Gerry G's TRAIL OF ASHES TOUR Final Chapter -- The Mighty Californian's return

[MilwaukeeMike]

I know this will come off as snarky but you don't go to Maine or Newfoundland and expect the best steak you've ever had. You also don't go to Dallas for Atlantic lobster. I've followed these reports and I see some Jamaican food which is what I'd stick to while in Jamaica. (Again, I'm sorry that this might come off as impolite; I don't mean it to be) The best pizza I ever had in Jamaica was when Negril was young, maybe 30 or so years ago. There was a shack on the beach (pretty much every place was a shack back then) called Captain Ray and Opals. They served up what I always thought of as a Jamaican pizza. The dough (and crust of course), was similar to dumplins. It was almost like it was Bisquick, not anywhere close to Neapolitan, NY, or Chicago style crust. There was no sauce. The cheese was Jamaican tin cheese, the only kind I ever saw in those days. It was topped with fresh tomato, fresh mushroom, fresh scallion, fresh green pepper, and some seeded fresh Scotch Bonnet pepper. It was delicious.

Instead of doing poor copies of American foods, do Jamaican versions. Most Jamaicans lack initiative. I'm eating Callaloo in a restaurant owned by a Jamaican/British/Indian family. I ask if they ate Saag Paneer back in Britain (it's spinach and yogurt cheese)/ "Oh yes, we love it". I said why don't you make it here with Callaloo? Oh no she said, "it's made with spinach". That in a nutshell is what is wrong with Jamaica. We were leaving immigration a few years ago and passed into the taxi/resort ride area. My wife said that she forgot her suitcase just as we passed the door not 5 feet away from the "No items To Declare" kiosk. The guard could not let her get her bag. We said it's right there, with ID tags on it and you saw us leave. She was not empowered to let us stretch 4 feet back inside; she needed a supervisors OK. I attribute it to Jamaica being a colony where I'm sure no one questioned the status quo.

As far as waiting, well it's something I expect. I would never go out to eat when I was hungry. I'd get too angry. I found that Jamaica has a certain pace and that pace is relaxed.

I don't understand why anyone would want to do blow in Jamaica. It's so anti-laid back.

I found that it's best to go out at certain times like noon or 6, ignore the menu, ask what they have available today, order, and then have adult beverages until the food arrives. You're not in America, don't expect American service. peace