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lovemesomesurveys · 4 years

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What's your favorite accessory?: I haven’t worn any in awhile. What is the last article of clothing you bought?: A shirt I bought online. What does that article of clothing look like?: It’s black and says “Keep your distance” on the upper left side and on the back in big letters it says, “Thank you for keeping your distance.” Which is better: candy necklaces or Ring Pops?: Not a fan of either one, honestly. What's your favorite kind of soda?: Coke or Dr. Pepper.

What program do you use to play your mp3s on?: I use Spotify on my phone for music. If you've taken the SATs (or PSATs/ACTs/etc), what was your score?: I never took them. How much wood can a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?: A lot. Do you honestly care how much the woodchuck could chuck?: Not at all. What time do you wake up every morning?: More like late afternoon around 3ish :X What was the last movie you rented or bought?: We rented You Should Have Left on On Demand last month. Do you play Dance Dance Revolution?: I never played that. I can’t. If so, what's your favorite song to play?: What do you think of the Kool-Aid man?: I don’t think anything about it. Do you like Dane Cook (he's a comedian)?: I know who he is, but I’ve never really heard his stuff. Have you had a song in your head today? What is it?: Not so far. Have you ever humped someone to greet them in school?: Uh, no. I don’t greet people that way. Who would you rather have sex with: Prince or Billy Idol?: Prince has passed away, but regardless I wouldn’t want to have sex with either one of them. What was the last concert you went to?: Green Day back in 2009. What is the next concert you are going to?: I don’t have any plans for one as of now. There aren’t any concerts right now anyway and who knows when there will be. What is your favorite board game?: I just love board games. Do you think Jade Puget is really awesome?: I had to Google who that was and while I am familiar with the band they were (are?) in, I don’t know who he is. What's your favorite punctuation mark?: Period. And that’s on periodt! ha. What foreign language do you take in school?: I took Spanish all 4 years in high school and 1 semester in college. Have you ever read any of the Chronicles of Narnia series?: Nope. Do you hate Harry Potter as much as I do?: I don’t hate Harry Potter. How many times have you seen the movies in the Star Wars series?: Several times. What is your favorite anime?: I don’t watch anime. Do you own a lava lamp? Blacklite? Fiber optic lamp?: Nope to all the above. Do you write it as "favorite" or "favourite"?: Favorite. How many bracelets do you own?: I don’t know exactly, but quite a few. How many bracelets are you wearing?: None. What's your favorite flavor of Pocky?: Chocolate banana. What's your favorite way to wear your hair?: I just always throw it up in a bun. What brand of gum do you most often chew?: I haven’t had gum in years, but I used to always get either Orbit, Stride, or 5 Gum. Do you believe in the Zodiac somewhat?: Nope. What's your Zodiac sign?: Leo. What's your Chinese astrology sign?: I don’t know. If you were to attend an art school, what subject would you major in?: I wouldn’t attend an art school. How old is your PC?: I have the 2017 Macbook Air. Do you have any 16-bit video game systems in your house? (ie Sega Genesis): No. When was the last time you got some film developed?: Uhh. I have no idea, it’s been several years. What was on that roll of film?: If you were to get a tattoo tomorrow, what would it be of?: I’ve wanted to get ‘free bird’ for a long time. When you turn 18 (or already have), what did/will you do on your birthday?: I turned 18 13 years ago D: Anyway, I went out of town to one of my favorite cities with my parents, brother, and cousin and spent the day there. Can you use a hula hoop?: Nope. What is the longest distance you've ever walked?: Years ago a former friend and I went all over San Francisco by foot (er, by wheels for me). Do you wear eyeliner?: When I wear makeup, yeah. I haven’t worn any makeup in like 3 years, though. Has anything been bothering you physically lately?: Of course. Always. How about mentally?: Always. Do you already have an idea of what you wanna do for college?: I already went and graduated. What's your favorite kind of fruity candy?: I’m not a fan of fruity candy. How long do you think you could do jumping jacks non-stop?: I can’t do any. What do you usually use your tokens on at the arcade?: I haven’t been to an arcade in several years, but aren’t tokens just used for the games? What else would I use them on? What's your favorite kind of fruit?: Bananas. What's your favorite kind of Coca-Cola or Pepsi (Vanilla, lemon, lime, etc.)?: Regular Coke. What do you think of eyeball jewelry?: Eyeball jewelry? What kind of deodorant do you use?: Secret. The powder fresh one. Have you ever had a lemonade stand?: No. What's your favorite font?: Cambria, Georgia, Verdana, Tahoma, and Times New Roman. What size and color do you use with it?: Typically just 12 and black, but it depends on what I’m doing. Like, I often do my Bible studies on Google Docs, so in that case I’ll switch up the font color. What's better: glitter or rhinestones? Rhinestones because they’re not a big, annoying mess like glitter is. Glitter is really pretty, though. If you were given a $50 gift card to an art store, what would you buy?: Some nice markers and pens. Do you like taking pictures of yourself?: No. Are you fairly photogenic?: I’m not at all. What was your first job?: I haven’t had one. If you could have wings, what kind would they be (bird, insect, bat...)?: Omg I saw “if you could have wings” and instantly thought of chicken wings cause I’m hungry lmaoooo. Anyway, uhhh I guess I’d have bird wings. What do you order at your favorite fast food place?: Depends which fast food place I go to, which would either be Chick-Fil-A, Jack in the Box, Taco Bell, or McDonald’s. What kind of sauce do you get with chicken nuggets?: Ranch and BBQ. Do you like making sandcastles at the beach?: Nah. I like just chillin’ at the beach. If you had a tricycle/big wheel when you were a kid, what did it look like?: I didn’t. Did you have streamers in the handlebars of your bike?: Would you put streamers on your bike now?: I don’t have a bike. What is your favorite McDonald's toy you've ever had?: I used to love those mini Beanie Babies and Barbies they'd give you. <<< What was your favorite toy that you broke when you were a kid?: I don’t recall. How do you like your hamburger?: With cheese, mayo, mustard, ketchup, and pickles. What's your favorite kind of juice?: I don’t like juice. What is your favorite belt you own?: I don’t own any belts. What is the most obscure thing you've found at a thrift store?: I don’t go thrift shopping. What's the weirdest thing you've seen while taking a walk?: Uhhh. How often do you go for a walk?: I don’t go on walks. What does your discman look like?: Discman? Wow, this survey is really old. What is your favorite kind of Pop Tarts?: Frosted brown cinnamon sugar and frosted strawberry. When was the last time you colored in a coloring book?: A couple months ago. If you were able to sell your soul to someone, how much would you charge?: I wouldn’t do that for any amount. What would you buy with the money?: What instrument's sound makes you smile?: I love the piano. Do you like to be tickled?: No. Does tickling turn you on?: No.

