Oneonta, New York’s Sugar Beat Does It Again

Oneonta's Sugar Beat (formerly King's Kakery) is what I like to refer to as a two headed monster. It's a bakery first and foremost, and a top notch Caribbean food spot on selected days.

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Caribbean food, culture, and music is near and dear to my heart. Growing up around New York City gave me a unique sense of diversity. Reggae music called to me at a tender age, and it's something that's been in my repertoire since. Caribbean food is another aspect of the culture that pulsates with history, culture, and tradition.

King grew up in Guyana, the only English speaking country in South America, and is considered part of the Caribbean. It's a melting pot where European, African, Amerindian, and South Asian cultures come together, and this is reflected in the food.

The food at the Sugar Beat, while widely Caribbean, is definitely prepared from a Guyanese perspective. The flavors and presentation resonate with passion and nods to tradition.

King was just in for a follow up visit with some new and reworked menu items including Guyanese style chow mein, brown stew chicken, jerk chicken, and pastries.

The standout for me this time around was most definitely the chow mein. While I knew Guyana was an ethnically diverse land, with people of African, Indian, Chinese, and indigenous groups making up the population, I didn't realize that there was this level of cross cultural pollination.

The dish is absolutely delicious. If you want to taste what Guyana tastes like, this is your go to. The flavor is what broadly Africa and Asian cuisines deliver all rolled into one. The Sugar Beat's version's noodles are perfectly al dente, with a nice spice burn on the back end.

From the bakery side of things, don't sleep on their scones. Their texture is just right and just begging to be dunked into a cup of your favorite coffee.

The Sugar Beat is located at 281 Main Street in Oneonta. Check out their socials for hours and specials.