Last Orders: Rose Lin Zamoa, Owner and Chef of Jamaica Me Crazy

Cat Nelson | Jun 14, 2013 1:00 pm | 1 comment | 2396 reads

Each month, we ask noteworthy Beijingers to imagine their final meal before leaving the city for good.

The venue
Dali Courtyard off of Gulou Dongdajie. I really like the environment there. It’s a typical Chinese courtyard restaurant with outdoor seating. Dining there in the summer is very pleasant and comfortable. The menu is simple and doesn’t change often. But it’s the kind of food that you crave from time to time.

The starters
We’d begin with avocados stuffed with shallots, tomatoes, baked plantain and then dressed with ginger and garlic infused olive oil. This is a dish I had by the Great Wall at a very small and hidden private kitchen in 2009. It’s run by a friend of a friend, and you wouldn’t know about it unless someone tells you. There is no fixed charge; you simply leave what you want to pay on the table.

The main course
We would stuff ourselves with too much yangrou chuanr and, of course, Tsingtao beer in one of the hidden hutongs off of Guozijian. Yangrou chuanr is one of those things you don’t realize that you miss until you leave. Tsingtao is a classic when you arrive first in Beijing – that’s what you drink. It’s not the best beer, but the best memories.

The dessert
This would be a dish from Jamaica Me Crazy and would represent me leaving. I’d share a slice of our rum cake with friends. Of course, there’d be an extra shot of rum. And then we would eat a slice of JMC’s coconut and lime cheesecake, too. It would go very well with the extra shot of rum.

The music and entertainment
The soundtrack would be electro funk and then reggae at 2 Kolegas. Friends would play drums and guitar as we all sit in the grass.

Jamaica Me Crazy
Daily noon-10pm. 1 Cheniandian Hutong (west of Guozijian, near Andingmennei), Dongcheng District (8403 6640)
东城区安定门内大街车辇店胡同1号

Click here to see the June issue of the Beijinger in full.

Photo: Mitchell Pe Masilun

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Coffeeaddict's picture Coffeeaddict Submitted by Guest on Fri, 06/14/2013 - 19:10

The idea of Jamaican food is cool, but we regretted it. I dragged my friend to try it out with me. The place is not clean and the Chicken Jerky left a lot to be desired. The chicken was old as gulp of glutinous chicken fat slid through a piece of chicken like puss (fresh chicken shouldn't do that). The chicken was microwaved, so it really makes you wonder how long it stays in the fridge. My friend's chicken was not microwaved long enough, so his chicken pieces were cold. My cucumber slices were transparent, as if it's fibrous structure had been frozen for too long (I didn't eat it).

The only highlight of that was the sauce, I think it if had been fresh chicken it would have been delicious. My friend also liked the shake.

We also asked for veggie and a meat empanada like pastries. Didn't like them either, the pastry in itself was not good. My veggie one was pretty much like mushed tasteless carrots.

We left most of it uneaten.

We left to wash down that meal with Great Leap. I'd not recommend anyone this restaurant.

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