I still have somewhere in the realm of 190 countries to go, but Jamaica wins best atmosphere and music. Dancehall baby. Temporarily transported from the shitty gritty New York weather to an 80 degree beach courtesy of Sean Paul and Mr. Vegas.
Grace Jones wishes you a Happy Holiday season!
My food crew and I rolled in last night to Miss Lily’s. Full disclosure, I had already been here once, at the petition of my husband who’s been here at least five times (he’s obsessed with their banana cream pie). Miss Lily’s is a fine establishment, the music, the beautiful waitresses, ambiance, the full flavors of their food, UFF. Definitely the right choice for our Jamaican culinary experience.
Our apps consisted of:
Ms. Lily’s famous Hot Pepper Shrimp, Jerk Fries and Ackee Dip and Plantain Chips. Ackee is Jamaica’s national fruit, and the 2nd creepiest looking food I’ve ever seen (see last week’s Balut for the 1st). The thing has four eyes just staring at you. According to my fellow diner and Jamaican connoisseur, Jeff, the black eyes are uber poisonous. TIME even listed Ackee as one of the Top 10 most dangerous foods. The dip looks like hummus, but it was just not my cup of tea. Far too sour with a funky after taste.
Ackee Dip and Plantain Chips.
I’m watching you…
Stephan and I went full force with the Jamaican Platter, consisting of Oxtail, Curry Goat, and Jerk Chicken. I’m still thinking about that curried goat, rich, delicious tender meat.
Curried Goat = Home run
YUM. My stupid move of the evening consisted of vastly underestimating my tolerance for spice, I paired the Jerk Chicken with Miss Lily’s Spicy Jerk sauce. Jerk Sauce 1. Me 0. I was out of commission for a good ten minutes, dry heaving like a menopausal woman with hot flashes. Oxtail came in solid third place. Where the hell was the meat? Curried Goat was the clear winner.
The rest of my table ordered some great items. Jeff ordered the mackerel and fried kale, which was fried fish reminiscent of the one I eat back in Honduras. Sigh. Nostalgia. He didn’t eat the eyes like my mom usually does though. He also ordered a side of Jamaican corn bread dumplings called Festival. (What a great name for a food item).
NOM
I really hope I’m not shortening my life span with all this food ala Adam Richman from Man vs. Food. My friend Leti ordered the “Buss Up Shut”, which consisted of shrimp, curry vegetable casserole and tamarind chutney. The Buss Up Shut is essentially like a misshaped Roti/Tortilla, utterly delicious and referred to as “ delicious fried shit” for the remainder of the evening.
I’m not a dessert person, but boom, Jamaica delivered. The banana cream pudding is a Miss Lily’s staple and it is just sweet goodness in a glass. The home made rum cake was a perfect way to seal the night. simple, with vanilla ice cream, but not overwhelming. I spent the remainder of the night dancing in my seat and wishing I was at a beach.
Banana Cream Pudding Goodness
Jamaica set the bar for any upcoming Caribbean food. On to the next one.
More boobs at restaurants. Why is this a trend?
Next time: Egyptian Food
Gourmand 