Jamaican Booth Makes Return to Ethnic Village at 2009 Illinois State Fair

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - After a one year absence the Jamaican booth has returned to the Ethnic Village area. The booth is located in Northern region of the Ethnic Village area, which is located on Main Street, next to the Emmerson building and behind Adventure Village.

All the food that is featured at the Jamaican booth is provided by Jamaican Taste, a local Springfield restaurant, which is located on 2232 E. Cook Street.

The foods featured at the booth include Jamaican traditions like jerk and curry chicken, as well as white rice, fried plantains, steamed cabbage, and assorted beverages like Ginger Beer.

Vanburn James, a chef for the Jamaican booth, said that despite the one year hiatus, the Jamaican booth has been receiving really good reviews from fairgoers."The Jamaican booth really gives people the chance to come and experience something that they might not regularly try," James said. "We have received a lot of positive feedback about the food and so far people seem to be enjoying the food. We like to be able to provide a variety of Jamaican foods, but so far people have been going crazy for the jerk chicken," James said.

Ethnic Village is open from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the weekdays with extended hours on the weekend. There is also live entertainment featured daily at the Ethnic Village stage from Noon to 10 p.m.

For more information, please contact the Emmerson Building at 217-782-0775.