Oono 'memba...
Oonoo 'memba guinep? (Do you remember guineps?) Yes, its guinep season again here. Yes, you can get some, you can catch a flight on Air Jamaica in New York, Baltimore, Boston, L. A., Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta, London and various other cities in America and England. You'll come in regal comfort (guzzling champagne, no less) and will arrive well before the guinep season is over. Contact Air J. to reserve tickets now!
Guineps are a fruit something like lychee, in fact, here we call lychee "Chiney Guinep". Its irie, man! I had some today. I went on the road to pick up MB. Jr. (he's at summer school, he was so bored with staying home), and saw some boys selling the guineps. The ones I had today weren't the greatest, but I'm looking forward to getting some good ones real soon.
Since I was on the road, I stopped at Sugar & Spice in Manor Park Plaza and bought some Tastee patties for lunch. Oonoo 'memba patty? Tastee Patty? MMMMmmmm! Takes me back to Miss Chin's Patty Shop, where we'd buy patty and cocobread for lunch , back when I was in fifth and sixth form at St. Georges College... The patty is to Jamaicans what the hamburger is to Americans. Ask any Jamaican and he’ll tell you his favorite patty stand. This fried pie is filled with meat, chicken, lobster, vegetables, you name it. It is definitely a favourite! Don't go yet. Theres more...
The most popular type of patty here are Tastee patties. They used to sell only beef patties, but now a pretty nice chicken patty is also available. I remember when I was at University, there was this lady who was in my marketing class. We had a project to do for the marketing course, and because she was working in marketing at Burger King, she did a comparative study of the fast food reataurants. I remember this graph she showed us comparing sales at K.F.C., Burger King, and McDonalds. She made the point that she had left out Tastee patties because the sheer volume of their sales would skew the graph! They are super popular, as they taste good and they are very cheap. As one example of their popularity, there are people who make their living by buying Tastee patties, freezing them and exporting them for resale to Jamaicans living in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta and New York, indeed whereever there are lots of Jamaicans living in one place in the States. These exporters do not work for Tastees, mind you. Tastees does not export their patties themselves. Tastees does such a rip-roaring business that they don't even distribute their patties outside of Kingston themselves, can you believe it? Despite that fact, their patties are known all over the island. Let me give you an idea of how much money Tastees is making (to highlight how popular they are)... I have been told this story by a man whom I believe to be a good source. In the seventies, the PNP government so disenchanted themselves from the well-to-do that there ensued an exodus of these rich people, of their wealth and their knowledge to northern climes. During that time, the man who owns Tastees was considering leaving the country too (the fear that the Manley regime was going to institute communism was rife). He packed up all his families belongings in some trailers and shipped them to Miami, where they stayed in storage in warehouses at the wharves for many years, in case he decided that he and his family had to cut and run. Now you have to pay a wharfage rate charged DAILY in US dollars. Please understand that this money had to run into the hundreds of thousands over a period of a few years. And we are talking about real currency too, so you done know!!!
So I was in the Sugar &Spice, and in came a woman I knew from when I was in fourth form at St. G. C., during the days when I used to play a lot of Badmington at the Constant Spring Golf Club. We got to chatting while we were in the line waiting to purchase the patties. She told me that she eats patties very regularly, at least four times a week. She ate a lot of Tastee patties, and recently she had started to buy JuicyBeef patties. She commented that she thought they tasted better than Tastees. This comment from her prompted another man in the line to comment that he agreed with her. Given the fact that I'd heard the same sentiment expressed at work, my curiosity has been piqued. Remember, up until fairly recently, the "Tastees" name was almost synonymous with patties, but they didn't condescend to distribute them outside Kingston, at least Tastees didn't distribute them themselves.
JuicyBeef patties sprung up along the south coast of the island, in May Pen, Mandeville, Black River and the like. They rapidly spread to the North Coast, and now they have grown so large that they even challenge Tastees in Kingston. Talk about bearding the lion in its den! Theres a lesson to be learned here. It pays no one to become complacent, let me tell you! Anyway my curiosity is piqued. Tomorrow, I dine on JuicyBeef Pattys! I'll let you know what I think. Stay tuned...
