Feast on Jamaican jerk and Caribbean favorites at this lively Broward festival
November may be the month in which turkey reigns supreme in South Florida — but this weekend, chicken will be the star.
Lobster, pork and fish, too.
The annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival arrives in South Florida Nov. 12, lighting up Miramar Regional Park with — of course — tons of beloved Caribbean food.
The festival, now in its 21st year, will also feature plenty of musical guests and other entertainment, but co-founder Eddy Edwards said this year, the focus is squarely on what’s to eat.
“We want the food to be the star of the event,” he said. “And we want folks to see it and be part of the whole experience. Food is what brings people together.”
This year, the chef demonstrations and Chef Challenge will be held on stage instead of a pavilion off to the side, he said. The demonstrations will highlight tricks of the trade and how to create quick meals, while in the challenge NBC’s Cherney Amhara squares off with WPLG’s Alexis Frazier for the Top Chef award.
Festgoers, of course, can visit the vendors and eat their fill of jerk chicken and jerk lobster, but also oxtail, curried goat, Escovitch fish (fried fish topped with spicy vegetables), roast corn and more. There’s even a Jamaican patty-eating contest with cash prizes.
Entertainment will be provided by the Grammy-winning Royal Family of Reggae Morgan Heritage, Jamaican dancehall star Ding Dong and reggae artist Collie Buddz. Also performing are comedian Chris “Johnny” Daley and a slew of DJs, with emcees Jody Ann Gray and Tanto Irie of Hot105 FM.
Edwards, who’s also the managing partner and CEO of the festival, said that the gathering reminds us of the impact the Caribbean has on the rest of the world.
“Here in South Florida we have such a diverse and multicultural community,” he said. “We use this festival to showcase Caribbean food, but we really want to bring the wider community together. We coined a phrase: The ultimate Sunday dinner. We want everybody to come have Sunday dinner with us.”
Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival
When: 1-10 p.m. Nov. 12
Where: Miramar Regional Park, 16801 Miramar Parkway, Miramar
Tickets: $40-$50; kids under 10 free; www.jerkfestival.com