What brand of condoms do you usually use?: I haven’t had to use any. What was the last CD you bought that you really liked?: I don’t even remember the last CD I bought. When was the last time you had a papercut?: Like a month ago, actually. Hurt like a mofo. I literally heard it slice through my finger D: Who's one person you absolutely hate and why?: No one but myself. What makes you think a person is absolutely obnoxious?: If they’re arrogant, cocky, and rude. What was your favorite Pokemon?: I liked Jigglypuff. Did you watch the Power Rangers when you were little?: Nah, I didn’t get into it. What's better: Ben and Jerry's or Dairy Queen?: To be fair, I’ve only been to DQ like once and it was when I was a kid, so I can’t say for sure but I do like Ben & Jerry’s. If you could go over to someone's house right now, who's and why?: I wouldn’t. Are you good at playing ping-pong?: Never played. Do you like to chew on things?: I only like to chew food. What's a nervous habit of yours?: Picking at my nails. Do you like to paint your nails?: I used to. It’s been a few years since I last painted them. Would you be able to fit in a kiddie pool?: Yeah. What makes you giggle with glee?: I don’t giggle with glee. When you read the comics in the paper, what do you go for first?: I haven’t done that since I was a kid, but I loved the Peanuts, Family Circus, Blondie, and Garfield comics.

