Living history: randy’s patties

The Jamaican patty is a derivative of the Cornish pasty – a baked pastry filled with meat or vegetables. The Cornish pasty was brought to the Caribbean by British colonists and was enhanced by by the African and Indian people of the Caribbean. The Jamaican patty is typically filled with beef, but can also be filled with vegetables or other meats, and varies in spiciness. The spiciness is traditionally due to the scotch bonnet pepper – a popular ingredient used by many Jamaicans when they are cooking.

As Jamaican and other Caribbean peoples migrated to Canada, they brought the patty with them. During this migration of the 1960s and 1970s, the patty was introduced to the world and can be found in practically every Caribbean or West Indian restaurant, along with various grocery stores. The patty is now a staple food worldwide and is usually eaten during lunchtime.

Opened in 1979, Randy’s Take-Out was a popular Toronto hotspot for delicious Jamaican food, and people have been known to travel long distances to get a hold of their patties. Founded by three families, Randy’s Take-Out stays close to its home roots by making authentic Jamaican cuisine, using only the best ingredients. Family owned and operated, Randy’s Take-Out was a major part of the Little Jamaica community for over 40 years.

When they opened in the late 70s, a few Jamaican bakeries also served patties but Randy’s Take-Out was unique for its patty flavor based on an authentic recipe sourced from Jamaica. The smell of the warm beef patty often wafted along Little Jamaica’s streets inviting people to grab a patty or two and the lines would often wrap around the corner. On Saturday February 26, 2022, Randy’s served its last patties out of their storefront on Eglinton to loyal patrons from far and wide who wanted one last patty.

Listen to D’Andra Montaque, Shane Kenney and Adrian Hayles share their feelings on Randy’s closing and its community impact.