Patracey Yaad shows nature-loving tourists good time

BY INGRID BROWN

Assocaite editor — special assignment

browni@jamaicaobserver.com

ITAL stew cooked outdoors on a wood fire and served in coconut shells was what a group of tourists from Finland was enjoying as they sat under the stars at Patracey Yaad in All Spice Grove in Fairy Hill, Portland, last Tuesday.

Not only were their appetites sated by f the vegetarian meal with its distinct herbal flavours, but they were further treated to a melodious feast of drumming, dub poetry and dancing.

This is typical of Patracey Yaad, where guests get close to nature and aspects of Jamaican culture. Dubbed a ‘house of words and herbs’, the facility has been attracting scores of backpacking tourists from Europe who are in search of another side of the Jamaican experience.

These are visitors who are not bothered by the dirt floor in some sections of the building, the absence of a refrigerator or the fact that there is only one television set, which is mainly used for viewing cultural videos. The only other amenities are piped water and WiFi Internet access. There are no burglar bars or security gates, and according to conceptualiser RassRod, there is no need for any security measures.

He explained that the accommodation was born when Dub Traffickers, a group of dub poets, closed their office in Allman Town in Kingston and needed another home conducive to their creative productions. They were given the property, located just outside Boston, as a gift and immediately set about establishing the accommodations. It was officially registered for business in 2008.

Geared to the backpacker market, the facility offers a wide array of organic foods as well as a variety of herbs. Added to that mix is a daily entertainment package of drumming, dancing and dub poetry. The library of cultural videos also provides guests with a glimpse into the rich Jamaican heritage.

Although it is more of a hideaway and only accepts appointment bookings, Patracey Yaad continues to welcome several guests, mainly from Germany, Italy, Holland and Australia. The facility can house a maximum of 18 guests, with some taking advantage of the under-the-stars experience which gives them the opportunity to use sleeping bags on the roofless second floor. Most guests book stays of a few days, but others have stayed for up to two weeks.

The majority of the guests are said to be 18- to 25-year-old students and are a good mix of males and females.

“We realise that people from Europe are not merely tourists, but travellers and they prefer the eco-tourism, nature and community tourism or anything that takes you closer to the people and the culture,” RassRod explained.

The location of Patracey Yaad in All Spice Grove is deliberate, according to RassRod, who explained that the spice pimento, which has become synonymous with the method of cooking known as jerk and with Boston itself, is grown in abundance in the area.

The ripe pimento berries, he said, are soaked in either vinegar or soy sauce and used to flavour most dishes. As for jerk chicken and fish, which are done on request for those guests who are not strict vegetarians, RassRod said the pimento leaf and French thyme are the perfect base for the distinct flavour. Peperomia pellucida, known locally as pepper elder, is also used a lot as it not only provides flavour, but also acts as a preservative.

“We don’t have a fridge here and so when I cook rice and peas, if I put pepper elder in it, it can stay for up to a day-and-a-half without spoiling,” he said.

The wood fire, fuelled by pimento bark, also gives a special flavour to meals, according to RassRod,

“Some people cut down the pimento tree to get the wood to do the jerk, but I don’t destroy the tree, I just collect the small pieces of wood from it to use in the fire,” he said.

RassRod said he intends to register with the Jamaica Tourist Board in short order, as the facility continues to align itself with established industry standards. Plans are also in place to expand the features as a vegetable and herb garden will be planted on a section of the top floor. In addition, there is talk of offering a dining service to persons not registered as guests.

“Portland is short of places for food in an authentic way and so Patracey Yaad will be a place where persons can come and dine,” he explained.

In reference to the absence of security measures, RassRod said that apart from the fact that Portland records the least number of crimes in the country, the community protects itself.

“Patracey Yaad is secured by the words and the herbs we use,” added Bunni Izik, who is responsible for drying, pulverising and packaging the various herbs on offer at the Portland facility.

Among the unique blends are herbal teas, turmeric curry and dandelion coffee. Guests can either sample them on the property or take them away.

“We make these things in the dry product (powdered) form so that guests can get it to take with them,” Izik said.

Guest Aleksi Oikkonen, who spent the day at the facility on his first trip to Jamaica, said he particularly enjoyed the natural setting.

“We just heard about it and came to check it out because it is very interesting to see the food being cooked on the wood fire and it is very calm and relaxing,” he said.

“It is a really interesting and nice day and it was very good to taste the ital,” his sister Essi Oikkonen added.

American Dino DeFillipi, who was bunking in a sleeping bag during the Observer North East’s visit, said he has stayed at Patracey Yaad for up to a month.

“RassRod creates an ambience that brings forth the creativity and authenticity in people,” he said.

DeFillipi is currently writing a Broadway musical and said he continues to get inspiration from Patracey Yaad. As for what keeps him coming back, DeFillipi said it is the laughter.

“What stands out the most for me is the laughter. We get crazy laughing here and that is healing for the soul,” he said.

CAPTION:

(yaad)

Patracey Yaad

(herbs)

Bunni Izik explains what these various herbs are used for.

(indoor)

Inside one of the rooms at Patracey Yaad.

(ital)

Rassrod prepares this ital stew on a woodfire.

(guests)

Winnifred Miller serves some stew to these guests.

(serve)

Chef Winnifred Miller serves up some stew for the guests in this coconut shell.

(sleeping bag)

Guests Dino DeFillipi relaxes with a book on the floor where he sleeps during his stay at Patracey Yaad.

(poetry)

Rassrod explains the purpose of this poetry wall.

(Photos: Karl McLarty)