When we lived in SoHo I would made a routine of walking up Sullivan Street to Jamaican Flavors (240 Sullivan St., 212-254-3856). In the heart of the Village, the place gets really busy around lunch time, but if you show up too late they can run out of stuff and just close down. Getting delivery was a hassle too, as they can be pretty unreliable, and sometimes curt. When you’d finally get them on the phone, they’d send some sharp looking rude boy on a bicycle (he looks like Dizzee Rascal) who could care less about breaking change for his tip because he’s got girls to text.I loved their food so much, I didn’t care about jumping through all these hoops. I liked their curry chicken, but their bonless jerk chicken that kept me coming back for more. Plus, their patties (I mostly ordered jerk and curry patties) were like leftovers from Jah, as we’d heat them up in the toaster oven for days. With some plaintains and some rice & peas we’re talkin’ yum city! And it’s all washed down with some Ting. Grapefruit soda.

To me, Jamaican Flavors, burning incense, burning ganj, and some Burning Spear = the high life, if you rastas can overstand. If there’s a little bit of mazel in every matzah ball, then the good vibes that came from those patties were enough to make us forget that our 2×4 apartment was at the center of babylon. I ended up calling so much that they didn’t even need me to say anything, they were even nice, and they would always hook me up with extra jerk sauce. One time, after taking my order one of the ladies asked, “You really like this stuff, dont you?” I said, “You better believe it!”

So now that I’m here visiting New York I thought I could stop by, but they were closed. Luckily we had to drive back to my girlfriend’s parents house out on Long Island, and there’s another outpost of JF in Springfield, Queens (near JFK, 22409 141st Ave Springfield Gardens, NY 11413, 718-341-7352) that was on the way. If you’re going east on South Conduit, you’ll want to make a left at Springfield, and then you’ll see it on the right, just before Merrick Blvd. It’s accross the street a Golden Crust Caribbean Bakery, but I would never recommend going there, because it’s a crap franchise and JF is only ACCROSS THE STREET!. This Queens location is even bigger but the quality of the food is just as good as it’s counterpart in the “City.”

Sounds funny. but I’ve learned to look forward to the BET gospel shows that would always be on their big screen, especially if it’s Kirk Franklin’s “Birghter Day” (it’s so p-funk). Man, everyone gets in such a good mood while waiting for their food. There’s always people pulling up and double parking their flash cars, and the quick service gets them in and out. I took some pics inside the store, and I meant to take more when we got to the house, but I forgot all about it once we cracked open the jerk! To anyone in the city, go to Jamaican Flavors on Sullivan Street. To anyone landing in JFK (even if you’re changing planes) get in a cab and head over to Jamaican Flavors in Queens!.

Before you look any further, watch the video at the same time and GET DOWN AND FEEL THE LIGHT IN THE WHITE!yummy patties

Amazing JERK