Jam West Caribbean Foods – Canyon Country

I have tasted the flava of the islands and it is vegan! Jam West Caribbean Foods is this amazing place in Canyon Country serving up delicious Jamaican food for the masses. Opening for business about six months ago and located in an industrial strip off Ruether Avenue, Jam West is really a professional kitchen and not a dine-in restaurant. Offering catering  and craft services as their main focus, they also do take-out for us regular, non-event folks just looking for great food.

In addition to their regular menu, Jam West hooks vegans up with a menu of our own! (scroll down). Ital Stew, Vegan Jerk “Chicken” and Vegan Mango “Beef” are just a few examples of the delicious menu items you can have at Jam West. The large vegan menu is prepared by Chef Patrick, a professional vegan chef who works with Jam West and their owner Sarah Ramrattan.

From the top going clockwise: Red Beans and Rice with Cabbage and Plantains, Vegan Jerk "Chicken", Brown Stew Tofu, Vegan Curry "Chicken", Vegan Stewed "Beef", Vegan Mango "Beef" and in the Center a Patty (Chef Patrick says he makes a few vegan versions).

Chef Patrick also works under the company name “Reggae Flava“, specializing in authentic Jamaican food cooked vegan. All meals come with Red Beans & Rice, Cabbage and Plantains for about $10.

Vegan Jerk "Chicken" with Red beans & Rice, Cabbage and Plantains. Spicy and seasoned perfectly, lots of food for about $10.

It’s hard for me to put into words just how good the food is at Jam West. If the vegan restaurants in LA are worth the drive from the SCV to have a meal, then Jam West is worth leaving LA for the experience. Honestly, this is hands down some of the most amazing food I have ever tasted in my life; vegan or otherwise. Jam West achieves their authentic and unique flavor by importing many of their ingredients and seasonings directly from Jamaica. There is nothing like this in LA; Santa Clarita Vegans should be excited and everyone else should be jealous!

Vegan Curry "Chicken" with all the sides.

Ital Stew: Stewed red kidney beans cooked with coconut milk, medley of vegetables and spinners (small dumplings made from flour and water)

Vegan Mango "Beef": Stewed soy "beef" seasoned Caribbean style with added flavor of mango.

Patty: Chef Patrick says he makes a few different versions, vegan ones marked with a "V". Patties are a pastry-like pie stuffed with seasoned TVP or Spinach.

As I mentioned earlier, Jam West is for take-out and catering; there are no tables to sit at so grab your food and enjoy it back home or at work. Sarah and Chef Patrick recommend calling ahead to place your order so it will be ready when you get there. Also keep in mind that they may be busy preparing food for a catering job so calling a few hours ahead may not even be a bad idea. It’s worth the extra planning, trust me. Speaking of catering, Jam West will be more than happy to feed your wedding guests, television crew, office party or whatever.

Inside Jam West

Jam West is full of discoveries for me. Besides finding a place in Santa Clarita with a large vegan menu, a culinary style previously unknown to me and a cool vegan chef in my own backyard, I also learned a new word; Ital. Rooted from the word Vital, Ital (I-tull, as in the Ital Stew) is essentially the Rasta equivalent to vegan. Only natural foods from the earth, no preservatives, animals or chemicals. My kind of food!

If you’re in Canyon Country or anywhere within a gas tank’s distance, grab some food at Jam West. Also, visit Chef Patrick’s MySpace and send the guy a friend request.

Jam West Caribbean Foods is located at:
26470 Ruether Ave. Ste. 107
Santa Clarita, CA 91350

(661) 250-IRIE (4743)