#personal #text #survey #surveys

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nanalikessurveys · 4 years

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What’s your favorite accessory?: Earrings

What is the last article of clothing you bought?: I ordered bunch of underwear online

What does that article of clothing look like?: Different kind of briefs and hipsters

Which is better: candy necklaces or Ring Pops?: I have no idea what Ring Pops are but candy necklaces are disgusting lol, like especially when kids wear them on their necks and the necklace is all slimy and chewed

What’s your favorite kind of soda?: Pepsi, especially lime pepsi

What program do you use to play your mp3s on?: Spotify and Youtube

If you’ve taken the SATs (or PSATs/ACTs/etc), what was your score?: Not a thing here

How much wood can a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?: Who knows

Do you honestly care how much the woodchuck could chuck?: Lol no

What time do you wake up every morning?: It varies between 9am and 11am

What was the last movie you rented or bought?: Well the last movie i watched was Unbreakable and i watched it on Viaplay

Do you play Dance Dance Revolution?: I've never played that

If so, what’s your favorite song to play?: -

What do you think of the Kool-Aid man?: Don’t know who he is

Do you like Dane Cook (he’s a comedian)?: I think i’ve heard of him but that’s it

Have you had a song in your head today? What is it?: Well I’m listening to Répondez-moi by Gjon’s Tears right now

Have you ever humped someone to greet them in school?: No lol

Who would you rather have sex with: Prince or Billy Idol?: Umm

What was the last concert you went to?: A local one years ago

What is the next concert you are going to?: I’m not going, i’m not really into concerts anyway

What is your favorite board game?: I think i played Monopoly the most. i don’t play anymore since i don’t have anyone to play with haha

Do you think Jade Puget is really awesome?: Don’t know who that is

What’s your favorite punctuation mark?: ? or !

What foreign language do you take in school?: Just English and Swedish when i was in school

Have you ever read any of the Chronicles of Narnia series?: I haven’t

Do you hate Harry Potter as much as I do?: I’ve never read/watched those sooo

How many times have you seen the movies in the Star Wars series?: Zero

What is your favorite anime?: I don’t watch anime

Do you own a lava lamp? Blacklite? Fiber optic lamp?: No to all of these

Do you write it as “favorite” or “favourite”?: Favorite

How many bracelets do you own?: I’m not sure, probably zero haha

How many bracelets are you wearing?: Zero

What’s your favorite flavor of Pocky?: I’ve only had the strawberry one so i have nothing to compare to

What’s your favorite way to wear your hair?: Down or up in a ponytail

What brand of gum do you most often chew?: I don’t chew gum

Do you believe in the Zodiac somewhat?: Not really

What’s your Zodiac sign?: Libra

What’s your Chinese astrology sign?: Tiger

If you were to attend an art school, what subject would you major in?: I have no idea

How old is your PC?: It’s pretty new, i bought it two months ago i think?

Do you have any 16-bit video game systems in your house? (ie Sega Genesis): No

When was the last time you got some film developed?: Looooong time ago

What was on that roll of film?: I can’t remember

If you were to get a tattoo tomorrow, what would it be of?: I don’t know if i want any. probably something to do with cats tho lol

When you turn 18 (or already have), what did/will you do on your birthday?: I didn’t really celebrate it any different way. i think i went out to eat with my mom and sister and stuff like that

Can you use a hula hoop?: Yes but it’s pretty boring imo

What is the longest distance you’ve ever walked?: I’m not sure

Do you wear eyeliner?: Lately i haven’t, but about a year ago i wore it everytime i did my makeup

Has anything been bothering you physically lately?: My arm muscles

How about mentally?: Something like that

Do you already have an idea of what you wanna do for college?: I'm sure i’m not going to college

What’s your favorite kind of fruity candy?: I don’t like them

How long do you think you could do jumping jacks non-stop?: Hmm not sure

What do you usually use your tokens on at the arcade?: ..to play the games?

What’s your favorite kind of fruit?: Peach and pear

What’s your favorite kind of Coca-Cola or Pepsi (Vanilla, lemon, lime, etc.)?: Lime Pepsi and vanilla Coke

What do you think of eyeball jewelry?: The what jewelry?

What kind of deodorant do you use?: Palmolive roll-on or Fila spray deodorant

Have you ever had a lemonade stand?: No, are those really a thing?

