“Yes mon, ah fi wi food dis!”

As I small child I assumed that everyone ate like we did. Cornmeal porridge and salt fish fritters; brown stew chicken and rice and peas, toto as a treat. Whenever there was a big occasion, the cooks in the family would really go to town: jerk pork, curry goat and rice, all manner of fried fish, slaws and salads. I loved the way my mum and grandma went about cooking. Usually everything was made from scratch, they’d cook from memory, adding spice and seasoning without any need for measuring. There would often be (at least) two or three pots on the hobs at once, yet they would move around the kitchen with ease. I aspire to cook like them one day!

I write about cooking in Jamaica Road because I love Jamaican food. I wanted to showcase the food and feasting that is important to me and my family.

These are some of the recipes referenced in the novel. Enjoy!