I could have been floating in the air towards JRS&A Original Jerk Center on Fulton Street in Bed Stuy once I caught the charcoal scent of jerk chicken rising from their street-side smoker, enveloping me from over a block away.
Inside the narrow restaurant is your typical combination of Caribbean mains and sides. I got a small jerk chicken over rice and beans. They'll offer to put gravy on your rice-- and you would be stupid to say no. I opted for the dark oxtail stew. After the counterwoman returned with my chopped chicken, I topped it with only a responsible amount of jerk sauce.
Back at home, my jerk chicken was paired with a Fruit Punch Four Loko-- non-existent in Manhattan, but easily found at nearly every bodega in Bed Stuy. While a rich, smoky flavor had penetrated deep within the chicken, it was the spicy, sweet jerk sauce that caught my attention with its lingering heat. Not only that, but better than average macaroni puts JRS&A over the top. Instead of hot sauce, next time I'm going to slather everything in that addictive jerk sauce.
