If you know anything about Jamaican people at all..it would be, we like our patties hot,hot,hot! Not spicy hot, just hot enough so you run the risk of scorching the roof of your mouth and burning your tongue. I have never understood our obsession with this, but everywhere in Jamaica that patties are sold they have to be piping hot, and if not, you can be assured of a complaint hurled across the room 'da patty yah cole, mi cyan eat it!'
Patties are often referred to as the cheapest hot meal you can get on the island. And it is a very popular choice on rainy days, sunny days and pretty much any day. Its used to pacify and incentivise. Often used to form friendships and quite often ruined a few especially when some 'craven' person has eaten all the patties, or when a friend who has been given the task of buying patties for you declares on his return, quite seriously, that 'your patty' fell out of the bag and he had to throw it away. This is usually done with patty crumbs stuck between his teeth, or all over his face (personal experience)
Often the nicest thing someone could ever do for you is bring you two nice hot beef patties on a rainy afternoon, its an indication of thought and caring (one pattie is an insult! and says you are mean!) No lamb, or spinach, no saltfish or even chicken..just pure beef patties thats our favorite.
