June is Caribbean Heritage Month, and the New Haven, CT community is ready to celebrate their food and culture with the first ever Caribbean Restaurant Week! June 17-23, Six local restaurants will be serving up a featured dish at a special $10 price for take-out.  Among the Jamaican and Trinidadian restaurants featured for this inaugural year, you'll find excellent Jerk Chicken from Island Spice, a fresh and delicious selection of vegan dishes including Jerk Tofu at Ninth Square Caribbean Style, and a new Trinidadian spot, Patty's Caribbean Cuisine serving up the only Roti in the city. 

On today's episode of The Table Underground we are joined by Kay Holness of the Caribbean Heritage Festival, and the President of the Jamaican American Connection as well as Nadine Nelson of Global Local Gourmet, a talented cook and food and culture educator, also of Jamaican heritage. We dig right in and talk flavors and food history about a number of the dishes featured in Caribbean Restaurant week. 

Lead organizer Kay, was inspired to start the Caribbean Restaurant Week to counteract the negative political rhetoric around immigrants in the united states right now. She sees food as a great connector, an accessible bridge across cultures, neighborhoods and racial or political color lines, and you know I agree with her 100%! 

“There’s so much stuff going on everyday about immigrants...or the lack of information about immigrants. A lot of people look at us as if we just come in here to just take, and not necessarily seeing the contributions that we have made. So Caribbean Heritage month was a way for us to do that, to teach and also learn....The fact that once we know, then we are no longer afraid. The political climate, made me push to wave our flag and say yes we are here, and we are contributors too.”  

The New Haven metro area is packed with great restaurants from across the Caribbean, from Jamaica, to Puerto Rico, and Cuba to The Dominican Republic. Check out these six restaurants for fabulous Jamaican and Trinidadian food, and then keep adventuring to the foods of other islands! Hear Nadine Nelson's top pics in the show linked above or by podcast. 
Island Spice | Jerk Chicken - 459 Winthrop Ave, New Haven, CT
JA Bar & Grill | Curry Goat - 1372 Dixwell Ave, Hamden, CT
Ninth Square Caribbean Style Vegan Restaurant | Jerk Tofu - 89 George St, New Haven
Patty’s Caribbean Cuisine | Curry Chicken Roti - 554 Congress Ave, New Haven, CT
Tropical Delights | Beef Stew - 141 Fitch St, New Haven
Around the Clock Restaurant and Bar | Jerk Pork - 1012 Dixwell Ave, Hamden, CT 

Photos: Jerk chicken on sautéd cabbage | jerk tofu, vegan mac & cheese and ginger cabbage | curry goat with rice and peas and salad (take out and plated) | Vegan Sampler | Curry tofu triangles, rice, chickpeas. 

Food Find of the Week: Ms. Patty's Curry Chicken Roti at Patty's Caribbean Cuisine

Definitely do not miss the chance to taste all this deliciousness! Follow the New Haven Caribbean Heritage Festival on social media and their website to find the latest info, and don't miss the Festival itself on Sunday June 24th at Goffe Street Park in New Haven. Also, be sure to check out Global Local Gourmet and the work of Nadine Nelson for engaging cooking classes and events. 

Happy Caribbean Restaurant Week! 
Please share your favorite spots below! 

Ep. 38 — The Table Underground — Jun 15, 2018