Dear Editor,
Jamaica has been clearly established as a melting pot of cultural perspectives, customs and of course cuisine. Of all the cultural representations, food, by far, is the most significant aspect -- second only maybe to music that is -- of our daily lives that we share as a people.
As a result of this fact, we engage in the consumption of many meals from our varied cultural pasts and because many of us either can't cook it or don't have the time to do it we depend on the representatives of the particular culture to serve us the meals we enjoy.
Based on the trust we have in our restaurateurs, it is quite alarming that in recent months videos have surfaced showing chefs either preparing or slaughtering meats that are questionable. Everyone knows that the ever-faithful donkey is a family pet or workmate and is not consumed by the average Jamaican. Thus, it is unexpected that restaurateurs would be seen slaughtering the animal for consumption.
Also to see a chef prepping meats for what is identified as "porridge" in a video is a slap in the face of consumers who dine out as a way of treating themselves in these harsh economic times. This cannot go on, as it breaches the consumers' trust and honestly is quite sickening to consider. Furthermore, the motto didn't sign us up for this type of exchange.
While we appreciate cultural exchanges and understand that we live in a global village, we do not appreciate being fed "funny meats". I am all for our motto and appreciate the complexities of it, but its quite simple: don't feed me what I don't eat!
Kirkton Bennett
bennett_ kirkton@yahoo.com
Out of many one... but not on my plate!
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Jamaica has been clearly established as a melting pot of cultural perspectives, customs and of course cuisine. Of all the cultural representations, food, by far, is the most significant aspect -- second only maybe to music that is -- of our daily lives that we share as a people.
As a result of this fact, we engage in the consumption of many meals from our varied cultural pasts and because many of us either can't cook it or don't have the time to do it we depend on the representatives of the particular culture to serve us the meals we enjoy.
Based on the trust we have in our restaurateurs, it is quite alarming that in recent months videos have surfaced showing chefs either preparing or slaughtering meats that are questionable. Everyone knows that the ever-faithful donkey is a family pet or workmate and is not consumed by the average Jamaican. Thus, it is unexpected that restaurateurs would be seen slaughtering the animal for consumption.
Also to see a chef prepping meats for what is identified as "porridge" in a video is a slap in the face of consumers who dine out as a way of treating themselves in these harsh economic times. This cannot go on, as it breaches the consumers' trust and honestly is quite sickening to consider. Furthermore, the motto didn't sign us up for this type of exchange.
While we appreciate cultural exchanges and understand that we live in a global village, we do not appreciate being fed "funny meats". I am all for our motto and appreciate the complexities of it, but its quite simple: don't feed me what I don't eat!
Kirkton Bennett
bennett_ kirkton@yahoo.com
Out of many one... but not on my plate!
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