Our search for great Jamaican Patties took a surprise detour when we spotted the Jamaica Mi Hungry Food Truck on the Greenway. This was our first encounter with this happy crew but we'll be following them around town after our first bite of their luscious Jamaican beef patties.
This patty made it home for its close-up with a camera. We wanted to be sure you could see the flaky layers of crust and the finely ground filling. You'll have to get one of your own to taste the blend of rich flavor and spice.
But our first taste was of this one, shared right out of the bag on a table on the Greenway. The aroma made it irresistible, despite the fact that we were walking back from a picnic on the waterfront when we spotted the truck.
When we see the word Jamaican on a restaurant or truck, we do an immediate search of the menu for our favorite, little, spicy turnovers. This one is among the best we've ever tried and we'll be stocking up each time we see the truck.
The menu offered both a beef and veggie patty and you can also order it with coco bread. Naturally we'll be trying the rest of the menu. It looks like the chef has created some great offerings. Right now they are on the Greenway three days a week. You can check for an updated schedule here.
Our search for great Jamaican Patties took a surprise detour when we spotted the Jamaica Mi Hungry Food Truck on the Greenway. This was our first encounter with this happy crew but we'll be following them around town after our first bite of their luscious Jamaican beef patties.
This patty made it home for its close-up with a camera. We wanted to be sure you could see the flaky layers of crust and the finely ground filling. You'll have to get one of your own to taste the blend of rich flavor and spice.
But our first taste was of this one, shared right out of the bag on a table on the Greenway. The aroma made it irresistible, despite the fact that we were walking back from a picnic on the waterfront when we spotted the truck.
When we see the word Jamaican on a restaurant or truck, we do an immediate search of the menu for our favorite, little, spicy turnovers. This one is among the best we've ever tried and we'll be stocking up each time we see the truck.
The menu offered both a beef and veggie patty and you can also order it with coco bread. Naturally we'll be trying the rest of the menu. It looks like the chef has created some great offerings. Right now they are on the Greenway three days a week. You can check for an updated schedule here.
We are missing the Jamaican Patties we enjoy in Provincetown and are now on the hunt for the best of Boston's offerings of this savory meat pie.
In Provincetown, we pick up a few at Far Land Provisions and heat them as a quick snack or to accompany a salad as a meal.
The flaky example above is from Izzy's on the corner of Windsor and Harvard Streets in Cambridge (map). We grabbed a few to go and enjoyed a great, quick lunch after a morning round of food shopping in Somerville and Cambridge.
We're making a list of the places where we will order upcoming Jamaican Patties or as some people call them Jamaican Meat Pies. We've done our research and will report back, but we'd love your opinions.
Most of the Jamaican Patties served in Boston come from major suppliers like the Tower Isles version shown above. Look for lettering on them, which may be obscured by the flaking of the crust.
Even with the commercial versions, the way a particular place prepares and holds the patties does make a difference to the quality.
Who serves great versions of this Caribbean classic? Do you know of places that make their own from scratch? Do you have a favorite frozen version and where do you buy those?
We are missing the Jamaican Patties we enjoy in Provincetown and are now on the hunt for the best of Boston's offerings of this savory meat pie.
In Provincetown, we pick up a few at Far Land Provisions and heat them as a quick snack or to accompany a salad as a meal.
The flaky example above is from Izzy's on the corner of Windsor and Harvard Streets in Cambridge (map). We grabbed a few to go and enjoyed a great, quick lunch after a morning round of food shopping in Somerville and Cambridge.
We're making a list of the places where we will order upcoming Jamaican Patties or as some people call them Jamaican Meat Pies. We've done our research and will report back, but we'd love your opinions.
Most of the Jamaican Patties served in Boston come from major suppliers like the Tower Isles version shown above. Look for lettering on them, which may be obscured by the flaking of the crust.
Even with the commercial versions, the way a particular place prepares and holds the patties does make a difference to the quality.
Who serves great versions of this Caribbean classic? Do you know of places that make their own from scratch? Do you have a favorite frozen version and where do you buy those?
I'm sure a few long-time readers are surprised to see a recipe for baked goods here because I'm not a baker, I'm a cook. But this dessert is so simple and quick that it should be part of every cook's repertoire.
I had posted the recipe on social media when it popped up on my daily reading list. (As you know from this previous Friday Link post, Leite’s Culinaria is one of my favorite sites.)
A friend saw it and delivered a big bag of her own freshly cut rhubarb with a note saying, "I was totally inspired by your rhubarb post this week …"
Just imagine walking into a summer potluck with a tray of these beauties made with whatever fruit is in season.
