Nyamin’

Readers have told me that the descriptions of food in HTLAJ makes for a hungry reading experience, which I love. I adore Jamaican food, and I’m glad to share my hunger for it. I was encouraged to cook as a child but leaving my mother’s house and the prevalence of Caribbean restaurants in New York, when I left for graduate school in Iowa, deepened my appreciation. I had to fend for myself. I hunted down ingredients. My mother sent care packages of ackee, saltfish, and yams. I learned how to cook oxtail, and invited my friends over for dinner.

I’m sure that writing the descriptions of food in HTLAJ was a part of the process of honoring the food important to me and my family. I thought it would be fun to recommend recipes inspired by stories in the collection. Please do write to me if you try your hand at Jamaican food. I would love to hear about your experience!