Wild Jerk – April 2010 – The report

Well Wild Jerkers,

Firstly, let me apologise for the delay in doing this post.  The weekend of Wild Jerk  was one of those Murphy’s Law weekends.  I mean everything that could go wrong did and in such a major way.

The batch of dough that I had made for the patties was not consistent so I had to dispose of over three-quarters of it.  I made over the dough and then of course my plan to prepare the patties for baking the day before was delayed by several hours.  So – up at 4:00 am and proceeding to get the patties done – my phone which I had just purchased – fell out of my hands and the screen was permanently damaged.  Needless to say I could not see the numbers I was dialing and any text message that was being sent to me.  To make matters worse – over 2 dozen extra patties that I had made got burned because in my tired state I did not gauge the oven properly.

Nonetheless we got to our venue in one piece….. and it was sheer frenzy from then on.    Our last record for Wild Jerk was finishing at 2:38pm (2 hours and 38 minutes)  This time we shaved off half hour and was finished by 2:08 pm.

My apologies to the JTI staff for the late delivery of your lunch… yes Wild Jerkers we now deliver.  We are also accepting Mobile Money to those Coolbiz affiliates and for the time being Susie will accept credit and debit cards on our behalf.  So there – you have no reason not to buy Wild Jerk.

Thank you to Volier Johnson for the big up of the pork patties on FAME’s Full House Fridays – he came by and declared that he was not leaving until he got one (mind you by this time they had been all ordered out – but we managed to finangle two for him )

My friend Clyde Paul who visited Wild Jerk after three years of invites finally believed me when I told him that as much as we try to be out there late – we usually finish early and it is really “12:00 noon till de pork done”.

In all it turned out not to be such a bad day after all despite its mishaps.  After all nothing is ever perfect.   Looking forward to the next Wild Jerk so look out for our menu on Facebook – we have a new crab recipe coming up.

Wild Jerk – March 2010 – The report

Pork Patties (picture provided by Stephen McFarlane)

Ok Wild Jerkers! Wild Jerk was held in its usual location at Susie’s Bakery in Southdale Plaza yesterday.  I decided to heed the call to by the Facebook lobby group – Jamaica Pork Patty Association  (JAPPA) and provide pork patties on an order basis.  Let me tell you – I have never seen people behave like that over patties before?  Even though I specifically stated that I would stop taking orders by Wednesday, I knew that there were people who would turn up even though they did not order.  I carried an extra 3 dozen patties with me.  Even the ones that crumbled were purchased.  One regular Wild Jerk customer who did not know about the patties immediately purchased half a dozen stating that he planned to “curry favor with some people” and that he was “sorry for the people in his office who did not give him any birthday cake”.

We had another case of an JAPPA member and Wild Jerk’s number one fan bantering and negotiating about the patties.  Well…negotiation is not really the right word.  Number One Fan truthfully asked me to save two patties for him but in the frenzy I had completely forgotten.  If ever there was a man close to tears.  He then saw the JAPPA official with his dozen patties and offered to purchase one.  Well he was flatly refused and there the bantering started. At one point he tried to appeal to his better nature and stated that the situation were reversed then he would share his patties with the JAPPA official.  When he was told that the JAPPA official’s family was expecting the patties, Number One Fan’s response was “wha happen – you have 11 brother and sister?”  Well Number One Fan was left wanting and the JAPPA official left with his dozen intact and safely tucked under his arm.  Number One Fan had to be consoled with a half pound of pork and some cartwheel fried dumplings.

Was I wise to market a product directly to a Facebook Group?  Time will tell.  The initial report for the people who got their patties was good.  Most of whom were planning to freeze theirs and pinch them through the month reported that they are COMPLETELY GONE!  Will they spread the word to their members?  I can only hope so.  That would be why someone would market to a Facebook niche – feedback.  One expects page posts and discussion.  Was the patty too spicy, not spicy enough, just right?  Was the crust to their liking or was there room for improvement?  For those who managed to freeze theirs was the quality the same after defrosting and toasting (I recommend a toaster oven versus a microwave – but that is just my prejudice).  As I said time will tell if I will have the support to continue this project.

Wild Jerk was finished by 3:12 pm.  As we say … from 12:00 noon till de pork done..

PS

FYI – the pork patties were made with regular pork not Wild Jerk

Salvation comes by Doctor’s Reprieve

Remember my friend who was told by his doctor that he could not eat pork anymore and was also tempted by his friend with pork? Well at the last Wild Jerk he could not take the aromas anymore so he called he doctor and made a case for Wild Jerk. He informed him that Wild Jerk is lean meat and that as a result he could eat the pork. He went through all this trouble because I REFUSED to give him any as I am fully aware of his doc’s orders. To convince me he had his doctor speak to me and give me permission to give him a small amount (not more than half pound). I don’t know if that was not more torture than anything because my friend can PUT AWAY any amount of pork that you put before him.