Pimenta, Fredericksburg

Ray Simmonds, the restaurant's owner, says that what inspired him to open Pimenta was his mother's excellent cooking. Raised in Jamaica, Ray used to watch his mom cook up flavorful Caribbean dishes made from fresh ingredients. At his restaurant, Ray slightly alters these authentic recipes by adding his own personal touch to them:

• Jerk Chicken: after hours of marinading the drumsticks in a mix of spices (including pimenta dioica, also known as allspice), the chicken is grilled until perfectly tender
• Jamaican Patties: golden, flaky pastry filled with beef, veggies, or chicken
• Jamaican Rum Cake: rum-soaked fruit cake flavored with warm spices