Local cuisine

Hey Everyone, my wife and i are not accustomed to highly spiced (hot) foods. We can handle some heat but would like to know if there is anything in particular we should avoid? At home, i have an authentic jerk rub i like but others find a bit too hot and i eat hot Jamaican patties from the local grocer, however i'm thinking it's probably not as spicy as what we might encounter in Negril. We'd rather be safe than sorry - too much spice gets my stomach churning. I blame my parents - mom never put any spices in our food because dad had an ulcer :friendly_wink: :culpability: :courage:

Don't eat a scotch bonnet pepper. Accidentally bit into one at Vinny's last March while eating conch soup. I cried like a baby.

Gdb, if you were ok with the spicy patties from home I think you will be fine on the island.
Generally I found the spicy beef patties at home hotter than say Norman’s on the beach. Try his chicken first it’s pretty mild and his beef is just a little hotter. Most curry dishes , brown stew chicken we’ve had were pretty mild as was most jerk chicken (Vinnies/ best in the west, chicken lavish etc) their addable sauces would kick it up a lot. Was actually surprised how mild the jerk chicken is. Thought maybe they dumby it down for us whiteys. My next door neighbor here is Jamaican and he makes the best jerk chicken. Just spicy enough and so much flavour. Personal preference but no one in negril came close...
Vinnies fried chicken is awesome too! Don’t miss it. (Most of his dinners are between 800j and 1000j)
The jerk pork on the beach from Dean is amazing! He has mild and spicy. His spicy is just that! But do try the the mild.
Escovitch snapper is also amazing but is topped with spicy pickled peppers. And they are spicy. But again very very good.
Chances pizza! You’ll thank me later...
Enjoy your trip! Jealous just thinking about it!

Most foods here aren't overly spicy...but...
Avoid the jerk chicken sauces that many provide...especially the Grannie sauce.
Jerk pork often has scotch bonnet peppers...the pork may be fine for you to eat...but watch out for the seeds.
Escovitch fish will be spicy...

The seeds are the best part.. then a cold redstripe..
Or 3

Thanks for the replies - will definitely check out your suggestions Weeboy1 and watch out for seeds, unless I have 3 Redstripes handy :courage:

my comment is a side note to this topic, but i recommend you carry an antacid, like tums, with you.

i spend time in haiti or jamaica (or both) every year and every year my stomach gets bubbly, regardless of what i eat- a couple of tums (along with a prestige or red stripe, oddly enough) settles everything down.

I can't eat hot spicy foods either, sets me off on a coughing fit. I will ask the server/cook how spicy is the dish and what do they have that doesn't contain hot peppers. And I agree - Norman's chicken and his veggie patties are not too too spicy. Don't worry, you'll have plenty of options.

thanks for the advice - will pack Tums - better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it :)

will be sure to watch for Norman when we're on the beach

I can't handle too much spice either. One of my favorite Jamaican dishes is brown stew chicken. It is not spicy but is very flavorful. I also love jerk chicken but skip the extra sauce. Pumpkin soup is awesome. Some Jamaican food is very spicy but not all of it. I've been to Jamaica several times and have no problem finding food that I enjoy.

Last few reaches I have been asking for all sauces to be on the side so I can add to taste ... That came in handy to avoid burnout ..