"A Taste of the Caribbean": Barbecued Jerk Chicken

Hola amigos!

My name is Sarah and I am currently a student at the Unniversity of Louisisan at Lafayette. I am a former student of Mrs. Anderson (for two consecutive semesters) and I'd like to begin by sharing some information about myself. Although I spent eight years of my life livin in the great state of Ohio ( I used to collect buckeyes), I've had the pleasure to experience a variety of different cultures and various foods. Through the military I've had the opportunity to live in some really cool places. My absolute favorite place is Puerto Rico, and for this reason I'd like to share a little part of the Caribbean with you! With this being said, fire up your grill and get ready to lure your neighbors in with the aroma of barbecued jerk chicken.

Ingredient:

-4 boneless chicken breasts

-6 ounces of soy sauce

-4 ounces of white wine vinegar

-2 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped

-1 onion chopped

-2 ounces of vegetable oil

-2 tablespoons of brown sugar

-1 tablespoon of dried thyme

-1/2 teaspoon of allspice

-1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves

-1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg

-1 jalepeno pepper, roughly chopped

Directions:

To begin, place all of the ingredients, except the chicken, in a food processor and process until smooth. Next, make 4 parallel cuts about 1/2 inch deep in each chicken breast and place in a shallow dish. Pour the pureed mixture over the chicken and rub it in with your hands, making sure the mixture gets into the cuts. After doing this, cover and refrigerate for 4-6 hours. Lastly, grill over medium coals for 15-20 minutes turning occasionally.

I found this recipe at Food.com and I hope all of you get the chance to indulge in a little taste of the islands!

Adios and good luck,

Sarah

How to write an effective review post

Photo credit: Jane Lydick Staid
1. Develop an interesting title for your blog post. Do not use "Review of...".
2. List the name of the restaurant or locale for your dining experience.
3. Either link to the restaurant's website or list the address.
4. List the categories that you are reviewing.
5. Use your descriptive powers to explain how your dining experience reflects each category.
6. Rate each category on a scale of 1-5 stars.
7. Rate your overall experience, using an average of all the stars the locale earned.
8. Make a recommendation for the reader. Should they visit the locale? Why or why not?
9. Photographs are strongly encouraged. Consider taking a picture of your food. Be wary of taking a picture of the restaurant or locale. The business may have a policy against it. You may NOT steal an image from the web. You must give credit to the photographer, whether it is yourself, your aunt, or a professional.
10. This review is to be your own writing. Do not steal ideas from other review sites like yelp or yahoo.

A note about live reviews: Writing a live review about a real locale can be challenging. You want to be honest, but fair. It is imperative that you list specific, detailed reasons to support your evaluation, particularly when writing less than perfect reviews. Don't just say, "The food was bad." Explain why. See sample excellent and poor reviews for more insight.

How Sweet it is...

Photo Credit: Dan Doke

Sample Rave Review:

Shabby Chic Bakery
Windham NH

Ambiance
The Shabby Chic Bakery invokes thoughts of an old-world Parisian bakery. The decor is in the "shabby chic" style, as befits the bakery's name. That is to say that, that there is a feminine and antique quality to the decor. The environment is welcoming and well lit by both natural and artificial lighting. The open kitchen area invites one to feel as if one is visiting an old friend's kitchen and the cheery staff completes this feeling.
Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Cleanliness
The bakery seating area and kitchen area, which is visible to the customers, are both clean. The seating area, while small has well kept tables and a sparkling counter top. The cupcake display is spotless and the cupcakes within fresh and well kept.
Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Quality of food
The cupcakes are large--more than double the size of a normal cupcake--and lavishly topped with the best butter cream icing I have ever tasted. The icing melts in your mouth and it is sweet and smooth. The variety of flavors offered by Shabby Chic is seemingly endless. I've lost count of how many delicious flavors I've tried. Truly, I've never sampled any cupcakes at Shabby Chic that I did not enjoy. However, my current favorites include: chocolate raspberry, chocolate orange, champagne, and vanilla strawberry.
Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Service
The service offered at Shabby Chic is exceptional. Lisa, the owner and master chef, is friendly and attentive. She establishes personal relationships with her clients that make the experience all the sweeter.
Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Presentation
The presentation of the cupcakes at Shabby Chic is nothing short of pure elegance. The cupcakes rest on sophisticated cupcake trees that sparkle with crystal drops. The over all impression is one of fantastic elegance. The effect is more like something out of a fairy tale than real life.
Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Total Score: 5 stars!
Shabby Chic is not to be missed. If you find yourself in Windham, NH, you simply must pop in for a cupcake. You won't be sorry.

Sample Unfavorable Review
Cutting Corners on Quality...

Wendy's
Marietta, OH

Ambiance
Like all Wendy's, this locale has mass-produced faux home furnishings, particularly in the style of booths and the limited decor. The lighting is harsh and the seating uncomfortable. The emphasis is rapid turnaround of customers, rather then a dining experience.

Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Cleanliness
The dining area is moderately clean, with a few tables requiring clean-up after customers had finished eating. However, there was a significant fruit fly problem. The swarmed near the trash cans and hovered near the customers as they ate. They were very distracting and unpleasant. The ladies restroom was acceptably clean.

Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Quality of food
Even accepting the low standards associated with fast-food restaurants, the food was poor. My Bacon Deluxe burger had no bacon. When I brought my sandwich back to the counter, they simply added the bacon and returned the sandwich in the old wrapper. This goes against the quality controls in place that state that the sandwich should have been remade. Additionally, the french fries were cold and they were over salted. The new "all natural" lemonade that Wendy's has been promoting heavily was over-sweetened and artificial tasting. It left me more parched than before I consumed it.
Score: 2 out of 5 stars

Service
The service offered at Wendy's was sub-par. I had to ask the cashier for my receipt. The staff got my order wrong and the manager berated the employee who made it within my hearing. This made me uncomfortable. One employee did come around the dining area and ask if she could get us anything. That was appreciated. However, when I returned to the counter for a refill of my non-thirst quenching lemonade, I was given attitude by the cashier, until the manager stepped in.

Score: 2 out of 5 stars

Presentation
The food was unceremoniously placed upon a flimsy tray. I noted that the tray felt inadequate to hold my order and I was concerned that I might spill my beverage on my way to my seat. Still, considering that this is a fast-food restaurant, it was about on par with my expectations.
Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Total Score: 2.5 stars
This Wendy's is acceptable as a pit stop to use their bathroom, and might not be bad if you go through the drive-through. However, be sure to check your order while at the window. And the dining area is to be avoided, if possible.