GPS coordinates, please! I will bring the bammy! :) Nicely done NYT.
1
Hello from Jamaica! So many of us live in “farrin” and contribute to diverse cultures. As I write, Kingston is a commotion of cars and shopping - amazing that by tomorrow all will have settled to the dinner of the year. Ham figures big for those who can afford it. Chicken, rice and peas, Christmas Puddin’, sorrel, fried plantains, salads, rum.....
1
My family lived in Jamaica from 1955 to 1967. Our Christmas Day favourites still always include well spiced ackee & saltfish for lunch. My late dad would mix up a blender of homemade eggnog (milk, egg, vanilla with a dash of Captain Morgan’s rum and a finishing sprinkling of nutmeg) which ensured we all had to have an afternoon nap). Dinner was/is turkey, ham, rice & peas, sweet potatoes, jug (stewed, spiced, mashed and roasted beans), saluted plaintain slices with a finishing light dust of sugar, and a green salad. Peach ice-box cake for dessert, along with generously rum-infused homemade Xmas cake and Mom’s bourbon balls.
Merry Christmas everyone. Happy family food traditions!
2
An interesting article as my Caribbean folks settled in London in 1952. Growing up in London in the 1970s, I used to sometimes invite some of my British/Irish mates over for a (British) Sunday roast. They said the way we Caribbean used to cook it (marinated meat) was far tastier than what they used to.
2
A wonderful story of immigrants and immigration. As a Trinidadian now living in Toronto, I share the sentiments and the history.
2
Ackee is not as toothsome in texture as lychee. And it isn't as sweet. The closest food it resembles would be scrambled eggs, which is why it's used as a vegan replacement for scrambled eggs. Unfortunately we can only find ackee canned in the States, and the price is quite dear. Still, there's nothing quite like it when you have a craving.
9
Codfish and ackee is good eatin'.
A lovely story about a sweet and gracious family.
A delightful spread. If they were neighbors, I'd work hard to finagle an invitation to dinner.
Eat well and have a Merry Christmas.
4
Sweet article, but all of that food made me nauseaous; I like some Jamaican dishes but these are loaded with condensed milk, starch, too much sugar, and other bad for you stuff. Guess, like most things, it's a culturally acquired taste but not mine...and I'm a seriously adventurous eater.
1
You are right. Everything in moderation. Sweet potato pudding and other Jamaican desserts are for Sunday dinner or special occasions.
3
@Patou
What you miss here is that this is tradition and not compared with the USA or any other country. These foods have sustained its population for many, many years and continue to do so. No, I don't do condensed milk either, and I limit my sugar intake, but that's my choice. It would be interesting if the Times will do more stories like this of other islands in this area of the world with rich traditions in culture, including foods that are natural to the islands, or that have been introduced by slaves who were brought here centuries ago.
Paul A
2
great story, Every year I go to Negril and I love the food people and culture. I'll be trying this Callaloo recipe soon.
1
Welcome to Central Islip!! I moved from Queens to Central Islip in 1989 and through all of its turbulence as the hospital closed and the population shifted demographics, it still has room for new neighbors.
We celebrate Christmas with a front yard Christmas tree all decorated while our friends and relatives sing carols. My Haitian, Italian, Mexican, Indian and Irish (also my peeps) neighbors get to enjoy CI's "Rockefeller" tree through out the season.
The "bottle throwers" are long gone.
12
What a beautiful story about a loving family that originated outside of the US (as so many of our families have), withstood personal tragedy and the sting of racism, and now generously celebrate their love of culture and holiday with us. Thank you, Lawrence/Craig family. You inspire us with your story and excite us with your recipes!!
22
My wife and I have spent a number of the Christmas/New Year's holidays in Jamaica, Negril and Treasure Beach to be specific. The one thing we always looked forward to that came from the kitchens at the small guest houses where we stayed was a warm basket of "festivals," with butter and jam and a pot of English breakfast tea. I've been going to Jamaica since the early 1970's and very much enjoyed reading this article. In summer I grow a garden full of Scotch bonnet's just so we can make jerk sauce to put up for the winter.
9
Thank you for loving Jamaica and its food. I am in Jamaica now with my American born daughter to share our great traditions.
2
Loved this article. Brings back memories of arriving in New York as a 9 yr old and expecting America to be pure paradise. While not paradise, this country has allowed me and my family to achieve so much. I will always love Jamaica and visit quite often but I love this country as much. It saddens me that so often now immigrants are viewed as ‘other’. There is a richness that we all bring as illustrated in this article.
34
I absolutely loved reading this story. I recognized some of the food since my family is from Panama and some of the foods were brought over by the Jamaican and other Caribbean laborers during the construction of the Canal. In fact, my maternal great grandparents were Jamaican. A blessed New Year to Ms. Craig and her family!
25
A warm and touching story on one of the very many different culinary traditions in Christianized countries.
Happy Holidays to the Craigs of Central Islip, N.Y.!
17
Ackee is nothing like lychee. It is not sweet and it is only used in savory dishes.
12
@DW It sure is NOT!!!!
4
Really? I think it’s so sweet. I can’t stand it. And I was born and raised in Jamaica with an ackee tree in the backyard.
1
Ackee is a savory fruit, so it's nothing like lychee ...