National Jamaican Jerk Day turns up the heat with a global flavour showdown

FLORIDA, United States — Jamaican jerk will take centre stage in a cross-cultural culinary showdown as National Jamaican Jerk Day returns on Sunday, October 25, with the 2026 Sizzle & Spice: Catch a Fiyah competition, sponsored by Grace Foods USA. The competition will see three South Florida restaurants putting their own spin on Jamaica’s iconic jerk tradition, blending its signature flavours with African and Indian culinary influences. Defending champion People’s Choice Restaurant will seek to retain its title against Eden Restaurant, which will showcase African-inspired jerk fusion, and Cloves Indian Kitchen, which will incorporate traditional Indian spices and flavours into its creations. Launched in 2020, National Jamaican Jerk Day celebrates the rich heritage, distinctive flavours and growing global influence of Jamaica’s jerk cuisine. As part of this year’s challenge, each participating restaurant received a mystery package containing an assortment of Grace products, all of which must be incorporated into a three-course menu featuring an appetiser, main course and dessert. The dishes will be assessed by a five-member judging panel comprising social media influencers Ashley Desires, Brieats and Ron Avenue, along with Grace Foods representative Donna Callender and Jamaica-born South Florida media personality Jody-Ann Gray, who will also host the competition. Judges will evaluate the dishes based on taste, creativity, presentation, use of Grace products and how successfully the restaurants combine their respective culinary traditions with Jamaican jerk. The winning restaurant will walk away with a cash prize, bragging rights and the title of 2026 NJJD Sizzle & Spice: Catch a Fiyah with Grace Champion. The winner will be announced at 2:00 pm on Sunday, October 25, via the official National Jamaican Jerk Day Instagram page. Andrea Reynolds, global category manager at Grace Foods USA, said the company is excited to return as sponsor of the competition and its accompanying Influencer Bus Crawl. “This year, we are turning up the heat like never before! I am pleased to see Jamaican jerk crossing culinary borders as African and Indian cuisines join the celebration, bringing their own vibrant cultures, spices, and flavour profiles into the mix,” Reynolds said. “That’s the beauty of jerk, it’s bold, it’s versatile, and it brings people and cultures together! We cannot wait to see the creativity these incredible chefs bring to the table,” she added. Food enthusiasts worldwide are also being encouraged to join the celebration by preparing their favourite jerk dishes on October 25 and sharing their creations on Instagram, tagging @NJJD and @GraceFoodsUS.