Move over Nathan’s annual hot dog eating contest, because this weekend Golden Krust is in the house, and together with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), they are holding the first annual Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill National Jamaican Patty Eating Contest.
As any serious Brooklyn foodies know, Jamaican patties are turnover-style pastries with a variety of fillings – ground beef, chicken, seafood and vegetable being the most popular.
And much like the hot dog or the slice of pizza before them, the Jamaican Patty, just like Reggae music, has crossed over into mainstream culture. Golden Krust, the McDonalds of Jamaican food chains, reports that on average it sells 54.8 million Jamaican patties, a year.
“The Jamaican patty is to Labor Day what the hot dog is to the Fourth of July, and it’s time that this staple of New York City street food culture has a top-flight competition of its very own,” said Adams.
The Jamaican Patty eating contest is part of WIADCA’s annual weekend long Brooklyn celebration of Caribbean culture culminating the with Monday’s colorful and music-filled Labor Day Parade along Eastern Parkway and ending at Grand Army Plaza.
“Experiencing Caribbean culture on Labor Day weekend, one of the most vibrant elements of Brooklyn’s diversity, deserves a celebration of all the senses and sensations that make this community one-of-a-kind, including our proud culinary tradition,” said Adams. “This is one Brooklyn battle you won’t want to miss!”
Under the initial competition, Adams will select 10 competitors at random. Anyone interested in taking part is asked to e-mail jamaicanpattycontest@gmail
The event is slated for 7 p.m., Sunday, September 6 outside the Brooklyn Museum in Crown Heights as part of WIADCA’s Dimanche Gras. The event will also feature the Kings and Queens of the Bands costume competition as well as musical performances by Caribbean legends such as The Mighty Sparrow.
For more info on other events related to the Caribbean Labor Day visit http://wiadcacarnival.org/.
