SAZI’S ITAL SIP KEEPS PEOPLE HEALTHY
In Boston, Portland, Sazi is cooking up a storm and he is willing to share his ital dishes with anyone, whether they have money or not. “Mi nuh cook and sell, enuh. Mi cook and dem gi mi a money, any money fi put on di pot back pon fire and sometime nuh money, at all, and mi gi dem ‘cause mi fire nah stop burn and mi affi eat outta it every day,” he explained. But he said his dishes are enjoyed by numerous persons, especially some tourists who are willing to pay as much as US$20 for a bite of his wholesome meals. The Rastafarian, who has ditched his given name Michael Miller, said he has been cooking for approximately 45 years. He learned by watching his grandmother in the kitchen. “From 11 mi a cook fi mi self, suh mi nuh stop dweet, enuh, and now mi a 56,” he told THE STAR. Prepared on wood fire, Sazi says the first ingredient in all of his dishes is coconut. “Mi nuh cook widout coconut and if mi nuh have coconut, mi nah cook,” he said.
Choosing to grate most things he puts in his pot in order to achieve a rich taste, he said he has food available throughout the day.
“Sometime mi cook all four, five time ‘cause once my fire light, it nuh fi guh off ... . It fi keep burning straight,” he said.
And sticking to a menu of strictly beans and vegetables, he is always able to have a constant supply of fresh produce from his nearby farm. “Mi always prepare mi ital sip and mi prepare mi stew and anything inna greens, anything inna stew,” he said. Boasting that everything he grows is natural (no chemicals used), Sazi said he and whoever consumes his food are able to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “Mi have a likkle farm just fi keep mi kitchen going, ‘cause mi like when mi get it out a di garden, a straight inna di pot it fi guh ‘cause it affi fresh and green and healthy,” he told THE STAR.
Reaping plants such as okra, peas, pak choi and lettuce, he reasoned that he is able to prepare food healthier than the average person consumes daily.
“Everything weh dem a get from abroad, it mix up wid chemical, suh yu find out say dem body weak and if yu check it out, all a di youth dem nature cut and dem lazy ‘cause dem nah nyam natural food. Everything dem a eat a plastic and bottle,” he said.