A reader has asked the Foodpage to find out what has happened to that once spicy (not hot), tangy, delicious moreish Solomon Gundy. Yes, good old Solomon, the one that comes out of a tightly sealed bottle in loose blackish clumps. The Solomon that’s heaped atop a good old “challenging” Excelsior cracker. That Solomon- a mouthful of which has never satisfied a craving. That same Solomon – a definite legacy of both the Brits and the French. Can you see us Jamaicans opting for pate, kippers and grilled tomatoes over a large plate of steamed callaloo, ackee, saltfish and plantains? Never. We have certainly taken the smoked fish however, and made it 100% Jamaican. Solomon gets us together, keeps us together, and has travelled around the globe, excuse the pun- keeping Jamaicans together and in touch.

Our Foodpage search party scoured the supermarkets in search of a worthy Solomon. The game proved as challenging as Excelsior. Too hot, too oily, rotten bottles…. We were left with two, worthy enough perhaps, to be called Solomon, would our finalists prove as wise a choice as the great biblical hero?

Plate, knife and cracker in hand on a balmy July afternoon, we gathered. Glasses of water both to quench the thirst as well as to prevent mixing flavours.

Finalist #1

Walkerswood Spicy Jamaican Solomon Gundy smoked herring paste:

Great packaging! It’s really hard to beat this company when they choose to wrap something up. The sealed cap breaks and opens with a firm twist. A nice healthy pop, and we’re spooning away. Some of us prefer to eat Solomon straight from the spoon.

Verdict: If spicy means hot then it’s spicy. Spicy

enough to stimulate all the senses. Now wide awake we search for the herring. Yes, it’s there somewhere, hidden under lots of spice. We taste the smoked and salted red herring, not sure about the soybean oil, vinegar -yes, Scotch bonnet pepper-undoubtedly, salt – too much, black pepper , yes, allspice, nutmeg, citric acid, sugar and thyme, yes indeed!

The lovers of all things hot spoon ahead. Reluctantly they are forced to conclude that there’s more heat than flavour. More heat than a good old Solomon.

Finalist #2

Busha Browne’s Caribbean Caviar – Solomon Gundy.

When it comes to creativity the name Stona/Busha Browne gets a 10.

A short, sexy bottle, the only thing missing is the pearl caviar spoon. May we suggest that a special spoon be created for this product.

Not too sure how Excelsior would fare with this gourmet product, we opted for wholewheat and pita bread. The first taste is confusing, perhaps we are too intimidated, and need to stir some more. The second taste takes us straight to the ingredients section of the bottle: Smoked red herring? Vague amounts.

Onion? subtle hint. Cane vinegar : a splash, olive oil. Nuff, nuff, too much for Solomon. Raisins? Not too sure. Scotch bonnet pepper, a little, approved herbs and spices, whatever that means, not too sure.

Lovers of exotic fare, masking as Caribbean might be tempted to acquire a taste. Yardies would not quite forgive Busha this dastardly act.

Our search for Solomon

continues… If you’ve found the

perfect one email us at the

editorial@jamaicaobserver.com