, but it almost hurts.

- To stop the spiciness of the sauce, you almost have to have more of it.

- The initial flavour of the sauce is sweet, a bit tangy and then immediately you’re hit with the powerful spice of roasted Scotch Bonnet peppers!

- It gets gradually spicier and the heat lingers long after you finish your bite and it’s followed by a faint bitterness.

- It’s a very full peppery spice, not like a chili spice, and it’s the kind of spice that makes your saliva glands go.

- When the tongue is on fire it needs to cool down and changing the flavour profile helps,

so having something sweet makes it go away temporarily.

- That’s why you just want more and more of this sauce because the first 2 seconds of it is sweet.

- This sauce was excellent, but 1 spoonful of this with a 1/4 chicken would have my eyes watering and my nose running.

If you bite into the seeds… I feel bad for you. Eat the starches if you do… or drink milk! Never water!"

Same blogger mentions the wonderful "rice and peas" served at Jamaica's Scotchies:

"This is typical Jamaican rice cooked in coconut milk and it was at every lunch and dinner.

- It’s not actually peas, but red kidney beans that they call “peas”.

This was really good with the Scotch Bonnet pepper hot sauce, and the beans helped cut the heat."

After that delicious LUNCH at Scotchies, we had only few minutes for 'siesta' as the driver arrived into Montego Bay's "Hip Strip" - Gloucester Avenue.

Parking was easy to find - right across the street from the Margaritaville!

Now Montego Bay's Margaritaville is only a short 10 minute ride from the cruise pier, so we had plenty of time to wonder around,

enjoy drinks (remember? It's always HOT-HOT-HOT in Jamaica and hidration is key!) and did some shopping too!

Other guests were arriving by sea aboard catamarans (that make regular stops at this Montego Bay hotspot).

After being serenaded on the bamboo raft along Martha Brae River, we enjoyed 'the view' as we arrived at Montego Bay's hot spot! : - ))

Montego Bay's Margaritaville is perfect for anyone looking for exciting entertainment, a lively, fun atmosphere, delicious food and fun concoctions.

A popular attraction with both adults and children is the 120ft waterslide winding its way from the rooftop terrace above into the warm Caribbean below.

A popular attraction is the 120ft waterslide, which winds its way from the rooftop terrace above into the warm Caribbean below.

This also includes two giant water trampolines connected by a log cross, and the floating Margaritaville deck anchored offshore.

On the upper level, there is open air dining and the upper deck that provides unparalleled views of the Caribbean Sea.

Margaritaville is perfect for anyone looking for exciting entertainment, a lively, fun atmosphere, delicious food and fun concoctions!

And remember: HIDRATE! And do not worry: you'll exercise going up the stairs for the restrooms - if need be! : - ))

MARGARITAVILLE was also the perfect spot to keep an eye on our Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship

docked in Montego Bay by the Carnival's MAGIC:

MARGARITAVILLE - the upper deck provides unparalleled views of the Caribbean Sea (and then some!) !

We continued our trip with some shopping along Montego Bay's "Hip Strip" - Gloucester Avenue.

More shopping and wondering around Montego Bay's "Hip Strip" - Gloucester Avenue.

Shopping and people watching along Montego Bay's "Hip Strip" - Gloucester Avenue.

Our shore excursion in Montego Bay, Jamaica came finally to an end as we left Margaritaville,

picking-up a nice couple from Louisiana (who got off with us at the Cruise Terminal/Pier that Wednesday afternoon):

~ Next installment will include the Sail-away from Montego Bay, Jamaica! ~

At the end of our shore excursion, the driver dropped us off at the same place where we were picked-up -

the main cruise terminal in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Before heading to the free shuttle bus to get back to Carnival's Conquest, we did some last minute shopping and

enjoyed a refreshing ice-cream cone too!

As we were waiting for the FREE shuttle to take back to the Carnival's Conquest,

we were watching the fever of Carnival's Magic cruise ship:

Carnival's MAGIC cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Carnival's MAGIC cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Finally, we're inside the FREE SHUTTLE and ready to return to our cruise ship, docked around the corner from Carnival's Magic.

Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

As we returned to Carnival's Conquest cruise ship, we were in for a pleasant surprise:

VIDEO (Drummers welcoming us back in Montego Bay, Jamaica):

Ironically, there are over 25 types of drums in Jamaica but Jamaicans usually only use three types within their style of music.

Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

DRUMS are Jamaica's heartbeat and we were enjoying the show that Wednesday evening, September 26th 2012!

VIDEO (Drummers welcoming us back in Montego Bay, Jamaica):

VIDEO (Drummers welcoming us back in Montego Bay, Jamaica):

As we boarded the CONQUEST, we could see Island boys playing soccer outside and having fun!

Sail-away celebration aboard Carnival's Conquest - Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Our Sailaway celebration was as warm as the welcome that we received earlier that day in Jamaica

(and the tropical shores of Montego Bay City)!

Carnival's Conquest cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Carnival's Conquest cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Sail-away celebration aboard Carnival's Conquest - Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Carnival's MAGIC cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Carnival's MAGIC cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Carnival's MAGIC cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Carnival's MAGIC cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Carnival's MAGIC cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Carnival's MAGIC cruise ship seen from the decks of Carnival's CONQUEST in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

VIDEO (Sail-away celebration in Montego Bay, Jamaica):

Carnival's MAGIC cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

Carnival's MAGIC cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

VIDEO (Sail-away celebration in Montego Bay, Jamaica):

Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship in Montego Bay, Jamaica (September 26, 2012)

I enjoyed the drummers but really liked your new vids on the evening show! Motown, a nostalgic moment for DW and I.....

As nchikk put it:

"Ok, Motown show. We enjoyed this show. Basically it was a flown-on entertainer performing with the ship's show band. At one time he pulled a few volunteers from the audience. The music was good. The audience members added a comedic aspect to it. At one point, a woman (bless her heart) ran to the stage and proceeded to request a song of the singer. He was nice, trying to get her to understand it wasn't really a radio show where she called in requests, but what are you gonna do? Bless her heart, he finally got her to sit down. 5 claps. "