SMALL BITES: The LOOP celebrates Caribbean Americans on Fort Lauderdale beach … and it’s free!
This is “Small Bites,” a South Florida Sun Sentinel feature with tiny tidbits on the food and beverage scene — because we know that sometimes you just don’t have room for a long article. You want a little news brief instead, an amuse bouche of information, if you will. Enjoy!
WHAT:
Caribbean cuisine will get a seaside showcase at the Second Annual Caribbean American Heritage Month Celebration on Fort Lauderdale beach.
Staged at the Las Olas Oceanside Park (LOOP), the slate of events throughout the month of June will include A Taste of the Caribbean, with live cooking demonstrations and samplings every Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
There will also be cookbook signings with kitchen celebs such as Jamaican-born Hugh “Chef Irie” Sinclair, vegan chef Nzingah, Haitian-American chef Thia and personal chef Keisha Mitto.
Since the Caribbean-related festivities will be a part of the weekend MKT at the beach-facing park, there will also be vendors with island foods, spices, art/crafts, jewelry, apparel, collectibles and more. By the way, MKT takes place every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Here is the schedule for A Taste of the Caribbean:
- June 1 — Meet & Greet and Taste the Islands cookbook signing with Chef Thia, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
- June 1 — Meet & Greet and pre-order of “Koupe Dwet Boule Kay: Revolutionary Plant-Based Haitian Recipes” with vegan chef Nzingah of “Yes Baby I Like It Raw,” 12–2 p.m.
- June 9 — Meet & Greet and Taste the Islands cookbook signing with Chef Irie, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
- June 15 — Spotlight on Cuba with complimentary samples from Vicky Bakery
- June 22 — Spotlight on the Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago with complimentary samplings with Chef Damon from Island Chef & Plantains
- June 28 and 29 — Visit the Good Foods purple airstream for free samples of Good Foods’ chunky guacamole and avocado salsa. 5–10 p.m. on June 28 and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on June 29
- June 30 — Meet & Greet and Cookbook Signing with Chef Keisha Mitto, author of “Anyone Can Cook Caribbean Fusion.”
WHERE: The events will be on Fort Lauderdale beach at the Las Olas Oceanside Park (LOOP), 3000 E. Las Olas Blvd. There is nearby parking at the Las Olas Beach Parking Garage.
COST: Admission is free and open to the public.
INFORMATION: theloopflb.com/events/cahm2024.
EXTRA TIDBIT:
Of course you can’t celebrate Caribbean culture without also showcasing the art, music and dance.
- The LOOP will also stage The Colors of the Islands with local artists and a pop-up gallery (go to theloopflb.com/cahm-call-for-artists to submit samples of your work).
- Island Vibes will spotlight calypso, reggae, soca, salsa, merengue and dancehall every Saturday from noon-3 p.m. There will also be Reggae Sundays hosted by the Hot 105 FM’s Tanto Irie.
- For more information, go to theloopflb.com/events/categories/cahm.