Celebrating the best of Caribbean cuisine, culture

Foodies across New York City and beyond can look forward to sumptuous food and beverage offerings with the return of Caribbean Restaurant Week New York, which will run from June 22 – 29!

This week-long celebration of Caribbean cuisine and culture comes after a very successful launch last June, with a collaboration between the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA) and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce (BCC), who co-produced the event. This year, both organizations have partnered again to produce the event.

“Caribbean Restaurant Week New York had a very successful launch last year, and we are thrilled to partner with WIADCA again this year to produce another week-long celebration of Caribbean food and beverages,” said Brooklyn Chamber President and CEO Carlo A. Scissura. “More importantly, this event presents a tremendous opportunity to increase foot traffic to the many terrific Caribbean restaurants in New York City, and allow them to attract new patrons to their establishments.”

“It was once said that “the way to someone’s heart is via the stomach,” said WIADCA President, Thomas Bailey. “BCC together with WIADCA are determined to prove that this is true as we welcome all and sundry to take this opportunity to partake in all the sumptuous and tasty dishes that are being made available at our Caribbean Restaurants during Caribbean Restaurant Week New York. WIADCA is proud to use this opportunity to promote our Caribbean businesses.”

Participating restaurants will feature a delightful range of Caribbean customs through an exciting and delicious array of tasty dishes, including callaloo, griot, roti, stewed, curried or jerk meats, a wide range of sea food, vegetarian dishes, and ice-cold beverages with Caribbean fruits and rums.

This year’s festivities kick off at the brand new SUEDE Restaurant in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. “SUEDE welcomes the opportunity to work with the WIADCA and BCC, as the primary partners organizing Caribbean Restaurant Week New York. What a great opportunity for not just SUEDE but all Caribbean businesses to promote the many tastes of the Caribbean” said the proprietors.

The producers of Caribbean Restaurant Week New York are excited to announce Caribbean Life and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) as new partners, and are thrilled that the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) has joined once again as a community partner.

“We are proud to partner with WIADCA and BCC for Caribbean Restaurant Week,” said Les Goodstein, president and CEO of Community News Group, publisher of Caribbean Life. “This is becoming an important cultural event for the Caribbean-American community, and for all New Yorkers.”

“Two of the responsibilities of the Caribbean Tourism Organization are to engage the Caribbean Diaspora and to promote the authentic Caribbean. That is why Caribbean Restaurant Week New York showcasing Caribbean cooking is such a perfect initiative to support. The region’s culinary experiences are tantalizingly diverse and the event brings them together in an unforgettable way, which inspires patron’s desire for a Caribbean vacation. And that is the real objective!”

“We are pleased to support the partnering between BCC and WIADCA as it bridges the celebration of Caribbean culture with a much needed promotional platform for our business establishments. CACCI is proud to continue to serve as a community partner for this event and others in the future.” said Dr. Roy A Hastick, Sr. president / CEO / founder of CACCI.

To see a full list of participating restaurants, or for additional information about Caribbean Restaurant Week New York, visit www.caribbeanrestaurantweeknewyork.com, Twitter/Instagram @caribrestweekny #CRWNY; and Caribbean Restaurant Week on Facebook.

On May 29, 2015 President Barack Obama declared the month of June to be dedicated as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month to honor the contributions of Caribbean Americans to the nation, as well as celebrate the rich, diverse culture of the Caribbean region. In addition to Caribbean Restaurant Week New York, WIADCA has several other activities planned for the month of June, including a Mas workshop (teaching Carnival costume design), and the “Make Music New York Concert” along with a mini-junior carnival parade at Ronald McNair Park.

WIADCA is a nonprofit 501 © 3 tax-exempt organization, comprised of volunteers dedicated to promoting Caribbean culture. WIADCA hosts educational forums, cultural workshops, networking, and special events annually to broaden community involvement and educational goals. Annually, WIADCA presents the New York Caribbean Carnival, a spectacular parade on Brooklyn’s famous Eastern Parkway that attracts over a million spectators. For more information, visit www.wiadcacarnival.org

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is a membership-based, business assistance organization which represents the interests of over 2,100 member businesses, as well as businesses across the borough of Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Alliance is the not-for-profit economic development organization of the Chamber, which works to address the needs of businesses through direct business assistance programs. For more information, visit www.ibrooklyn.com.