Divided – Fried Ripe Plantains

Ripe plantains fried until burnt (Photo by Cynthia Nelson)

Who knew that opinions could be so divided on an all-time Caribbean favourite – fried ripe plantains?

Earlier in the week, while on one of my early morning walks, the discussion switched from local politics, the economy, and the cost of food to the selection of ripe plantains and the frying of ripe plantains. One of my male counterparts, scorned at the idea of buying ripe plantains with black spots on the skin (even though the body of the plantains were still firm). He considered the plantains at that stage to be rotten and felt they should be sold for cents, if not given away. My other two walking companions tore into him (I remained quiet because they were doing a good enough job at defending the black-skinned ripe plantains). Things became so hotly contested that they insisted we stop and draw into the argument a couple of other walkers who had completed their rounds and were sitting on a bench relaxing. Lawd! De noise. And you know how loud some people can get. As I looked on and listened, I said to myself, it is a good thing we are all 3 to 6 feet apart because of Covid-related social distancing, if not, some people might pelt blows (Lol).

There was no conclusion to the high-energy discussion and people agreed to disagree. The two concluding points were as follows: