But then, some things are worse. A lot of strong communities, many of them enriched by immigrants, have become shadows of themselves, drowned out by Brooklyn, the Brand. It’s also a heck of a lot more expensive. So much so that, after more than 30 years of living there, I decamped for Queens. Along with a hefty serving of rice and plenty of peppery jerk sauce to squeeze on top, a large order is more than enough for dinner and lunch the next day. If you go, make sure not to miss the sea moss, a classic sweetened West Indian drink. Also called Irish moss, it’s thick and frothy thanks to carrageenan, a type of seaweed, along with condensed milk, nutmeg, and vanilla. (It also lends itself to one of Jamaica’s many great ice cream flavors; see above for more on that.) Along with a hefty serving of rice and plenty of peppery jerk sauce to squeeze on top, a large order is more than enough for dinner and lunch the next day.