My Version with a Major Shortcut
I used Trader Joe's frozen pie crust instead of making my own. Thanks to this excellent, flaky crust and the ease of making crostata, I do make these pastries from time to time.
My work to make this dessert consisted of cleaning and cutting the rhubarb, grating the ginger, and tossing those with the other ingredients.
I also used less sugar as suggested by one of the recipe testers. And, because I thought it would add depth and round out the sharp notes of the rhubarb and ginger, I used half light brown sugar and half raw sugar.
A Few Tips:
The frozen dough takes time to thaw. I moved it from the freezer to the refrigerator overnight and it still had to sit on the counter for an hour before it was ready to use without cracking and breaking.
Once thawed, I left the pie crust between its layers of plastic and used my hands to reseal a few cracks. That meant no rolling pin or floury counter to clean.
You can use the bottom piece of the plastic to help flip the pastry onto your prepared baking sheet. Pile on the filling then flip up the sides in your most casual manner.
I'm sure a few long-time readers are surprised to see a recipe for baked goods here because I'm not a baker, I'm a cook. But this dessert is so simple and quick that it should be part of every cook's repertoire.
I had posted the recipe on social media when it popped up on my daily reading list. (As you know from this previous Friday Link post, Leite’s Culinaria is one of my favorite sites.)
A friend saw it and delivered a big bag of her own freshly cut rhubarb with a note saying, "I was totally inspired by your rhubarb post this week …"
Just imagine walking into a summer potluck with a tray of these beauties made with whatever fruit is in season.
My Version with a Major Shortcut
I used Trader Joe's frozen pie crust instead of making my own. Thanks to this excellent, flaky crust and the ease of making crostata, I do make these pastries from time to time.
My work to make this dessert consisted of cleaning and cutting the rhubarb, grating the ginger, and tossing those with the other ingredients.
I also used less sugar as suggested by one of the recipe testers. And, because I thought it would add depth and round out the sharp notes of the rhubarb and ginger, I used half light brown sugar and half raw sugar.
A Few Tips:
The frozen dough takes time to thaw. I moved it from the freezer to the refrigerator overnight and it still had to sit on the counter for an hour before it was ready to use without cracking and breaking.
Once thawed, I left the pie crust between its layers of plastic and used my hands to reseal a few cracks. That meant no rolling pin or floury counter to clean.
You can use the bottom piece of the plastic to help flip the pastry onto your prepared baking sheet. Pile on the filling then flip up the sides in your most casual manner.
Lunch, last Monday, was the famous porchetta sandwich from the PennyPackers food truck. We highly recommend that all our friends and followers in the area join us in making Mondays "Pennypackers Porchetta Day." It can be the Back Bay version of Prince Spaghetti Day with better food.
Last Monday Penny split off on our dog walk to drop a package at the Post Office on Clarendon Street. Her secondary assignment was to pick up lunch along the way home. Imagine her joy as she neared the corner of Clarendon and Boylston (map) and spotted the word "Porchetta" in large letters on the back of a food truck.
The truck was Pennypackers and that sandwich is their specialty.
There it was on the menu, the porchetta sandwich with rhubarb mostarda. After a hurried walk home to have lunch ASAP, we were both savoring the deeply seasoned pork, stuffing, and the lift of the mostarda. (As you may have noticed from past posts, Penny is a big rhubarb fan and was thrilled to see it used in this classic Italian condiment.)
It wasn't until we studied the rest of the menu in the quick photos taken while waiting for the porchetta, that we both wished we had ordered a second or third item to have that night for supper.
Pennypackers posts their daily status and menu on Twitter and Facebook. Like or follow them for updates on where they are and what they are serving.
Update: (05.16.16) Wepicked up these items for lunch! (Click on photos for larger images) Left to Right: Crushed Fried Potatoes, Fried Chicken Sandwich, and Ribeye Sandwich. They were all hits – especially the potatoes!
Here's what the porchetta looks like before it becomes a delectable sandwich. (from the Pennypackers facebook page.)
Brick & Mortar Pennypackers
Like a few of the other great food truck families, Pennypackers has opened a brick and mortar restaurant. If the food truck schedule doesn't work for you, visit them at 514C Medford Street, Somerville, MA. (map) Right now that location is open Thursdays through Sundays. The hours are posted here.
Please get out and support our local food trucks. You'll have a better meal than you would from a national chain and you'll be helping a small business grow just the way we see Pennypackers growing.
