York Castle, Silver Spring, MD

There is a place on Georgia Avenue right next to wear MD borders Washington DC called York Castle. The name is a mystery to me, and the specialty is Jamaican ice cream. Imagine ice cream that is creamier than creamy, smoother than smooth, and that comes in the most harmoniously balanced exotic flavors. They feature flavors like soursop, guanabana, ginger, grapenut, lychee, and coconut. They also have the traditional flavors like Oreo (my and my brother’s favorite as children in a giant waffle cone) two kinds of chocolate, rum raisin that is out of this world, a strawberry to die for, and the list goes on!
But wait, there's more! If you’ve never had Jamaican Black Cake then you are in for a treat, life has at least one treasure to still unfurl before your palate! This dense, rich, and not too sweet cake is sold by the slice, and a hefty one at that; try to eat this by yourself and you’re begging for a tummy ache. The flavor is almost tart or tangy, unlike any typical type of cake we traditionally see in American or European style bakeries. It is made from preserved fruit soaked in alcohol for weeks or even months. Be sure to eat it at room temperature, and it will stay fresh in the fridge indefinitely.
And just when you thought the party was over…in come the spicy beef patties. Now I’ve tried a lot of spicy beef patties, frozen, fresh, even in Jamaica. And these patties are nothing to turn your nose up at, unless of course it’s because your keen sense of smell is forcibly drawing you to the deliciousness. These are hands down the best tasting and most authentic beef patties (available regular or spicy, though I only get spicy) outside of Jamaica. The crust is yellow and flaky, the filling spicy and perfectly blended. They always seem to have them hot and fresh, now when I go I get at least four if not more to share.
In a word, this place is amazing. After trying their ice cream, Dairy Queen or Baskin Robbins just wont cut it, so be warned, because this is not a chain folks, just the one and only York Castle in Silver Spring, MD.