Imagine if we lived in a world where our only knowledge of a country’s cuisine came from food reviews by influencers—where, without taking a trip to the country or experiencing properly prepared dishes, influencers dictated how a country’s cuisine is projected to others. Thankfully, that world doesn’t exist yet, making it crucial to showcase and encourage people to experience Jamaican food culture firsthand.
The experience of eating authentic Jamaican food on the island adds a richness that you could never get from a DoorDash order. Consider the most intense moments of a young Jamaican’s school life: the five minutes before the 12:00 pm lunch bell, when students prepare strategies to reach the lunch line on time. Truth be told, whatever the teacher says during those final minutes goes in one ear and out the other—all students can think about are the juicy patties and soft coco bread they’ll pair with a Fresh box juice. If you’ve ever wondered why Jamaicans are so fast, it’s from the daily practice of making it to the lunch line within ten seconds of the bell before all the best and fresh food disappears.
Jamaica, like many Caribbean countries, is known for its diverse dishes—something best experienced in the country itself. Yet many food reviewers and influencers upload reviews of themselves trying “Jamaican food,” showcasing dishes that aren’t necessarily authentic to the country. Popular social media influencer and model Quen Blackwell uploaded a Jamaican food review to her TikTok page earlier this year. While many featured dishes are consumed heavily in Jamaica, they aren’t the real Jamaican food you can only find on the island. Anyone can make escovitch fish, barbecue chicken, oxtails, rice and peas, chocolate cake, and sodas anywhere with the right seasoning and ingredients. However, finding a jerk pan, roast and fry breadfruit, or fresh ackee (not tinned) and saltfish with yam and banana, or freshly blended June plum juice with a squeeze of lime outside the tropical island is nearly impossible.
@quenblackwell Replying to @bene._.33 JAMAICAN FOOD TASTE TEST #foodreview ♬ original sound – quenblackwell
@ashleydesires Get ready for a taste of Jamaica right here in Lauderdale Lakes! 🌴🇯🇲 @Juici Patties US Juici Patties, the legendary spot from Jamaica, has just opened their new location, and trust me—you don’t want to miss it! From classic patties to refreshing drinks, they’ve got all the flavors to satisfy your cravings. 😋✨ Head over to their new spot in Lauderdale Lakes and taste the goodness for yourself! 🎉 You’ll thank me later. . . . #JuicyPatties #JamaicanFood #LauderdaleLakes #FoodieFinds #PattyLovers #VeganPatty #CaribbeanEats #NewInTown #TasteJamaica #CocoaBread #LemonadeLovers #HibiscusDrink #FoodieAdventures #MustTry #SouthFloridaEats #LocalEats #YummyInMyTummy #ExploreFL #Deliciousness #IslandVibes ♬ Tell Me What U Want – Vybz Kartel
Spot the difference. Quen’s DoorDash Patty Vs Jamaican Patty
Although Quen’s review was positive, the dry, cold patty she broke in half was telling. A real Jamaican patty can only be validated if the meat escapes from the other end with each bite, and you must brush flakes from your clothes at least four times before finishing.
The review particularly irked viewers for misrepresenting traditional Jamaican cuisine. One comment urged the social media influencer to visit Jamaica for authentic island food.
Experiencing Jamaican cuisine means visiting the island, exploring different food spots, and participating in the food culture. While jerk chicken spots exist island-wide, Kingston’s Friday and Saturday evenings feature numerous roadside jerk pans—just follow the aromatic smell. The presentation itself is an experience: food served on foil paper, doused in hot pepper and ketchup, complemented with bread.
A recent food review by UK influencers Chunkz, AJ Shabeel, and Darkest, uploaded to Chunkz’s YouTube channel on December 6, showcased various national dishes ranked on a 6-tier list. Their review of Jamaica’s national dish, ackee and saltfish, drew criticism for several inexcusable errors. One reviewer graded the dish “D” after only tasting plantain, claiming he doesn’t eat fish. Moreover, serving ackee and saltfish with white rice for a food review is diabolical—the dish is traditionally served with dumplings, whether fried or boiled. Clearly, no research informed the meal’s preparation.
Some of Jamaica’s best food experiences happen in households. Weekend mornings greet you with aromas of fried plantain, peanut porridge, ackee and saltfish, banana fritters, callaloo and salt mackerel served with boiled dumpling, yam, banana, pumpkin, potatoes, or fried dumplings and festival. These same meals often appear at events like fish fries, street dances, fetes, and other gatherings. These events are integral to Jamaican culture, and replacing traditional food preparation with delivery service would diminish the experience.