What’s your favorite font?: I don’t have one

What size and color do you use with it?: It depends really

What’s better: glitter or rhinestones? Glitter

If you were given a $50 gift card to an art store, what would you buy?: I have no idea

Do you like taking pictures of yourself?: Nah

Are you fairly photogenic?: No i’m not

What was your first job?: I’ve never had a job

If you could have wings, what kind would they be (bird, insect, bat…)?: Eagle wings or something like that

What do you order at your favorite fast food place?: Usually a chicken burger

What kind of sauce do you get with chicken nuggets?: Some kind of mayo

Do you like making sandcastles at the beach?: I guess so

If you had a tricycle/big wheel when you were a kid, what did it look like?: I didn’t have it

Did you have streamers in the handlebars of your bike?: No

Would you put streamers on your bike now?: I don’t have a bike but if i did i wouldn’t put streamers on it anyway

What is your favorite McDonald’s toy you’ve ever had?: I don’t remember, i didn’t really care about the toys there, just the food lol

What was your favorite toy that you broke when you were a kid?: Hmm

How do you like your hamburger?: Crispy chicken burger with mayo or a hamburger with cheese, red onion, lettuce and mayo

What’s your favorite kind of juice?: Some tropical one

What is your favorite belt you own?: I don’t own any

What is the most obscure thing you’ve found at a thrift store?: Used and badly washed underwear lol

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen while taking a walk?: I have no idea

How often do you go for a walk?: About once a week

What does your discman look like?: I don’t have one but me and my sister used to, it was a silver one

What is your favorite kind of Pop Tarts?: I’ve never had those

When was the last time you colored in a coloring book?: Ehh i can’t remember

If you were able to sell your soul to someone, how much would you charge?: I wouldn’t

What would you buy with the money?: -

What instrument’s sound makes you smile?: I don’t think any instruments make me smile, but i like the sound of piano and violin

Do you like to be tickled?: Noooo

Does tickling turn you on?: No, didn’t know that was a thing. is that a thing?

What brand of condoms do you usually use?: I don’t know, different ones

What was the last CD you bought that you really liked?: I think the last CD i bought was Kanye West’s Late Registration and that was ages ago lol

When was the last time you had a papercut?: Last week

Who’s one person you absolutely hate and why?: I don’t hate anyone

What makes you think a person is absolutely obnoxious?: Just be rude and too loud and boom you’re obnoxious

What was your favorite Pokemon?: Eevee

Did you watch the Power Rangers when you were little?: No.

What’s better: Ben and Jerry’s or Dairy Queen?: Never had Dairy Queen and Ben and Jerry’s is okay i guess

If you could go over to someone’s house right now, who’s and why?: I don’t need to do that now

Are you good at playing ping-pong?: I’m not, any game to do with balls is something i’m not good at

Do you like to chew on things?: On food yes?

What’s a nervous habit of yours?: I tap everything with my fingers and hands and tend to talk all the time if i’m with someone i know

Do you like to paint your nails?: Sometimes

Would you be able to fit in a kiddie pool?: I'm sure, but i wouldn’t be able to swim in it lol

What makes you giggle with glee?: A lot of things, i laugh a lot

When you read the comics in the paper, what do you go for first?: I don’t read the comics in the paper

#survey #surveys

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suckitsurveys · 4 years

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What’s your favorite accessory?: Earrings. I’m always wearing them. I also almost always have a hair elastic on my wrist. I also love a good 90′s style choker. What is the last article of clothing you bought?: A swim suit for my niece’s birthday. What does that article of clothing look like?: It’s a reversible tankini. One side is half one shade of blue, half another shade, split down the middle, and the other side is black with lightning bolts in those shades of blue. it’s really cute. Which is better: candy necklaces or Ring Pops?: Candy necklaces.

What’s your favorite kind of soda?: Root Beer and Dr. Pepper.

