I can’t help but congratulate Jamie Oliver for launching the Punchy Jerk Rice. He has always been one of my favourite chefs, so yeah, I am well chuffed for him. I am more happy for him because he is not just a celebrity chef, but he’s a very clever one too.
A few years ago Jamie’s interpretation of jollof rice caused outrage from West Africans when he used cherry tomatoes instead of blended ones. It was such a big scandal it was dubbed #jollofgate. Jamie Oliver was warned that West Africans took their food seriously.
Now just a few days ago, Jamie Oliver hit the headlines again. This time he has deeply offended Jamaicans. When Jamie Oliver launched his jerk rice, one British MP, Dawn Butler who I assume has some Jamaican descent took to Twitter to accuse Jamie of using the term ‘Jerk’ to boost his sales.
“Jamie Oliver I’m just wondering do you know what Jamaican jerk actually is? It’s not a word you put before stuff to sell your products,” she wrote. “This appropriation from Jamaica needs to stop.”
After that social media went ablaze over the Jerk rice, with a lot of black people accusing Jamie of cultural appropriation.
Personally, I don’t understand why black people have to moan about every little thing. We can’t be victims forever, no wonder why we are always at the bottom of everything. I’m finding the outrage about the jerk rice quite embarrassing, to be honest. Like I just want to say, black people, please get a life! So what Jamie did his own version of jerk rice. Oh sorry, apparently there is no such thing as ‘jerk rice’. Well, until Jamie invented it. Fair play to him.
I love Indian food so much I make my own versions of chicken korma and pilau rice. I love Ghanaian food so much I make my own version of jollof rice. If I choose to launch my own chicken korma or jollof rice, that’s within my rights to do so. I think we live in a world that’s so diverse culturally, choice and preference of food (no matter what country it originates from) should be declared a basic human right. This fussing over food is getting out of hand. Sometimes the victim mentality of black people is beyond pathetic.
At least we are learning more about Jamaican food, thanks to Jamie Oliver.
I was born in Zimbabwe and no one even knows or bothers to imitate the food that’s eaten there, it’s that boring. Jamaica should be proud that their food is so appreciated on a global scale. I have found myself at Jamaican restaurants a number of times, the food is just beautiful and oozes so much flavour and character.
Jamie Oliver saw an opportunity and chose to run with it, and black people are the ones giving him free marketing as he laughs all the way to the bank. So congratulations Jamie Oliver, your Jerk rice is a success, thanks to black people. I can’t wait to try some of that punchy jerk rice, sounds really good. I am not Jamaican but I do love Jamaican food very much, hope that’s okay.
jeangasho.com 
Jamie Oliver has taken two traditional dishes from two very distinct black cultures, changed the ingredients (even though there is no such thing as “jerk rice”), knowing that he wouldn’t have been able to profit from them if he would’ve named them something else. And I’m sure you didn’t need Jamie Oliver to help you discover your love of Jamaican food.
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I can’t imagine how annoying this obsession with cultural appropriation is for chefs, who make a living out of learning different cuisines.
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I just doubt the Jerk will taste authentic, but then why can’t he make his own version? We can judge it via taste, and rate how close to the real thing it is.
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Anger is the immediate response to cultural appropriation and the natural response by formerly oppressed people’s. It’s a secondary emotion that comes from either fear or loss or remembered trauma. The truth is not everyone likes the authentic recipe and not everyone likes the new fusion version. I agree with you. They should just relax and remember that imitation is the highest form of flattery.
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There is nothing wrong with the authentic recipe,people like Jamie Oliver dumb down people of colours food when they feel like it. You can’t blame him though, foods like pie and chips and fish and chips are so bland, compared to curries etc, that he has to add some kind flavour to traditional English food. People of color aren’t exactly running to add their cultural legacy to English food. I can’t ever imagine dhal replacing mushy peas for example,just wouldn’t fit.
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That’s true. He’s a businessman first and foremost. Sadly, the commercial version is nothing like the authentic recipe. It’s pretty clear when you eat curry in India.
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Yep. But Jamaican food is what it is and I wish people would leave it alone. Curry… There are so many regions in India that have so many dishes,so its not a surprise that Jamaican curry is going to taste different.
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Appreciate your post but as a born Jamaican, I am somewhat offended by the comment that would suggest people are now learning about Jamaican food because of Jamie Oliver. In what way? There’s so much wrong with that statement but I can appreciate that it’s your opinion. People all over the world LOVE Jamaican food… real Jamaican food! This is fusion food foolishness, in my opinion being marketed by someone with zero connection to the Jamaican culture. “Jerk” is synonymous with Jamaican style cooking, and with ingredients that are kitchen staples.
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I applaud you!! Him outta order!! We have so many other tasty dishes, if Africans can fight for their cultural legacy,why shouldn’t we Caribbeans?!
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He was out of order! Why didn’t he use his English food and do something exciting with it instead of ripping off one of the many dishes Jamaicans actually eat! Joker!! White chefs need to stop taking the piss out of others cultures or use it for financial gain! Marco Pierre White is another idiot as well-Rice and (Green Peas)peas,chicken risotto soggy hot mess anyone?
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