JAMAICAN PATTY DAY RETURNS TO TORONTO

Posted on 02/11/2016 | About Toronto, Ontario

Over 30 years have passed since the infamous "Patty Wars" were waged in Toronto. Now Jamaican Patty Day is a peaceful and tasty affair. This year, the Jamaica Tourist Board will be paying homage to this humble treat with a "Patty Party" at the Drake Hotel's 86'd event on February 22.

Free to the public, the event will be hosted by local food personality Ivy Knight. "Patty Day is a fun way to celebrate one of the unique flavours of Jamaica," said Philip Rose, Regional Director for the Jamaica Tourist Board in Canada. "Our Patty Party provides a way for us to celebrate a true Jamaican novelty. We invite patty lovers, new and old, to partake in the flaky treat straight from the source, Jamaica." Toronto's "Patty Wars" History Jamaican patties are a favourite snack around the world but the city of Toronto has an interesting history with this novel Jamaican treat. In February 1985 several patty vendors around Toronto received word from federal food inspectors that the product could no longer be called "beef patties" as by definition it could only include meat and seasonings. The battle between local food inspectors and Toronto patty vendors waged until negotiations were held and vendors were allowed to continue using the term without fear of harsh penalties. To mark the occasion 31 years ago, the first Patty Day was celebrated in Toronto on February 23 and in 2012, the Toronto Star printed an unofficial proclamation of Jamaican Patty Day. In Jamaica, patties are available island-wide and visitors can enjoy even more Jamaican flavours by planning their trip around one of Jamaica's many culinary festivals.