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One of the most exciting parts of Boston JerkFest is our Chef Demo Stage. There are Seafood Throwdown and Jerk Cook-off competitions and a Chef Demonstration this year. The Seafood Throwdown is part of our Dive In — Keep it Local Seafood Campaign. Our partners are North American Marine Alliance, Red’s Best and World Farmers. We are grateful for their support. Find out what local seafood is in season here.
The Chef Demo Stage is located at the Harvard Athletic Complex, 145 North Harvard Street, Boston, MA Location: Center of the Field
Chef Kwasi Kwaa of Comfort Kitchen restaurant was back to defend his title of the winner of the 2022 Seafood Throwdown Competition and match up with Chef Chris Faison of New England Culinary Arts Training (NECAT). It was a close decision, however, Chef Chris Faison with the 2024 Boston JerkFest Seafood Throwdown Champion! Congratulations Chef Faison!
Chef Chris Faison of New England Culinary Arts Training (NECAT) did a cooking demonstration using local day boat fish. Chef Chris will walk us through the steps. We learned how to bring his delicious dish to our own tables for our friends and family to enjoy!
The reigning Boston JerkFest Champ, Chef Audley “Ras Skills” Mills created a variety of Jerk dishes to wow the crowd.
Boston JerkFest and Seafood Throwdown is organized by Karen Spiller of KAS Consulting and board member of our affiliated nonprofit, Sustainable Food and Culture. We thank Karen, our Chefs, our judges and Emcees in ensuring another successful Chef Demo booth at Boston JerkFest. If you are interested in participating in our Chef Demos, contact us at info@bostonjerkfest.com
2022 Jerk Cook-Off Champ
2022 Seafood Throwdown Champ
Most people would move to Florida or the Bahamas and pull out a rocking chair after retiring from a 30 year career as a registered pediatric nurse by the Commonwealth of Mass, but not Fulani M. Haynes.
Chef Hayes has successfully created many community-based cultural and artistic programs that continue to contribute positively to the Roxbury and Dorchester neighborhoods of Boston.
Ms. Fulani‘s accomplishments range from community support programs, musical endeavors, public speaking, theatrical performances, public health and supportive nutritional mentoring, to organic gardening and cooking, to hosting live events, radio programs, and community dinners.
Watch a video of Mama Fulani at 2020 Boston JerkFest Live below.
Tamika is a descendant of the maroons, the people who invented jerk as a resistance cooking method centuries ago. She trained at Boston University’s Culinary Arts program and used primarily New England produce to make tropically-inspired recipes using indigenous techniques, and storytelling to celebrate her ancestral home of Jamaica, and the spices and intense flavors that make this corner of the world so magical.
Tamika is the founder of Food & Folklore, a startup that pays homage to global food traditions through pop-up dining events, culinary classes, and storytelling.
Chef Nadine Nelson, the Green Queen of Cuisine, is the sustainable chef, artist, and social entrepreneur/activist of Global Local Gourmet, a roving, community-supported kitchen specializing in experiential epicurean occasions that cook up delicious adventures far from expected yet close to home. From Toronto, Canada considered the most multicultural city in the world, she is of Jamaican Heritage and likes to combine global flavors with local ingredients sharing her knowledge of ethnic flavors that are underrepresented in culinary education.
Among her clients, Chef Nadine has produced events and consulted for the Jamaican Epicurean Escape, the James Beard House, Boston Jerk Festival, and The Apollo Theater. Her aim is to use food as social sculpture and a catalyst to engage people in issues from seed to waste while learning about the world’s diverse gastronomies in fellowship and unity with each other.
2014-2025 Boston JerkFest, a production of The Williams Agency.
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