Secret Foodies last event of 2014 was a colourful, spirited affair. Taking over a new Caribbean inspired restaurant in Surry Hills called Jonkanoo foodies embraced the tropical flair of Caribbean life.
Jonkanoo was opened in early 2014 by Jamaican born chef and owner Damion Browne. Damion comes to Sydney via the US where his family is the restaurant business. With Sydney diners being more curious to try different cuisines Jonkanoo is a timely addition to Sydney’s eastern suburbs dining scene.
We literally cruised the culinary flavours of the Caribbean with dishes on the menu from Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad, Martinique, Haiti and the Bahamas. A signature dish at Jonkanoo is the Jamaican jerk chicken. This jerk recipe is a family secret, not even Damion’s chefs know how to make it!
A Caribbean dinner wouldn’t be complete without Appleton Estate rum cocktails. The Jamaican rum is on any good Caribbean back bar and was poured with a generous hand into our fruity, cocktails during the evening. A crowd favourite was Appleton Rum mixed with Strangelove Ginger Beer.
The vibe at Jonkanoo is relaxed and fun. It’s the kind of place you can go for a casual drink and snack or get a group together and try one of their banquet menus.
Here’s what we ate:
Empanada de papa and
Potato empanadas
(Puerto Rico/Columbia)
Trini Carniaval Doubles
Curried chana, peppa, mango
(Trinidad & Tobago)
Jerk Chicken (Marinated in the family recipe for 48 hours!)
House smoked …on the spicy side of tings!!
(Jamaica)
Pumpkin, broadbean, callaloo, coconut curry
(All the Caribbean Islands have their version but this one hails from the streets of Port au Prince)
(Haiti)
Rice “n” peas
Coconut milk, kidney beans, spring onion
(Bahamas)
Rootsman slaw and Coco bread for the table
Cake renverse a l’ananas, crème anglaise au rhum
Pineapple upside down cake, rum anglaise
(Martinique)
Jonkanoo
583 Crown St, Surry Hills
02 9699 0019
http://www.jonkanoo.com.au/