Posted by madbull4 at August 22, 2002 12:18 AM
Comments
Yute, you seem to be doing a patty poll favouring Tastees. How much did they pay you to do this post!? Enquiring minds want to know! Two corrections though. 1. Patties are not fried, they are baked. 2. Badminton has no G, I distinctly remember you betting me without a doubt and losing on the spelling of this a couple of months ago! (BTW, weh mi bet money deh?)
Regarding guineps. Thought I might add that in Barbados what we call guineps here is what they call ackee. What we call ackee, our National dish, is what they call guinep! That's the Caribbean for you. All the islands have their own little differences.
Anyway, big up bredren, nice post! I have a friend with a guinep tree in Red Hills that bears some of the sweetest guineps in Ja. I will see if I can source some fi you as I never knew that you were into them.....Vibes.
Posted by: Dr. D. on August 22, 2002 08:19 AM
Now I'm hungry for tastee patties.
And I've never had one.
Posted by: waistdog on August 22, 2002 10:52 AM
Your little post stimulated my appetite for some patties for lunch today. So I went into Sugar and Spice in Manor Park to buy some. What a heat they have inside that place! Everyone inside there was dripping with sweat, the place is hotter than the temperature outside, and it's been damned hot these last days. If they are making so much money, they need to either repair or purchase an AC, no need to put their staff and customers through such a sweltering heat.
Posted by: Dr. D. on August 22, 2002 03:13 PM
Do you know where i can buy guineps in New YOrk?
Posted by: Talia on January 13, 2003 05:14 PM
First off, I would like to taste a tastees patty, because I'm tired of my husband talking about he misses eating tastees patties, I've never had one and I love beef patties the closest I get to a good patty in New York is Golden Krust! Can anyone get me Tastees patties please Help!!!
Posted by: Brenda on May 4, 2003 06:44 PM
First off, I would like to taste a tastees patty, because I'm tired of my husband talking about he misses eating tastees patties, I've never had one and I love beef patties the closest I get to a good patty in New York is Golden Krust! Can anyone get me Tastees patties please Help!!!
Posted by: Brenda on May 4, 2003 06:46 PM
So I was looking up online, where I could get some Tastees Patties to buy and be exported to Fort Lauderdale FL. Yes I know there are tons of patty places in FL, but from a true kingstonian I cant settle for anything esle when you grew up on Tastees Patties. I am sorry but one you taste them you dont go back to any of the other stuff :)
Anyway.. back to my question if anyone knows how I can get Tastees Patties exported to me. Please write me and let me know. Nuff respect!
Posted by: Dahlia on September 25, 2003 10:02 AM
ok, so i agree, a tastees patty is in order, who is willing to fly over, and bring back a few ten plus dozen, frozen of course and disperse them amongs those that are in need of these "one of a kind" delightful foods.
how about we organize with one another and fly over and start a shipment amongs our selves for the true pattie conasure (sp):)
Posted by: tugs on November 19, 2003 03:22 AM
It's so nice to see some friendly dialect, it's been a while thank you.
Question: where can I get some authentic Tastees Patties ship to me in Illinoise?
Keep it real.
T.C
Posted by: T.C on April 19, 2004 06:37 PM
Post a comment
Yute, you seem to be doing a patty poll favouring Tastees. How much did they pay you to do this post!? Enquiring minds want to know! Two corrections though. 1. Patties are not fried, they are baked. 2. Badminton has no G, I distinctly remember you betting me without a doubt and losing on the spelling of this a couple of months ago! (BTW, weh mi bet money deh?)
Regarding guineps. Thought I might add that in Barbados what we call guineps here is what they call ackee. What we call ackee, our National dish, is what they call guinep! That's the Caribbean for you. All the islands have their own little differences.
Anyway, big up bredren, nice post! I have a friend with a guinep tree in Red Hills that bears some of the sweetest guineps in Ja. I will see if I can source some fi you as I never knew that you were into them.....Vibes.
Posted by: Dr. D. on August 22, 2002 08:19 AM