What program do you use to play your mp3s on?: I use Spotify on my phone for music. If you’ve taken the SATs (or PSATs/ACTs/etc), what was your score?: I don’t remember. How much wood can a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?: A lot. Do you honestly care how much the woodchuck could chuck?: Not at all. What time do you wake up every morning?: On work days I get up around 7. I’m supposed to technically start at 7 but I don’t have to check in til 7:10 and I’m working from home so I sleep til the very last minute lol. What was the last movie you rented or bought?: I rented Frozen 2 for my niece and I to watch when she slept over last week. Do you play Dance Dance Revolution?: I have before. If so, what’s your favorite song to play?: I don’t remember any of them. What do you think of the Kool-Aid man?: Oh, yeah. Do you like Dane Cook (he’s a comedian)?: I am embarrassed to admit I used to love him. Then I realized how unfunny and unoriginal he is. Have you had a song in your head today? What is it?: I have a bunch of songs from Tik Tok constantly playing in my head lately. Have you ever humped someone to greet them in school?: Uh, no. Who would you rather have sex with: Prince or Billy Idol?: I’m okay. What was the last concert you went to?: Vampire Weekend in Salt Lake City almost a year ago. What is the next concert you are going to?: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha fuck 2020. What is your favorite board game?: Clue. Do you think Jade Puget is really awesome?: I have no idea who that is. What’s your favorite punctuation mark?: ? What foreign language do you take in school?: I took Spanish for 3 years in high school and a year in college. Have you ever read any of the Chronicles of Narnia series?: Nope. Do you hate Harry Potter as much as I do?: I don’t hate Harry Potter, I just don’t care about it. How many times have you seen the movies in the Star Wars series?: I think I’ve only seen the first one the whole way through. What is your favorite anime?: FLCL. Do you own a lava lamp? Blacklite? Fiber optic lamp?: Nope to all the above. Do you write it as “favorite” or “favourite”?: Favorite. How many bracelets do you own?: I don’t know exactly, but quite a few. How many bracelets are you wearing?: None. The hair tie I usually have on my wrist is in use. What’s your favorite flavor of Pocky?: Matcha. What’s your favorite way to wear your hair?: I love space buns! I don’t do it often, but I love them. What brand of gum do you most often chew?: I haven’t had gum in years. Do you believe in the Zodiac somewhat?: Somewhat. I think it’s very interesting how i exhibit the traits of my sign. What’s your Zodiac sign?: Virgo! What’s your Chinese astrology sign?: Snake. If you were to attend an art school, what subject would you major in?: Film or TV. How old is your PC?: Old. Do you have any 16-bit video game systems in your house? (ie Sega Genesis): No. My husband plays those games on his computer. When was the last time you got some film developed?: Uhh. I have no idea, it’s been several years. What was on that roll of film?: No idea. If you were to get a tattoo tomorrow, what would it be of?: I have a few ideas. I wanna do a half sleeve of creepy creatures and a sort of half leg of the other 4 BoJack characters to add to my BoJack tattoo.

