Pronounced “Hudge,” it stands for House of Jerk Dread, so named for the chef himself, a Jamaican who’s been cooking since 14 years of age and who found himself with an ever-growing crowd in his backyard every time he was at the grill serving up his secret-recipe jerk chicken and juicy, slow-smoked jerk pork. Eventually, he listened to the clamor of the masses and opened a restaurant on Penn Street in Reading, just a short walk up from the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Reading and the super-busy Santander Arena with its hockey crowds and music fans.
Constantly creative, Chef Jerk Dread has filled his menu with favorites, from a comfort mac ’n cheese to eight unique sauces for his tacos, jerk beefburgers, and other offerings. Equally talented as a welder and craftsman, Chef designed an engaging, lively interior in this high-ceilinged, expansive eatery — including all the tables, walls and décor made out of recycled wood and metal (“It’s Jamaican-style — where everything is upcycled and recycled!” smiles HOJD’s Jeanette). He even welded his own custom grill and smoker for the kitchen. An expressive artist as well, Chef has also created a fascinatingly complex work of metal sculpture that “greets” visitors near a front staging area for live music. Naturally, the catchy strains of reggae lift diners into a feel-good Caribbean mood even before they get a chance to be seated.
“Let’s Get Together…”
HOJD advises, “Come hungry!” Start off with a D&G Ginger Beer (non-alcoholic) and some amazing appetizers. If you have never tried this delicious beverage, it’s common in Jamaica, crisp and refreshing — a cross between a mild ginger ale and a ginger-lemonade soda. It’s got full but surprisingly light ginger notes and fizz. HOJD also carries Jarritos natural-flavor sodas and Dr. Pepper, and it is BYOB at present.
The Festival is a two-dumpling appetizer; about the size of small hotdogs, these handheld delights are deep-fried and made with cornmeal, white flour, salt and sugar. Akin to donuts, these sweet starters smell simply heavenly, arriving hot from the oven with gently crisped edges.
A must-try is Jerk Chicken Taco: it practically pours its wealth out of the shell, and this is where you get that famous jerk flavor in torn chicken pieces all peppery and herbal and just-charred for grilled flavor; tiny mango bites, grated cheese and other goodies are added for texture and surprise. Pork or shrimp tacos are also offered. The Mango Jerk Sauce injects a sweet and zingy bite.
It is just one of several sauces, all meatless, assembled with herbs, spices, marmalades and more, including Apple Martini, Pineapple Express, Honey Ginger, HOJD Awesome Sauce, Apple BBQ, Hottadandat, and Oh My Gosh. How fun.
Super Sides
Plan to try as many side dishes as possible, especially traditional Rice and Peas, Jamaican-style, which are cupped together in a high circle on the plate, showing off the reddish beans or peas nestled between grains of rice. The subtle flavor and just-chewy texture can complement numerous meat entrees but also may serve as a vegetarian protein entrée.
Stir-Fry Cabbage is cooked ever-so-lightly, with the very interesting addition of just a few green bell peppers julienned and tossed in, leaving the cabbage strips front and center in flavor. Healthy and fresh.
Jerk Dread’s Baked Mac ’n Cheese is unmatchable. It’s as fat and yummy and as traditional as it gets, baked with a coating of melted cheese glazing the top.
Sweet Potato Mash also kills it. HOJD takes a simple sweet potato (not the orange-fleshed kind) and magically lets its natural goodness blossom under the masher with nothing more than a tiny bit of butter. Delicious.
String beans and sweet plantains are also lovely sides for any sandwich or entrée.
Sail Away…or Fly with the Wings
Plantain assumes center stage with the whimsically named Sail Away platter. This is a meal in itself: It uses a whole plantain, fried, sliced down the middle, then filled with chicken and topped with pineapple chunks — and drizzled with aromatic House Sauce.
Succulent and large, Chef’s Mango Wings say just one thing to this county: “Look out! We’re here! And we’re taking no prisoners!” Berks County is, after all, a place where wings really matter, what with all the contests and bragging rights that go with really great chicken wings. So, if wings are your thing, definitely check out these perfectly fried and seasoned, finger-lickin’ treats. HOJD is poised in every way to compete — and they also appear to have the napkin budget all worked out. You’ll soon need that big pile of napkins to handle all the drippings, all the juiciness.
For a Special Splurge
Unusually enticing is an elegant Whole Red Snapper, a delicately flavored reef fish, enhanced by onions and red peppers, tomato and okra. Rice and Peas and plantains accompany this luscious entrée.
1034 Penn St., Reading
(between 10th and 11th streets)
484.513.3165
