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The Politics of the New York Beef Patty
There’s no denying the of the influence of Caribbean food in America. And if you’re talking Caribbean food then you can’t deny the epicenter of the melding of the Caribbean and American food cultures is right here in NYC (sorry Florida, we got you beat).
No matter where you go in New York City, you are close by some sort of venue that either has elements of, or is specifically focused on selling Caribbean food. One of the classic staples of that mix is the Jamaican beef patty.
What is the Jamaican Beef Patty?
If you are unfamiliar, beef patties are the ultimate street food. For those of us without Caribbean roots, the beef patty was probably your first entry into Caribbean cooking. I know it definitely was mine. And it’s a great way to get introduced to the spices and flavors common to the Caribbean.
Like most good street foods the beef patty is simple. A standard patty is a beef, chicken, or veggie filling mixed with a thick spiced gravy, wrapped in a flaky crust of light dough. That’s it, simple and efficient.
They are cheap (just a few dollars), easy to eat with one hand (for public transportation convenience), and damn tasty and they typically come in spicy or mild heat. As a note of caution, I wouldn’t recommend the spicy if this is your first time trying one, you’ll thank me later.
Initially, there was only one kind of patty: beef, now though you can get Jamaican or Guyanese style patties, in beef, chicken, or veggie fillings. On the street though NYers still refer to them all as “beef patties”.
In New York we take our beef patties seriously. I’m not joking, the competition for patties is real. Arguments can break out over which shop has the best (and sometimes the cheapest) patties. Depending on the borough and neighborhood it can even rival (or outdo) that other quintessential NY street food, the slice of pizza.
New Yorkers commonly eat our patties with coco bread, like a sandwich, that’s considered the “right” way to rock a patty, like folding the slice of pizza when eating it. The other way is to add a slice of cheese, typically mozzarella, melted inside.
Every borough and every neighborhood in that borough has a favorite “patty spot” but if you are visiting New York and don’t know where to go I would suggest seeking out the Golden Krust chain of restaurants. They are all over the city, which makes locating one close to you easy, prices are reasonable, and their food is pretty good. You can’t go wrong with Golden Krust patties.