When you turn 18 (or already have), what did/will you do on your birthday?: I turned 18 13 years ago. If i remember correctly, we just had a party in my dad’s yard. Can you use a hula hoop?: I mean, sure. Not correctly, though. . What is the longest distance you’ve ever walked?: Not 100% sure. Do you wear eyeliner?: Sometimes. Has anything been bothering you physically lately?: Yes. How about mentally?: Always. Do you already have an idea of what you wanna do for college?: I already went. What’s your favorite kind of fruity candy?: Sour Patch Kids. How long do you think you could do jumping jacks non-stop?: Lol not long. What do you usually use your tokens on at the arcade?: Skee Ball! What’s your favorite kind of fruit?: Pomegranates, watermelon, bananas. What’s your favorite kind of Coca-Cola or Pepsi (Vanilla, lemon, lime, etc.)?: Cherry. What do you think of eyeball jewelry?: Sounds gross. What kind of deodorant do you use?: Secret. Have you ever had a lemonade stand?: I think so? What’s your favorite font?: I don’t know. There’s so many. What size and color do you use with it?: -- What’s better: glitter or rhinestones? GLITTER. If you were given a $50 gift card to an art store, what would you buy?: I have no idea, I’d have to look around. Do you like taking pictures of yourself?: Eh. Are you fairly photogenic?: Sure. What was your first job?: At a cafe. If you could have wings, what kind would they be (bird, insect, bat…)?: BAT WINGS. What do you order at your favorite fast food place?: My favorite is Popeyes and I usually get the mild chicken tenders combo, unless they have some sort of special tenders, then I will get those. What kind of sauce do you get with chicken nuggets?: BBQ or honey mustard. Do you like making sandcastles at the beach?: Sure. If you had a tricycle/big wheel when you were a kid, what did it look like?: I had a green big wheel. Did you have streamers in the handlebars of your bike?: Yes. Would you put streamers on your bike now?: Yes. What is your favorite McDonald’s toy you’ve ever had?: There was one year they had Inspector Gadget toys where each one was a differerent part and if you collected all of them you could build him. I also loved the Barbies and Beanie Babies. What was your favorite toy that you broke when you were a kid?: A lot of my Barbies got destroyed by my cats when I was a kid. How do you like your hamburger?: In my mouth. What’s your favorite kind of juice?: Apple or lemonade. What is your favorite belt you own?: I don’t own any belts. What is the most obscure thing you’ve found at a thrift store?: I don’t know. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a thrift store. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen while taking a walk?: I’m sure I’ve seen a lot of weird shit. How often do you go for a walk?: Ugh, I really should more often. What does your discman look like?: Discman? Wow, this survey is really old. What is your favorite kind of Pop Tarts?: Brown sugar. When was the last time you colored in a coloring book?: The other day. If you were able to sell your soul to someone, how much would you charge?: Lol. What would you buy with the money?: -- What instrument’s sound makes you smile?: Drums. Do you like to be tickled?: Yes. Does tickling turn you on?: Yes. Not so much full on ticking, but light touches.

What brand of condoms do you usually use?: We have some Magnum brand ones, I think they’re called. What was the last CD you bought that you really liked?: I don’t even remember the last CD I bought. When was the last time you had a papercut?: I have no idea. Who’s one person you absolutely hate and why?: My BIL because he’s a piece of shit. What makes you think a person is absolutely obnoxious?: If they’re full of themselves, ignorant, negative about EVERYTHING, pretentious. Basically my brother in law. What was your favorite Pokemon?: Pikachu. Call me basic; I love that little lightning rat. Did you watch the Power Rangers when you were little?: Yes. What’s better: Ben and Jerry’s or Dairy Queen?: I feel like you can’t really compare the two? If you could go over to someone’s house right now, who’s and why?: Randal’s because I miss himmmmmmmm. Are you good at playing ping-pong?: Nope. Do you like to chew on things?: Sometimes. What’s a nervous habit of yours?: Playing with my hair or picking at my face. Do you like to paint your nails?: I like to get them done. I haven’t in AGES though. Would you be able to fit in a kiddie pool?: Yeah? What makes you giggle with glee?: Lots of things! When you read the comics in the paper, what do you go for first?: Garfield!

#surveys #quaratine

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haleeskitchen-blog · 7 years

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New Post has been published on http://haleeskitchen.com/finding-jamaica-in-upstate-new-york/

Finding Jamaica in Upstate New York

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[Photographs: Gus Aronson]

This sprawling city on the Hudson River, just 100 miles north of New York City, shares one thing with the faraway capital of Jamaica—its name. Home to just over 23,000 residents, Kingston, New York, is a jumbled mixture of architecture and history: limestone houses from Dutch colonial times, and more modern ones built during the rush of wealth brought when IBM opened a manufacturing plant in the ‘50s. Today, in a place that has seen extremes of both wealth and poverty, there are dimly lit bars and craft breweries, cheap dives and upscale bistros. And there is Top Taste, Kingston’s only Jamaican restaurant, owned by Albert Samuel Bartley and his wife, Melenda.

Bartley, in his mid-50s, is tall and handsome, and prone to interrupting his sentences every so often with a booming laugh. He favors brightly colored button-up shirts, which he wears beneath a crisp white apron. Most of Bartley’s customers know him as Sammy; some just call him Uncle. The tiny corner building—painted yellow and green, the colors of the Jamaican flag—is nestled into a residential neighborhood at a nondescript four-way intersection.

Bartley at work in his kitchen.

