Emily L and the Jamaican Ice Cream

When it comes to food appreciation, flavor and texture go hand in hand. But in my experience, if pressed, people will be able to tell you which of the two is more important to them.

I’m #TeamTexture

Which isn’t to say flavor isn’t important. It most definitely is. But I can overlook dull, muted, or even slightly off flavors, if the texture of a dish is especially pleasing. However, if the texture is off, it can be a deal breaker.

This is cogent to today’s guest post from Emily L because it’s all about Caribbean ice cream. As far as I can tell, this is all about flavor. Still, so much of the love I have for great ice cream has to do with texture, which is one reason why I prize The Dutch Udder.

My snobbery for such things might have otherwise kept me from exploring this decadent treat which can be found on Central Avenue in Albany. And that’s one of the reasons why I love having guest posts on the FLB. They open me up to new ideas and potentially new experiences.

So, without further ado, let’s hear from Emily about her latest international adventure in the Capital Region.

The Flavors of Jamaica
By Emily L

In my journey along Central Ave, nestled between Aladdin’s and a Mexican restaurant, I came across Flavors. Flavors boosts ‘Authentic Caribbean Ice Cream’.

What is Caribbean ice cream? According to the owner of Flavors, Jamaica is the heart of the ice cream loving world in the Caribbean. An affordable treat in a poverty ridden country, families could enjoy bowls of ice cream using local fruits and ingredients without breaking the bank. This traditional continued as Jamaican immigrants moved to New York City. Caribbean ice cream shops can be found all over Queens and Brooklyn, and now in Albany. You can read more about Caribbean ice cream here.

Jamaican ice cream tends to be heavy on the savory-sweet side. The owner of Flavors has his Caribbean ice cream brought in from New York City on a weekly basis. He graciously let me try several flavors including grape-nut, Jamaican rum raisin, Jamaican stout, and strawberry guava grape-nut. Grape-nut is indeed similar to the cereal; with the ice cream, it tastes like eating a bowl of the cereal, but that doesn’t get soggy. The Jamaican stout was my favorite flavor, with rich dark hints of stout mixed with creamy swirls of rum. The strawberry guava grape-nut was a bit sweet for my taste, but would suit a younger crowd well.

Flavors also offers fried fish dishes. A strange combination, but it smelled absolutely amazing. At $3 a cone, Flavors continues to bring an affordable treat to Albany. Stop in, have a cone or two, and try the fish. I want to know if it tastes as good as it smells.

Ooh. Fried whiting and ice cream? Jamaican stout and Grape-nut ice cream? When it comes to masking potential flaws in ice cream texture, inclusions like Grape-nuts can go a long way. Plus, I simply love the cereal’s malty sweetness. I’ve been a fan of those little crunchy nuggets for a long time.

Out of curiosity, what flavor sounds most appealing to you?