Question: Why Do Jamaican Side Dishes Mirror African American Side Dishes?

[invalid]

When James Hemings went to the (then) culinary capital of Europe, France, to study, he learned to prepare a dish that was being prepared in the homes of the wealthiest planters in the French Caribbean, and in the English Caribbean.

Does Haiti have a version of macaroni pie? I can see Haiti having a version of the dish but Jamaica?

I believe that variations of those dishes are part of JA food history. Less known, and less associated with JA like Jerk prepared food or Curry prepared food, but part of their food history. Same British colonial system and food history, same/similar West African ethnic groups and food history.

My question is not so much about the actual dishes but moreso how they are prepared. I guess I could’ve worded it different. Obviously, we know about the West African roots of all diasporic cuisines as highlighted by High On The Hog book/doc. So there will be some commonality with respect to foodways across the diaspora. I was just struck at how there is no variation between what is served at most Jamaican restaurants around my way and soul food restaurants.

What brought this question on is that I had Jamaican today for dinner. The food in question was identical to a popular soul food restaurant in the area. It was so identical in taste that I had to see if this Jamaican restaurant and Soul Food restaurant had the same owners which would mean they were using the same recipes. This Jamaican restaurant bills itself as authentic so I wanted to get a sense of why there is a 1-1 parallel.

 

[melraH]

I've never eaten any Pollo or Carne guisado where the base was burnt sugar, it's always been caramelized tomato paste beloved.

Skip to 1:47 and watch the magic happen. Its in Spanish you want the real deal got to get it from the source. This a tradicional Dominican lady that don't even use pre-packaged seasoning they make they own. For example in My grandma's country farm in that area in the east they dont even use traditional tomato paste or sauce they make one mixing a small amount of tomatoes if they had any, annatto, red bell Pepper, and local pumpkins called by the native tainos "Auyama" so tomato sauce or paste in that area to the east was a foreign concept to them. Cause tomatoes at one time didn't grow well in that area thats more of a northwestern thing. Tomatoes and grapes grow better in that mountainous area cause the climate is cooler less humid.

 

[invalid]

Tomatoes originated in Mexico, any place outside America using tomatoes (even Africans, Indians, Italians, etc.) actually added them to their cuisine later, it wasn't traditional.

So are you saying that tomato based West African dishes are pretty new? Jollof Rice hasn’t been around very long?

 

[Professor Emeritus]

So are you saying that tomato based West African dishes are pretty new? Jollof Rice hasn’t been around very long?

Depends on what you consider "new". Tomatoes were probably introduced to Africa in the 16th century. So they've been there centuries, it's not like anyone there can remember an ancestor who didn't use them.

 

[get these nets]

Does Haiti have a version of macaroni pie? I can see Haiti having a version of the dish but Jamaica?



My question is not so much about the actual dishes but moreso how they are prepared. I guess I could’ve worded it different. Obviously, we know about the West African roots of all diasporic cuisines as highlighted by High On The Hog book/doc. So there will be some commonality with respect to foodways across the diaspora. I was just struck at how there is no variation between what is served at most Jamaican restaurants around my way and soul food restaurants.

What brought this question on is that I had Jamaican today for dinner. The food in question was identical to a popular soul food restaurant in the area. It was so identical in taste that I had to see if this Jamaican restaurant and Soul Food restaurant had the same owners which would mean they were using the same recipes. This Jamaican restaurant bills itself as authentic so I wanted to get a sense of why there is a 1-1 parallel.

Several versions of macaroni pie. All using big pieces of rigatoni

Some with melted cheese, some with Carnation milk. Regional differences, and maybe class differences as certain people were more likely to have access to cheese products than others.

Thanks for saying what prompted the thread. Very interesting actually. I don't know enough about JAs in metro Chicago. In the American cities where they have numbers and history, there is a large enough base of their diaspora that they can prepare straight Jamaican food. Whether it's a take out joint or a sit down restaurant.

Not sure if that's the case with the place you're talking about and whether they added/prepared dishes to cater to the ethnicity of their clientele. Or whether they did it to distinguish themselves from other JA eateries in that city.
Do they offer other side options, that are more closely associated as being Jamaican? Breadfruit for example?

 

[Givethanks]

Troll thread,


Op probably thinks all Caribbean food is Jamaican

 

[invalid]

Do they offer other side options, that are more closely associated as being Jamaican? Breadfruit for example?

I’ve been to about 20 jamaican restaurants over the years and they all offer the same sides - cabbage, greens, yams, Mac and cheese, red beans and rice, potato bread. The only sides that are not shared with AA cuisine are the plantains and beef patties.

Main dishes are another thing - Escovitch red snapper, oxtails, brown stew chicken, etc...

 

[ISO]

Mac and cheese ain’t Caribbean, are you talking about the Caribbean restaurant that cater to African Americans? I never seen Mac and cheese on menus in actual Caribbean restaurants in the islands

Pasta is Italian and in England they’ve been eating variants of Mac and cheese for centuries. Jamaica was colonized by them.

Macaroni and cheese - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Jamaican restaurants do not cater to clientele what they serve is what they eat on the island

 

[Goat poster]

White supremacy really did a number on us

 

[Miggs]

Those are not traditional jamaican side dishes....

Growing up and most jamaican restaurants i go too the sides are cocoa bread,beef/jerk patties,cole slaw,peas and rice,ox tail soup & plantanos...

 

[Miggs]

Pasta is Italian and in England they’ve been eating variants of Mac and cheese for centuries. Jamaica was colonized by them.

Macaroni and cheese - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Jamaican restaurants do not cater to clientele what they serve is what they eat on the island

Thats not true alot of jamaican spots will cater some dishes to locals.Up here in Toronto alot of places do jerk chicken poutine and jerk chicken pizza,ive seen some stupid combination thrown together to get some walk in business from non regulars...

 

[feelosofer]

Mac and cheese is an American Dish that many believe came from 18th century slaves but I'm sure the Jamaican places added it to entice African-American customers.

But yams, rice and beans, and greens are essentially African.

I know Jamaicans swap the beans with peas I think that is original to the West Indies.

 

[StretfordRed]

Mac and cheese is an American Dish that many believe came from 18th century slaves but I'm sure the Jamaican places added it to entice African-American customers.

But yams, rice and beans, and greens are essentially African.

I know Jamaicans swap the beans with peas I think that is original to the West Indies.

Rice and peas can be black eyed beans, kidney or gungo peas

ADOS being insecure again

Basically. I stopped even trying to discuss anything in these threads as it just turns into diaspora BS.

 

[feelosofer]

Rice and peas can be black eyed beans or gungo peqs


Basically. I stopped even trying to discuss anything in these threads as it just turns into diaspora BS.

True. My favorite Jamaican restaurant had the bomb black eyed peas.

 

[froggle]

Would you say this is accurate from Wiki?

Side dishesEdit​

• Bok choy
• Breadfruit (boiled, fried or roasted)
• Callaloo
• Cooked rice
• Dumplings (boiled or fried)
• Festival
• Fried plantain
• Fried rice
• Green banana
• Ground provisions
• Macaroni pie
• Potato salad
• Rice and peas – Otherwise known as "Jamaican Coat of Arms".
• Seasoned rice - pumpkin or Callaloo plus spices
• Stir-fry or steamed vegetables
• Stew peas
• Turned cornmeal

So most of the side dishes served in restaurants: rice and beans (not rice and peas), candied sweet potatoes, greens, cabbage are for the American consumer?

It's rice and peas sir.

But Jamaican side dishes and AA side dishes are not the same as the list highlights...minus stew peas