Lunch, last Monday, was the famous porchetta sandwich from the PennyPackers food truck. We highly recommend that all our friends and followers in the area join us in making Mondays "Pennypackers Porchetta Day." It can be the Back Bay version of Prince Spaghetti Day with better food.
Last Monday Penny split off on our dog walk to drop a package at the Post Office on Clarendon Street. Her secondary assignment was to pick up lunch along the way home. Imagine her joy as she neared the corner of Clarendon and Boylston (map) and spotted the word "Porchetta" in large letters on the back of a food truck.
The truck was Pennypackers and that sandwich is their specialty.
There it was on the menu, the porchetta sandwich with rhubarb mostarda. After a hurried walk home to have lunch ASAP, we were both savoring the deeply seasoned pork, stuffing, and the lift of the mostarda. (As you may have noticed from past posts, Penny is a big rhubarb fan and was thrilled to see it used in this classic Italian condiment.)
It wasn't until we studied the rest of the menu in the quick photos taken while waiting for the porchetta, that we both wished we had ordered a second or third item to have that night for supper.
Pennypackers posts their daily status and menu on Twitter and Facebook. Like or follow them for updates on where they are and what they are serving.
Update: (05.16.16) Wepicked up these items for lunch! (Click on photos for larger images) Left to Right: Crushed Fried Potatoes, Fried Chicken Sandwich, and Ribeye Sandwich. They were all hits – especially the potatoes!
Here's what the porchetta looks like before it becomes a delectable sandwich. (from the Pennypackers facebook page.)
Brick & Mortar Pennypackers
Like a few of the other great food truck families, Pennypackers has opened a brick and mortar restaurant. If the food truck schedule doesn't work for you, visit them at 514C Medford Street, Somerville, MA. (map) Right now that location is open Thursdays through Sundays. The hours are posted here.
Please get out and support our local food trucks. You'll have a better meal than you would from a national chain and you'll be helping a small business grow just the way we see Pennypackers growing.
Our dear Poppy turned 4 on April 20th and she celebrated her birthday with two weeks of walking on the beach and listening to the waves in Provincetown.
Here is her official age four birthday portrait. She was sitting on the window ledge in a bay window keeping watch on the comings and goings of neighbors. The wonderful Provincetown light picked up the blue cast from the glorious sky and used it to outline her white fur.
Her pose shows that she does have her serious and thoughtful moments … ("Aren't you supposed to be preparing my lunch?")
She spent a lot of time in this window seat …
Snoozing on the window ledge …
Or curling up on Penny's lap since this was a favorite indoor reading spot. That's her waterproof Mambe throw that she's cuddled into.
The dog-loving staff at Bayshore/Chandler House were on hand to wish her a Happy Birthday and her personal staff of human retainers (that would be us – Penny & Ed) took her for many walks on the beach at low tide.
"Tell me again why we can't beach walk at High Tide!"
Except for the pesky delivery trucks and the beep, beep, beep of construction vehicles, it was a quiet and happy two weeks for the little Westie girl. She had to be shown the water at the bottom of the access stairs to the beach at high tide because we all know that beach walking is much better than road walking.
So here's a belated happy birthday post for our favorite Sunday Dog. We hope all of you find a happy place with fun things to do for your special dog's birthday or Gotcha Day!
Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.
Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.
Our dear Poppy turned 4 on April 20th and she celebrated her birthday with two weeks of walking on the beach and listening to the waves in Provincetown.
Here is her official age four birthday portrait. She was sitting on the window ledge in a bay window keeping watch on the comings and goings of neighbors. The wonderful Provincetown light picked up the blue cast from the glorious sky and used it to outline her white fur.
Her pose shows that she does have her serious and thoughtful moments … ("Aren't you supposed to be preparing my lunch?")
She spent a lot of time in this window seat …
Snoozing on the window ledge …
Or curling up on Penny's lap since this was a favorite indoor reading spot. That's her waterproof Mambe throw that she's cuddled into.
The dog-loving staff at Bayshore/Chandler House were on hand to wish her a Happy Birthday and her personal staff of human retainers (that would be us – Penny & Ed) took her for many walks on the beach at low tide.
"Tell me again why we can't beach walk at High Tide!"
Except for the pesky delivery trucks and the beep, beep, beep of construction vehicles, it was a quiet and happy two weeks for the little Westie girl. She had to be shown the water at the bottom of the access stairs to the beach at high tide because we all know that beach walking is much better than road walking.
So here's a belated happy birthday post for our favorite Sunday Dog. We hope all of you find a happy place with fun things to do for your special dog's birthday or Gotcha Day!
Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.
Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.
from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.