By Rosemary Parkinson, Freelance Writer
At less than $200 for a box of five, these burgers are great to feed a family on a limited budget. - Photo By Rosemary Parkinson
WELL CHRISTMAS gets nearer and invitations for various functions are coming in fast and furious. Missed a date at Culloden Cafe, Whitehouse, Westmoreland, for the November Dessert Fair with Lady Key Lime Pie, Princess Chocolate Tia Maria Cake, Sir Truffles and various other high-ranking goodies. Sorry guys - hope you all had a marvellous afternoon of tea-sipping and amazing tasting.
I spent my entire weekend painting bird boxes and roosters for the Art Centre's Arts & Crafts Exhibition at Olympia, Old Hope Road, open to the public December 5.
Being such a busy little Kingston bee again, preparing food is just out of the question and, hello, who has time to do it anyhow the traffic, the traffic and more traffic. It's impossible to get home feeling relaxed enough to cook so I went a searching for some of those easy frozen things that I can just whop into the oven, quickly fry/grill or boil (hate microwave ovens always think they will make me glow in the dark one day).
TASTEFUL DISCOVERIES
To my surprise, I discovered some locally made stuff. Since I am always going on about buying local and I try to practise what I preach, I managed to 'procure' several choices and rushed home as fast as a snail (traffic again) to try them out. Here are the results of what I tasted and tested:
Reggae Jammin Jerked Fish Burgers manufactured by Aquaculture (Jamaica) Ltd., Reggae Jammin Jerked Chicken Burgers and Reggae Jammin Seasoned Beef Burgers manufactured by Content Agricultural Products all really Jamaica Broilers which is better known as Best Dressed.
The first thing I must comment on is the cardboard packing. By the time I got to the cashier, the boxes were all bent out of shape and soggy. But the best part was when I got home. You see, I make it a point not to use 'scandal' bags - to aid the environment in whatever little way I can - so in taking the now 'squashy-wet' packages of burgers out at mi yard, one box almost disintegrated and five burgers in a plastic bag flew up into the air landing (yep) in the garden bed. Not a good start.
Things did not improve when I, hungry as a street dog, pan-fried the Jerked Fish Burger. I am not eating bread (again) so I prepared a side salad. That could've been the problem (no bread) because the product on its own was so salty I was unable to eat it. Having got rid of that, the Jerked Chicken Burger came out and was better. Good taste, just the right amount of seasoning, a slight smoky flavour coming through quietly.
I found the burgers far too thin but in these days of cutting back they are worth the price, particularly for a large family. (Each package of five burgers weigh just under half-a-pound and costs less than $200). Cooking Instructions must be followed so that you don't land up with a sliver of compressed chicken -- one minute each side on a medium heat is very exacting.
Saturday was the Seasoned Beef Burgers' turn. Placed a few thin slices of cheddar cheese between the patties and served same with lettuce, tomatoes, escallion and pickles. Not bad at all. I congratulate Broilers for the effort. I do believe the saltiness of the fish can be dealt with and hopefully the boxes will improve - lovely design terrible quality card.
Oh, as great as the photos look on the box in regard to the meal suggestions -- sorry, but I think that's called high hopes. Escoveitched Fish using Jerked Fish Burger? Ackee and Chicken Burger and Spaghetti Bolognese with the Beef? I don't think so but, guess what, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Guess I'll have to try them. Maybe Broilers know something I don't.
HOMESTYLE GOODNESS
Now for the good stuff. Homestyle's Curried Chicken, Curried Goat and Stew Peas with Pig's Tail, each boxful weighing a pound (no flying into garden), came wrapped in cellophane.
I chose the boiling-water trip for these meals. First, I dug into the Curried Goat. Could not believe how good it was -cookshop stylee, no doubt about dat. It had just the right amount of pepper, the goat obviously well-seasoned. There was no 'raw' taste and I only found four little itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny bones. So the meal, apart from being excellent, was almost boneless. A large mixed salad on the side made a great, satisfying meal for me.
On Sunday for lunch I went for the Stew Peas with Pigs' Tail. Let me tell you, mi never see so much Pig Tail in one stew peas yet. There were at least five sizeable chunks of that 'suckingly-good' island favourite and ah nice set o' peas too. De t'ing even had a subtle coconut milk taste.
The chicken's turn came at dinner. Great curry. Right amount of pepper. Tender chicken. I simply loved it. I was more than surprised you see and happily so 'cause I am going to buy myself more. So dat is me from now 'til Christmas - except for when I have to do reviews.
Congrats to Homestyles and Broilers. We halting Presidents Choice in dem tracks. Dem got Trini Roti but no, no, NO to Jah-Jah foods. Consumers, help our economy and eat local this Christmas. Spread that money honey at home.
Homestyles, you definitely are in the front of the marathon. I can see you, ready for export to Canada, U.S and Hengland. You know how many Jamaicans living and working tough in dat cold up dere in the 'Norff' would love an instant hot bowl of Stew Peas? And don't talk about Curry Goat.
By the way, saw some other local frozen goodies and will try those soon.
NEXT WEEK: There's a story on a drink I have been taste-testing, get up and put it back should be its name. I am going to Passa Passa this Wednesday to drink same and feel de vibes. Another big-up deserved - to all involved in this 'meeting' of music and dance. Meanwhile, walk good and give to the Salvation Army dem outside supermarkets in de heat all day ringing, ringing and they do so much good.
Xaymaca, is what do you? I love you so till, I want to press myself against your mountains and your seas and make love to you.
- Poem by Heather Royes taken from her book The Caribbean Raj.
