WESTERN BUREAU:

Known for her curried goat head and goat-related recipes, Melody Allen believes her dishes have been the best at the Westmoreland Curry Festival for the past eight years.

She admitted that her dishes are like no other as she has a special ingredient that is "good for the soul". She, however, refused to share it.

According to Allen, curried seafood is gaining popularity at the festival, as well as untraditional products, such as curried fruit and curried ice cream. However, curried goat is still king, as it is the first meal to finish every year.

This year's staging of the festival will mark Allen's ninth year as a food vendor. Her meals include curried crab, chicken, shrimp, pork and her speciality - curried goat, which is often paired with roasted breadfruit, potatoes and yams.

Allen said that the allure of the festival lies not only in the great food and entertainment, but in its rich culture and diversity.

James Nwaowah, Manning's School business teacher and festival treasurer, shares Allen's sentiments.

"What makes this festival so special is that we have many people from all walks of life," the business teacher said.

"There is no class at the curry festival. We get members from both political parties, residents, foreigners, students and from the banks," he added.

Allen said what she enjoys about this family festival is serving others and gets a thrill from knowing that the patrons enjoy the meals she prepares.

"I enjoy taking part in bringing people of all different backgrounds together and supplying them with a great plate of food," she said.

- H.E.