Back in 1997, long before South Congress was trendy “SoCo,” there was only one neighborhood restaurant bar that we could walk to from where I lived. Shaggy’s Bar and Grill was a great little hangout where we drank ice-cold pints, ate spicy hot jerk wings, and passed the time listening to reggae. After Shaggy’s closed, Ric Fox – one of the original partners – kept the jerk tradition alive by setting up his grill on First Thursdays and selling his delicious chicken to a growing fan base.

Thanks to the success of this little operation, Ric and wife Crystal decided it was time to put Shaggy’s Original Jerk Marinade on the market. The marinade packs a punch of fiery scotch bonnet peppers. Allspice, thyme, ginger, and other traditional jerk herbs and spices combine to make this flavorful sauce a must for chicken, pork, or just about anything you want to marinate and grill. I marinated and skewered fresh jumbo shrimp and cooked them over a stove-top grill with awesome results. Shaggy’s Original Jerk Marinade is available in 12-ounce jars at Cafe Mundi, Farm to Market Grocery, and Royal Blue Grocery. You can also order directly from the Web site at www.shaggyssauces.com. Now that Super Bowl Sunday is upon us, amaze your friends with your own homemade Jamaican jerk wings! If you prefer to let others do the cooking, call Billy’s on Burnet (407-9305) – the exclusive home of Shaggy’s original jerk wings – to place your order. As of Feb. 6 (Bob Marley’s birthday) Shaggy’s Marinade will be available at all regional Whole Foods stores.

This article appears in February 2 • 2007.

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Mexico City native Claudia Alarcón has made Austin home since 1984. She worked her way through college in the local restaurant industry, graduating from the University of Texas in 1999. She has been a Chronicle contributor for 15 years and presents lectures and workshops on topics related to the foodways of Mexico, both locally and internationally.