Launching Caribbean Cuisine Month at Spark

On Friday June 1st, we Launched Caribbean Cuisine Month (June) with a celebration at Spark at Engine 12. A restaurant Caribbean Inspired Smokehouse led by Executive Chef Peter Prime 

"Providing a modern take on traditional Caribbean street food and BBQ dishes, Spark brings a unique communal dining experience to the Bloomingdale neighborhood.  Housed in the historic Engine Company 12 firehouse, guests are invited to enjoy our sumptuous appetizers and bar snacks and then build a feast to share from our jerked and smoked meats.  Each item on our menu is meticulously created from scratch by Executive Chef Peter Prime.  Craft cocktails and surprising desserts all offer a little spark of their own.  Dinner at Spark is an unparalleled dining experience in Washington, DC!"

Organized by Doreen Thompson and sponsored by the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce, The Mayor's Advisory Commission on Caribbean Community Affairs, Spark and My Zurena,  guests were treated to complimentary snacks of Jerk wings and "Fried Bread" with channa, chutney and cilantro sauce (also affectionately known as doubles in Trinidad and Tobago) and discounted cocktails by Zurena. 

Leader of the Caribbean Jazz band "Lennard Jack & FUSION", entertained guests with his nimble playing on the steelpan. 

One of the best parts of the evening was the release of the list Caribbean Restaurants to visit in Washington, DC.  Did you know there are 29 Caribbean or Caribbean inspired restaurants to check out in this area? I sense a new video series! Who's down to visit some of them with me? 

Learn more about Caribbean Cuisine Month Here!

Check out this great video of photographs of the evening by Marvin Bowser

Partners: National Caribbean-American Foods & Foodways Alliance (NCAFFA), Spark at Engine 12, Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Caribbean-American Community Affairs (MACCCA), Caribbean-American Chamber of Commerce of the DMV (CACCE-GWAN), Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival-DC, Institute of Caribbean Studies, DC Main Street Programs: North Capitol, Bridges-Lower Georgia Avenue and Uptown Main Streets