Devon House, a masterpiece of Caribbean Victorian architecture and the island’s premier gastronomy centre, remains the fourth-best place in the world to eat ice-cream. This, according to the (2011) National Geographic book Food Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 Extraordinary Places to Eat Around the Globe. The island’s most celebrated ice-cream stand is home, according to the publication, of 27 flavours “that run a broad gamut, from traditional cherry and pistachio to exotic island treats like mango, coconut and soursop. There is even an offbeat, beer-based ice-cream called Devon Stout. Grab a cone and recline in the sprawling gardens”.

No need to say this twice to the hundreds of Jamaicans who descend upon Devon House every Sunday to enjoy the many flavours, totally oblivious to the fact that their favourite ice-cream is world-renowned. Capogirp Gelato in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was ranked the number one ice-cream destination; Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St Louis, Missouri was listed as the number two; Bombay Ice Creamery in San Francisco, California was third and Helados Scannapieco in Buenos Aires, Argentina, fifth.

As we count down to #Jamaica55, Thursday Food celebrates the achievement of our far-from-ordinary ice-cream.