Two amateur chefs took home three prizes during Court Street Market’s Jerk Fest.

Alfred “Big Al” Mallory, who works for the Department of Health, was crowned Jerk King and Malachi Eversley, the owner and founder of Seven Collection apparel, won the Most Creative Dish and People’s Choice awards in the contest.

Mr Mallory has been making jerk dishes since 1985, but Mr Eversley said he only cooked jerk chicken once before the contest last month.

Mr Mallory explained: “I mainly just did jerk dishes for my family and friends, but eventually started selling it out of my house. People said, ‘We’ve never tasted jerk chicken like yours’.”

Jamaican Grill, Soulfood, Chef Wayne and Sensational Delights also entered dishes, which were judged by Bermuda College lecturer Taneka Eve, chef Riccai Williams and real estate broker Erna DeGraff, as well as the general public.

Feria Alpha, the event and communications co-ordinator for the Court Street Market, said: “The judges used a certain point system; it was all about taste, flavour and presentation to become jerk king.”

Mr Eversley recalled: “I was the underdog and only had one grill.

“All the big dogs came with three or four grills — they didn’t scare me, I just stayed on and stuck to what I had to do.”

Mr Mallory said: “My son and I are working on getting our own catering going, Big’s Al’s Jerk Chicken.

“This is what I do now. I love to cook for my family and friends, that’s me.”

He did not say precisely what he puts in his jerk seasoning, but Mr Eversley disclosed that he puts scotch bonnet peppers in his version.

Big Al’s chicken will be for sale during the Fight Night boxing match in Dockyard on July 12.

Ms Alpha added that Court Street Market will host a pre-Cup Match seafood festival and fashion show on July 25.

She said: “We’re not only doing street markets any more, we’re also doing festivities. All these events are now annual.”