it took years to develop this style of cooking amongst all
the other Caribbean islands.
As a matter of fact, some of the other Caribbean islands
continue to “borrow” this style of cooking today.
Back in the 50’s and 60’s, cooking was done in the outside
kitchen on a charcoal stove, or just plain outside in the
open. Jamaican cooking was then considered... poor people
cooking. Even the well-to-do hired poor people to do their
Jamaican cooking. Of course the poor people did what they
knew how to do best...poor people cooking. The food was always
delicious. The "hired hands" made sure it was so. Do you think
anyone offered any praise to any of these "hired hands?"...No Way!
None of these "hired hands" cared about praise anyway.
Their objective was to make the best tasting food with what
they had. That meant you had to be creative or have someone
train you how to cook…usually your Granny.
This sort of attitude was common all over Jamaica.