Ingredient appreciation — what makes Rice and Peas special

What sets Rice and Peas apart is the handling of allspice pimento. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the smoky from the jerk pit result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Jamaican jerk cooking traces to the Maroon communities who preserved meat with allspice and chilli. The a roadside rum bar atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had Red Stripe beer as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Rice and Peas is the place to start.