Carib acts to spice up Grace jerk fest
When the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival launched in Queens, New York, nine years ago, jerked food was already a hit with hip hop stars and Hollywood celebrities. But launching a food event in a city with countless Jamaican restaurants was going to be a challenge.
Promoters say the show — which takes place July 21 at Roy Wilkins Park — has weathered its teething pains and become a staple on the tri-state area’s West Indian leisure scene.
Naisha Nicholas, a spokesperson for the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival, expects further growth this year.
“The most obvious indication of our growth is the fact that when we started nine years ago we used only a quarter of the park. We have been using the whole park for the last six years, and now we are bursting at the seams with food vendors, arts and craft vendors, corporate partners, and not to mention our loyal patrons,” she told the Jamaica Observer.
That expansion, says Vendor Relations Coordinator Marcia Service, is reflected in the number of return booths. She revealed that over 75 per cent of food, arts and craft vendors have been with the festival since it started.
While jerked food holds pride of place, patrons get an opportunity to experience the Ital cuisine of Jamaican Chef Troy, Korean Chef Ji Cha’s exotic dishes, and Chef Sam Davis’ Jamaican-inspired menu.
Features like a celebrity chef cook-off (past participants include New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Jamaican Member of Parliament Lisa Hanna) add to the spectacle. Music is part of that diversity.
“In order to keep things fresh over the years, we have presented different main stage presentations. In addition to reggae, dancehall, and soca, we have included gospel and even tested out the Afro beats scene last year with the addition of Pato Rankin. This year, cultural entertainment will celebrate 100 years of Miss Louise Bennett,” Nicholas disclosed.
Capleton, Christopher Martin, Naomi Cowan, Shenseea, Fayann Lyons, and Bunji Garlin are artistes for the 2019 Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival, which is co-sponsored by Grace Foods and VP Records.
