10 Observations.......

.....about this reach March 15 - 23, 2012

1) The beach at Footprints has made a miraculous recovery since January. One can now walk past without the challenge of the water, waves, and rocks.

2) Maraposa/Gino's wall looks awesome. Still have to walk in the water to get by, but not so many rocks there.

3) The beach seemed a lot busier pretty much up and down than last year.

4) Tourists are still not spending like we used to, according to my Jamaican friends.

5) The new palm trees installed on the beach last December near the Niah's Patties have serious transplant shock. I hope they all come back.

6) The best and widest beach is still at the stretch between about Sun Beach down through White Sands.

7) The AI's looked so busy that the water looked like a marina in the early morning with all the boats parked there.

8) Norman, the Pattyman on the beach, should really carry more chicken patties.

9) If you haven't eaten at Jus Natural. GO! Teresa is worth the trip. So is the food and the prices.

10) The best Captain in Negril is Rondell at the Co Co La Palm.

Just Natural is on my list. How can I recognize Norman? We didn't try patties last go but this time we plan to make it our daily lunch.

I believe he is the one with the box on the bike...even if he's not, this gentleman's are excellent. I am partial to the beef and cheddar :) I think I ate three at a time!

Weathermon,
Excellent info!

Norman is Indian and he always is pushing a bike with a cardboard box on the handlebars. I have never seen him without a ball cap.

We were at Rondell for 2 weeks in January. There was only 1 day that Norman hadn't run out of chicken patties. A very popular item. On a positive note, it forced us to try many of his other patties that I might not have tried. They were all great, especially the pumpkin!

I have got to try Just Natural soon!

No 4 I have heard since the 80's lol
I think the Patty Man you are talking about is Neville...........

Here is his story...........and his photo.....
"On this our 26th trip to our beloved Island, we decided to write about some of the faces we saw on our trip...some you will know, possibly some you wont....hope you enjoy the background behind the faces.........


"BEEF-VEGTABLE-CHICKEN-COCO BREAD"

Those are the choices you will have to make each day, while soaking the Sun up on the Beach of Negril........

"PATTY MAN" is what he is normaly called.....His real name is Neville Stewart, a man small in stature, but not in dreams or his work ethic's.

He is a widower of two years from this writing (2006), and a father of 6 children, lives in Grange Hall and leaves his bike near the beach area that he works each day, rarely taking a day off.

His day on average starts about 5AM with the cooking and prepareing of his days worth of patty's. A patty is a pastry shell filled with the above choices, and then deep fried to a golden brown ( like a Brown Taco) only soft and warm...very light and flaky crust. The filling varies with the choices, as does the prices...with the CoCo Bread being the cheapest........ Normally we are talking 'bout 1 US Buck to a Buck and a Half a piece.......BIG Discounts for volume..LOL

All the fillings are GREAT, with all haveing that "certain" Jamaican "hot-ness" to the end of your tonuge, which is washed away nicely with Red Stripe.............

Good sales days for Neville are 70 patties a day (Spring Breakers)
to a average of 35-45 per day, during these slow times.......He very rarely brings any back home with him, giving the last away or trading for rides.........

He brings the "Patty Box" with him each day, loading it up in the morning with fresh pattys and returning at night filled with supplies for the next days sales, his bike is safe-stored by the end of the beach, near where he starts and finshes each day.

When he gets back home and does his "chores" and gets ready for the next day he will say his nightly prayers, and finally close his eyes...it will be around 11 PM!.

He has been pushing his bike through the beach sand for over 16 years now, and is in the process of fixing up a "scooter" to help him to work and home to cut down on his expenses so he wont have to raise his prices........(smart man)

As all Jamaicans do more than one job,,Patty Man also will cook you a fine Jamaican Meal at your place or elsewhere, and deliver it to you
We asked him for BIG LOBSTERS,,,and Mon ! did he deliver.......we were taking a dip in the pool when he arrived 'bout 4 in the afternoon one day with a bag, in it were 3 of the BIGGEST JAMAICAN LOBSTERS we had ever seen.............2 to 3 lbs of Tail Meat Each.
They were alive when he brought them to us, and I aked if he could de-tail them and set them on our porch....that night I steamed them in the shell with baked potatoes and steamed veggies.......it was as CoComando put it !!!!!!!!

I made him a shirt with his photo on it and we gave it to him on this visit...........


so if ya see a guy wearing a shirt with him on it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


you have just run into the PATTY MAN...............

Get up- go over, buy him OUT....and Help get that "scooter on Di Road!)

Watch him as he walks off, and feel proud and honored,y ou have just met a real "Jamaican Ledgend"


Hope you enjoyed my attempt at writing these inside looks at people we see,,,
will follow with more if you like......

Profile on "Fruit Lady" Link.........http://www.negril.com/discus/board/s...1494#POST21494
Profile on "Jennys"
Link.........http://www.negril.com/discus/board/s...1860#POST21860


Merry Christmas and Thank God/Jah for JAMAICA............

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I think there are two pattymen on the beach...now I only buy from Norman but have seen Neville. This is my pic of Norman.....(have heard some people getting them mixed up)

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Sorry the pics are not that good as they were taken from my ipod, not my camera....Norman has his patties in a cardboard box as Neville carries his in a metal box, both on bikes.

Neville is the best! I love those patties - and the great conversation.. He, Ms. Gem and of course my friend Karl Ricketts are what the Negril beach is all about.. Love those folks!

My 10 observations:

1. We have phones
2. We have AC
3. We have internet
4. We have route cabs
5 You can buy anything
6. You can hold US dollars
7. We have ATMs
8. We have a lot of good restaurants and shows
9. Cosmo's is just as it ever was
10. The yard is still home

Man, I love Norman's coco bread as well. Coco bread, a patty or two, and some Red Stripe and all is good.

Boy both patty man's names...Norman and Neville...............
Nice list Weatherman

Since we have been coming to Negril more and more frequently, we have only seen Norman on the bike. I did see another man selling patties out of a metal box down by Sunnyside Bar on Thursday last week. Did not see a bike, though.

Dang Weathermon,look at you,three countdowns-you must be livin' right :o) I'm soooooooooo jealous!!

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Do forget Norman's assortment of frozen drinks he stores on the back of the bike. Usually 2 for 1.

Thanks Rambo.

The inside scoop on folks is a nice touch.