You know that Top Taste is open for business as soon as you crack your car door and hear the dancehall music blasting from inside: Fiwi Linkz, an app on Bartley’s old Blackberry, lets him stream all the best Jamaican stations from back home. Damian, Bartley’s adult son, is out back, putting chicken quarters on the grill to smoke. The scent of charred Scotch bonnet peppers wafts up from the coals and snakes around the block.

Bartley grew up in Clarendon Parish, on the south side of Jamaica. As a child, he loved to cook, and his grandmother was a very good teacher. “I would do most of the odd parts,” he recalls, including grating the coconut that his grandmother would then mix into a thick batter for her famous coconut cake. He woke up every day looking forward to his school’s cooking class: “When I was in Jamaica, if you wanted me to go to school, you got to put me in the kitchen.” After school, Bartley was right back at his grandmother’s stove, preparing plates of food and selling them to the local mechanics. Those offerings included typical Jamaican dishes like jerk chicken, rice and peas, and plantains, along with some of his personal favorites—barbecue chicken and mac and cheese.

In his 20s, Bartley moved to the Bronx, where some of his family already lived. He got a job at a canning factory and worked there for nearly 30 years. When his employer relocated to Boston, Bartley called it quits and moved to Kingston, preferring the slower speed of life he saw there.

But there was another noticeable difference about this new city. Strolling through the Bronx, Bartley could always find markets stocked with goat, oxtail, and cow’s feet, plantains, pigeon peas, and every sort of spice and herb he needed to cook his favorite foods. Home to America’s largest Jamaican community, New York City held nearly all the flavors of his home country. In New York’s Kingston, Bartley had to search harder for a taste of home.

A few months after moving, Bartley saw a “for sale” sign in front of the building that now houses Top Taste. “Wow, this would be a nice place to open a restaurant,” he thought, and just like that, Bartley bought the building.

A few of the signature dishes at Top Taste, including Melenda’s whole fried fish.

Even for a seasoned professional, opening a restaurant is a gamble. The risks are much steeper for someone who has never worked in, let alone run, an eatery before. But, while Bartley had never held a restaurant job before opening Top Taste, he had spent his life cooking for people. Keeping customers well fed was not a challenge. What was hard, he says, was handling the piles of paperwork and taxes that came every month. “Taxes to pay, insurance to pay. We just keep all those things in our minds and keep on going all the time…” Bartley trails off. It has never been his favorite part of the business.

A sign above the shop’s door advertises Top Taste as a takeout restaurant, though visitors can also eat at one of two tables squeezed into the tiny storefront. Often, deep in conversation with Bartley or Melenda, customers will unpack their to-go orders and eat while they talk. Both tables are stocked with hot and jerk sauces and glass containers full of a spicy mixed pickle—Scotch bonnet peppers, ribbons of carrot, and chopped onion—in a brine of white vinegar, peppercorns, and allspice berries. Melenda says this “pickling pepper” is meant to be ladled over a whole fried fish, which is one of her specialties. Taped to the wall behind the cash register, next to a photo of Obama, is a neon green poster board scrawled with the day’s menu. Curry goat, jerk or stew chicken, and oxtail are always on it, served in heaping portions alongside peas and rice, plantains, and a gently steamed cabbage salad.

Melenda fills a to-go container.

There would be room in Top Taste for more tables, but the rest of the space is taken up with an ice cream freezer, a coffee machine, shelves of chips, two large beverage refrigerators, and a glass counter case bursting with candies. On top of this case is a large bowl of fruit and a freshly baked rum cake, courtesy of Melenda. A set of shelves above one table is loaded with Bartley’s favorite Jamaican hot sauces and seasoning blends. As Melenda clears your plate, she might give you a piece of fruit, on the house. “Something healthy for the road,” she’ll say, patting you on the back.

