Goodies From Boston

My mother in law got back from Boston about a week ago and, of course, she brought back a few goodies with her for me and the family.  Goodies like perfumes and colognes, clothes, shoes and fun items for the kids and the home as well as a few extras.  But the best thing she brought back for me from her short visit were 24 Jamaican style beef patties.  YUM!

If you have never heard of a Jamaican beef patty, please take a few seconds to browse google.  Make sure you have a napkin, because you will inevitably start to drool over the images.  And then you too will understand my obsession.

An authentic Jamaican style beef patty is this super flavorful and savory flaky pastry with a variety of spicy fillings.  The original filling is beef, but these days you can get chicken, vegetarian, spinach and shrimp.  And you can get it really spicy or take it on the mild side.  Growing up, a Jamaican beef patty was not just a special treat, it was like taking a mini mind vacation from everything going on around you to enjoy a small delicious piece of food heaven.  That first bite is a mouthful bursting with flavor and spices.  Almost puts you in a damn food trance.  And once you eat one, you can't stop there.  You look forward to the next time you can sink your teeth into another.

If you live in an area where Jamaican style beef patties are plentiful and easy to come by, well then, I am jealous.  I live in a country where there are no patties to be found or bought anywhere.  Price Mart use to sell the boxed frozen version a few years ago, which were also very tasty, but they don't anymore.

The only thing you can buy here (that does not even remotely resemble a Jamaican beef patty in taste or design) is the Afro Costa Rican version of an empanada, which they call a Paty(pronouced pat-ee).  In my opinion, it doesn't even come close.  But I made due for a number of years with the Paty.  However, I just can't anymore and that makes me miss my beloved Patty even more.

So when my mom told me she could send me some Jamaican patty's with my mother in law, I started salivating.  I was sent 24 patties for my family to share.  As of today, we have none left.  And yes, that almost brings a tear to my eye.  I'll be dreaming of patties until the day comes I can have a few more.  You may wonder, why don't I just make the damn things?  The problem is, I can't.  No one I know personally can actually make an authentic style Jamaican beef patty.  The flaky crust, the delicious filling, the taste and texture.  It's a science that very few have mastered.  And those who have, sell.  So we buy.