Poster for Jamaican Food Fest in Queens 2019
Food festivals are a fun way to try new foods and introduce dishes of different cultures to those unfamiliar with them. A big event in New York is the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival at Roy Wilkin Park. Every year, food vendors like T&G Flavors, Kingston Grill, Coleman’s Kitchen, Breezes Island Restaurant and Grill, and others attend to sell Jamaican food as people feast and party while listening to live performances. The popularity of the event is obvious, based on the attendance of figures such as the New York City Mayor, Elephant Man, and other popular singers. In 2017, Mayor de Blasio even competed in a cooking contest against Lisa Hanna, Jamaica’s former Minister of Culture and Miss World 1993, and won. For two years in a row, the Mayor has won the competition against other chefs. This festival also includes cooking demos from celebrity chefs, so people can watch and learn to cook these foods at home.
Mayor de Blasio holding the trophy of the cooking competition.
Each festival is a smorgasbord or buffet style food exposition featuring traditional jerked meats, curries, and yam-based desserts and drinks. There are options available for all different eating preferences, such as vegan or curry lovers. Occasionally, like the festival in 2016, people can also shop fresh ingredients from the islands at an Open-Air Market selling “fresh produce including pineapple, yam, sugarcane, corn and breadfruit; all organic, all fresh from the farms of the Caribbean” (Weekly Gleaner, 2016). These items are staples in Caribbean diet. These events not only show the importance of community and liveliness in Caribbean cuisine, but also allows people to learn and immerse themselves in a new culture.
Back in the Caribbean, food festivals are a huge part of the culture and an attraction for tourists. There are more than 40 of them held each year throughout different islands. Some of these festivals are aimed to celebrate certain foods or fruits native to the islands, such as the Grenada Chocolate Festival, and the Belieze Cashew Festival and Agriculture Show. In addition, there are other festivals that celebrate local food and wines such as the Cayman Cookout and St. Criox Food and Wine Experience. These events showcase island flavors that can be enjoyed by both locals and visiting tourists. It is only natural that this culture is also brought with members of the Diaspora to New York.
