GOOOAAALLLL!!!
CARIBBEAN JERK PIT
What’s the key to great jerk chicken? “The person cooking it. I’m used to the way my grandma or my mom cooks it,” says the Jamaican-Canadian star defender. “It needs the right amount of spices and ingredients but also love. That’s the key ingredient.” The people at Caribbean Jerk Pit must be loving people because this dish earns rave reviews from the perennially positive de Guzman.
The crunchy skin, moist tender chicken and rich oxtail gravy remind him of a home-cooked meal, though he could have handled a little more heat. “A good plate for someone who wants to enjoy the spiciness of the jerk and also the aftertaste,” he says.
Price: $6.20 for a small, 10737 Yonge St., 905-883-5798
Click here to watch Julian de Guzman pick his favourite dish
ISLAND STYLIN’
Caribbean Bistro, 2439 Yonge St.
“The spices are perfect. The initial bite, you don’t really taste them, but it has a nice finishing touch.” De Guzman loves the slightly burnt outside and the tender inside. “This is what jerk chicken looks like to me. I give it two thumbs up.” Price: $11.95
A BEAUTIFUL GAME
Albert’s Real Jamaican Foods, 542 St. Clair Ave. W.
“Not as crispy as some would like, but not bad,” he says. “This is something I would eat at a barbecue on the weekend, licking my fingers.” In all, an impressive traditional jerk dish, but it too could use a bit more heat. A solid beginner plate. Price: $8 for a small
THE SPICE IS RIGHT
Island Foods, 1310 Don Mills Rd.
“I guess this is good for a nice date,” says de Guzman. “With jerk chicken, I like to use my hands and get messy with it. But with this one, you can use a knife and fork.” A bit too meaty and a bit drier than the others, but a nice finishing spice bumps it to fourth. Price: $7.45
COOL RUNNINGS
Mr. Jerk, 3050 Don Mills Rd.
“A mix of some on the bone, a lot of big meaty pieces and a lot of sauce used on the chicken and the rice. This is going to be a messy one,” he says. It loses points for lack of spiciness, but overall a good introduction to the world of jerk chicken. Price: $8.99 for half
Click here to watch Julian de Guzman pick his favourite dish