Foreign Food Focus: Afro-Caribbean

Jamaica Me Crazy

Ghanaian-born and London-raised Rose Lin Zamoa moved to Beijing in 2007, and has in the past five years not only perfected learning the Chinese language, but has also become the city’s (if not the whole country’s) authority on authentic Afro-Caribbean cooking. Realising the recipes she grew up with were nowhere to be found in Beijing, Zamoa began cooking at her house and delivering to her classmates in school, and from there moved on to open both a bakery and a wildly successful Private Kitchen in 2009. Now with three years under her belt, Zamoa makes her latest culinary move with the smash hit hole-in-a-hutong Jamaica Me Crazy.

Tiny and takeaway-focused, Jamaica Me Crazy serves up classic African dishes that appeal to Ghanaian and Nigerian expats, while her Caribbean flavours cater to Beijing’s budding West Indian community. And for the Chinese locals, it’s an unprecedented look at and taste of Jamaican staples like smoky jerk chicken and beef patties, plus the national dish of Ackee and salt fish and classics like stewed rice. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, be sure to try the nutmeg, saffron and ginger-packed ‘exotic cheesecake’ - a literal slice of spice from the islands!