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Intelligence Squared

Archive: Jamaica's Culinary Journey, with Melissa Thompson and Riaz Phillips

Oct 13, 2024
Melissa Thompson, a BBC Good Food columnist and author of "Motherland: A Jamaican Cookbook," and Riaz Phillips, author of "West Winds: Recipes, History and Tales from Jamaica," explore the rich tapestry of Jamaican cuisine. They discuss iconic dishes like jerk chicken and ackee and saltfish, highlighting their diverse cultural influences. Personal stories reveal how culinary traditions shape identity within the Jamaican diaspora. The conversation also tackles authenticity, cultural appropriation, and the evolution of Jamaican food, particularly in London.
42:56

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The rich tapestry of Jamaican cuisine reflects diverse cultural influences, with each dish narrating stories of migration and history.
  • Personal connections to food illuminate emotional ties to heritage, highlighting the role of culinary traditions in shaping identity within the diaspora.

Deep dives

The Influence of Jamaican Cuisine

Jamaican cuisine is a rich tapestry woven from the historical influences of various cultures, including West African, Spanish, Chinese, and East Indian settlers. Each dish tells a unique story of the migration and changes in the island's demographics over centuries. The podcast highlights specific dishes such as jerk chicken, curried goat, and ackee and saltfish, illustrating how each embodies the island's diverse heritage. The conversation details how traditional recipes often carry the baggage of colonial histories and personal experiences, shaping the food culture today.

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