Queens, NY - Top chefs and celebrities will bring lots of heat and flavor to the Grace Culinary Pavilion at the seventh annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival on Sunday, July 22, 2018 at Roy Wilkins Park. Hosted by "Taste the Island's Chef Irie, activities will include cook-offs, culinary demos, and celebrity competitions by notables such as Chef Patrick Simpson, Executive Chef for B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in NY and star of his own show on Food Network; nutritionist and author Kamila McDonald, Korean Chef Ji Cha, and Chef Andrane Cummings of Century 21 Fox.

Local Spectrum News NY1’s news anchor/ reporter, Ruschell Boone and meteorologist, Stacy-Ann Gooden will compete in the Celebrity Quick Fire Challenge. This has developed into an intense rivalry with a lot of trash-talking by both contestants. The winner will walk away with the coveted Dutch Pot trophy and bragging rights; and will join the winner’s circle of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who participated three times, Jamaica’s MP Lisa Hanna, actor Leon from the movie Cool Runnings and Miss Universe Jamaica Kaci Fennell, just to name a few.

"We've enhanced this year's Culinary Pavilion with a dynamic lineup of chefs and local personalities, coming together to add more excitement to our competitions and culinary demos," shares June Minto, Managing Partner, and coordinator of the Grace Culinary Pavilion.

The Culinary Pavilion is just a fraction of the entire experience that festival goers can expect on July 22. The concert stage will feature live performances by Elephant Man, Patoranking, Hood Celebrity, L.U.S.T and New Kingston; cultural performances, a buzzing Food Court and an array of activities for children in the Kid Zone. Tickets can be purchased at jerkfestivalny.com or at local authorized ticket outlets throughout New York.

The 7th Annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival is presented by Jamaican Jerk Festival LLC, NY in association with VP Records. Sponsors include Grace Foods, The Jamaica Tourist Board, Laparkan and Tower Isle Patties.

Visit https://jerkfestivalny.com for more information. To stay up to date via social media, search for the Grace Jamaican Festival on Facebook and Instagram.

Tickets are valued at $36.00 in advance and $46.00 at the event. Online tickets are available for purchase at : https://jerkfestivalny.com/tickets/.

About NY Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival:
The Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival NY has the unique distinction of being “New York’s Biggest Caribbean Food Festival” delivering an enjoyable experience of the highest quality to festival goers. Held annually at Roy Wilkins Park, Queens, New York, on the third Sunday in July, the Festival appeals to all ethnicities and key demographics, particularly the vibrant Caribbean communities in the Metro New York. This year’s Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival is taking place on July 22nd, 2018. The Festival has been featured in NY 1, NY Daily News, Pix11 & Paste Magazine. Past Festival headliners have included sought after Dancehall, Soca and Reggae Artists: Christopher Martin, Shaggy, Third World, Dexta Daps, Gyptian, Bunji Garlin, and Fay Ann Lyons.