In Jamaica, Bartley says, it’s not unusual for a restaurant to double as a convenience store. Some Jamaican customers expect Bartley to stock all the same goods they found in restaurants back home—“beer, condoms, and cigarettes,” Bartley laughs. “You’d be surprised what people ask me for.” While he doesn’t sell those things, Bartley does offer plenty of esoteric ingredients, like Tastee Cheese, a processed white cheese packed in shallow cans. “This is the best cheese!” one customer proclaims as he walks out the door with a to-go container of curry goat. Damian says Tastee Cheese is usually paired with a fruit-filled, heavily spiced bread, called “bun,” which Melenda bakes on special occasions. Squeezed in among a pile of candy bars in the counter case is a jar labeled “ackee in brine.” A mild and buttery fruit related to the lychee, ackee can be found everywhere in Jamaica. The country’s national dish is ackee that’s lightly cooked, gently stirred, and served with rehydrated salt-cured fish.

When Bartley isn’t in his narrow kitchen chopping cabbage or onions, or out back grilling jerk chicken, he’s talking with his customers. Two girls from the nearby high school come in for lunch, and Bartley brings them their food. He asks what they’re cooking for the holidays, and laughs when they respond to his questions in their impression of a Jamaican accent. “People just come and sit down and have a soda and chitchat,” says Bartley. “I talk to them, they say to me, ‘Man, you cheer my day up’…. I love it.”

While many of Bartley’s customers are Jamaicans yearning for familiar dishes, non-Jamaican locals have gotten hooked on the place, too. David Edwards, a deacon at the neighborhood church, was born in New York City but has lived in Kingston for 35 years. Since he first found Top Taste, Edwards has come in for oxtail as often as he can, and slowly turned more and more of his church onto Bartley’s cooking. Today, he’s picking up lunch for the bishop. “Whenever the bishop comes,” Edwards says, “she takes four or five of these plates of food back with her.”

Jezzy talks Top Taste and ackee.

As the lunch rush at Top Taste ends, a man named Jezzy walks in. Bartley pokes his head out of the kitchen to wave hello. Jezzy moved to the US from Jamaica when he was three years old; now in his mid-20s, he does construction work nearby and comes here for lunch nearly every day, usually ordering Melenda’s whole fried fish. On days when he feels like eating at home, Jezzy comes to Top Taste to buy ingredients like ackee, which he can’t find anywhere else nearby. “In Jamaica, you’d have sheetrock on the roof,” says Jezzy, when I ask if this restaurant resembles the spots he loves back home. “They wouldn’t have the money to put up concrete, so they’d just put up zinc. But inside, the food and the way it’s set up, is the same.” To buy the goat, oxtail, and other hard-to-find products he needs to make his customers’ favorite dishes, Bartley drives the four-hour round-trip to and from New York City every two weeks.

When Bartley first opened Top Taste, he brought his pastor along to give his blessing. Even then, the pastor saw the tiny restaurant’s potential: “The pastor looked at me and said, ‘I see you branching out to a bigger place.’” Now that Top Taste has attracted a ferociously loyal following, Bartley has been thinking about his pastor’s words. “If I moved to a bigger place,” he muses, “I would put more food. Stew peas, barbecue chicken, onion roasted chicken, macaroni and cheese, yam, banana. All the things I could have for them to eat right now…” Melenda pops her head out of the kitchen, where she’s just pulled a batch of plantains off the stove, and says, “We make everything with love.”

Asked if he misses home, Bartley replies with little hesitation. “I love it up here.” With the grill fired up, dancehall radio on loud, and door wide open, Top Taste isn’t just a taste of home. To Bartley, and so many of his customers, it is home.

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cookingawe · 7 years

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Finding Jamaica in Upstate New York

New Post has been published on http://cookingawe.com/finding-jamaica-in-upstate-new-york/

Finding Jamaica in Upstate New York

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[Photographs: Gus Aronson]

Bartley at work in his kitchen.

A few of the signature dishes at Top Taste, including Melenda’s whole fried fish.

Melenda fills a to-go container.

Jezzy talks Top Taste and ackee.

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jlcolby · 7 years

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New Post has been published on http://cookingtipsguide.com/finding-jamaica-in-upstate-new-york/

Finding Jamaica in Upstate New York

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[Photographs: Gus Aronson]

Bartley at work in his kitchen.

A few of the signature dishes at Top Taste, including Melenda’s whole fried fish.

Melenda fills a to-go container.

Jezzy talks Top Taste and ackee.

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