Ackee rice and salt fish is nice??

For those of you that was around in the 50's and 60's, I am sure that you heard Harry Belafonte's Jamaica Farewell.  His lyrics included Ackee rice and salt fish is nice.  I never knew what it was until recently a friend of mine was there and brought some of the fruit from the Ackee tree and salt fish.  We had some Jamaica rum with it.  Perhaps a bit more than I should.
 
Actually the entire meal was very very good.  He played Harry Belafonte's record (real) with the dinner.
 
I had never ever had the meal before.
 
My daughter was there a couple of years ago and complained (?) that all kinds of folks were trying to sell her Mary Jane.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ackee 
  http://www.jamaicatravelandculture.com/food_and_drink/ackee_and_saltfish.htm
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

When I was in Jamaica in 2009, the one thing I ran out of time and stomach room for was the ackee and salt fish. I had the Jamaican pattys, conch fritters , oxtail curry and Callaloo. Someday I hope to try the ackee and saltfish!

I had it when I was in Montego Bay in Jamaica.  I actually liked it. 
 
And yeah, your daughter is right about the Mary Jane.  It was the first question the cab driver asked us.

The salt fish is cod, known also as baccala (Italian) and bacalao (Spanish). While some recipes call for soaking it overnight in several changes of cold water, I prefer to use milk. As far as akee is concerned, you have to be mighty careful to make certain you don't get improperly cleaned ackee. If all traces of the red tissue are not removed it can result in sometimes-fatal poisoning. In fact, the Jamaican government issued a warning last month after 35 cases of ackee poisoning were reported.
 
http://www.wctv.tv/world/headlines/113778139.html
 
I prefer to skip the ackee altogether and serve that other Caribbean classic, peas and rice, with the saltfish.