Fuss Ah Love Meh Saltfish

Not me say so, eh eh, it is the one and only Birdie, Slinger Francisco, the Mighty Sparrow who said, “all saltfish sweet”. To quote the Master of the art-form:
“Salt-fish stew is what I like
So doo-doo, give me day and night
I like you food, so don't find me rude
My favorite, I sure every man in here already eat it
Saltfish
Nothing in the world sweeter than
Saltfish
English, colloquial, Bajans
Saltfish
It's sweeter than meat
When you want to eat
All saltfish sweet”
Now I understand just about every Trini understands the duality of the lyrics of the song in its entirety, however for the naive or the person who says, “Me eh know what he talking bout”, let’s start something. We live in a brave new World where the women love saltfish just the same as the men. There was a time when only the men loved to eat it. I know one thing for certain no man can prepare saltfish to eat like a woman can. She knows how to wash it to get out the salt for the man to eat. If it is done right, it is a delight! I love saltfish plenty bad but it must always be done just right.
What is your saltfish story? Come on everybody has one. It could be a literal gourmet's delight (in more ways than one) or it could be the one with the twist to it. Listen ladies doh laugh, we are also looking forward to reading yours also.
I am taking the high road on this one. However, to be honest with you, “fuss ah love meh saltfish”. It was once considered the poor man’s delight now it is a luxury. Now if you consider the competition for saltfish and the cost can be debilitating for your pocket. You will enjoy it even more when yuh smell it and your taste buds with go crazy when yuh taste. However, Smarty thinks that Saltfish in the US is just as sweet and Saltfish from the Islands. So whether it is Buljol, Accra or good ole Bacalo as dem Spanish like to call it the aroma and draw towards it is like eating the cascadura – yuh bound to come back for more. Just to let you know I will only eat saltfish from my wife. You know everybody thinks that they have the best saltfish recipe but I like Nanette’s saltfish the best. No I have not tried anybody else because hers is sweet especially with the right ingredients and not too much oil… and some tomatoes too. Now get yuh head out of the gutter what yuh think I was talking about? Shame on you!
I like meh Saltfish with tomatoes and oil and cassava on de side with ah lil cow tong dumplin dey too – and yes ah like all kinds ah salt-fish. Now I will finish off with a few more lines from de Birdie:
“Very well, I like the taste
Though the smell, sometimes out of place
It hard to take, but make make no mistake
I want you to know, it's because it extra sweet it smelling so boy it's
Saltfish
Big money does run behind it
Saltfish
Man does lick down man to find it
Saltfish
It's sweeter than meat
When you want to eat
All saltfish sweet”
Come on get creative guys – let's have some fun with this topic as only real Trinis can! So if you think you know what Sparrow was really talking about write a comment or send in a post (keep it clean please).

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kati1998 said…
Well I must admit I have never tried the other kind of saltfish but my mother had some ah the best I've tasted and I tasted quit ah bit. But since I've been out of her house I love to do my own thing, have my own identity. So I've tried it with cabbage, sweet peppers(red,yellow,Green) and of course tomatoes. Give me them cornmeal dumplings, ripe plaintains, green fig, and don't forget the sweet potatoes. However I've been invited to try the other kinda saltfish on many occaisions but "ah cyar do that, how ah go do that" hahah....
Santiwah said…
Lol, Kati1998 dat is what we talking about!