LANSING, MI — Palace of Jamaica located at 424 S. Washington Square (downtown Lansing) opened its doors in April of 2008.
Owner, Eric Campbell always dreamed of owning a restaurant. The building is yellow green and black, the colors of the Jamaican flag and inside the cozy restaurant, which has a few seats for those who want to eat in, has reminders of Jamaica donning the walls and lining the counters.
Eric said that he learned how to cook as a young boy in Jamaica watching his mother cook. His cooking experience expanded while employed as a cook on a cruise ship.
Jamaica Palace serves delicious dishes and is Lansing’s best and only choice for authentic Caribbean dishes. The restaurant has a lot of Jamaican recipes to bring a taste of the island to your home. A favorite is the brown stew chicken, savory chicken is left on the bone and chopped into pieces before it’s seasoned, sautéed and then stewed.
It’s served with a mound of rice and red beans (or plain rice, if you prefer), vegetables and slices of fried plantain – quite a delicious and tasty meal.
Another popular item is the curry goat for those who want a hearty meal with a different taste.
All of the seafood dishes, such as escoveitched fish and curry shrimp are made to order. The fish is lightly browned and sauteed with fresh garlic and red, yellow and green pepper and onions and pan broiled to perfection.
Campbell will be serving his food at the 15th Annual Caribbean Festival on the campus of Lansing Community College on Saturday, August 22, 2009. You will be able to savor island cuisine and more at the Caribbean World Food Court.
Campbell said, “Come out and enjoy the music with friends and family and taste what we have to offer. The best thing is that you can always visit my restaurant after the festival is over.”
The prices range from $9.95- $11.00. However, lunch specials are Monday through Friday, 10:30 am until 1:30 pm for $7.50 ($9.00 for oxtails). Healthy side orders of a variety of vegetable mixes are also available along with jerk salad appetizers and tossed salad. Beef or chicken patties are $2.50 and Jamaican soda is $2.50. Ginger beer and Ting are sold for $2.00 a piece.
Can’t afford a trip to the islands? Well, Jamaica Palace offers a taste of Caribbean cuisine right in your own backyard.
For takeout call 517-977-1763.
15th Annual Caribbean Festival set for
Saturday, August 22, 2009
1:00-1:45 PM Opening Procession Zulu Connection (Stilt dancing, drumming and dancing) and Lansing’s own Shabazz Academy Dancers and Drummers
2:30- 3:30 PM Trinidad Tripoli Steel Pan, Calypso
4:15 – 4:45 PM Mocko Jombi Zulu Connection and Lansing’s own Shabazz Academy Dancers and Drummers proceed through the marketplace with stilt dancing, drumming and dancing
5:00- 6:30 PM Iluziones Salsa, Merengue, Latin Dance
7:30- 9:00 PM Norman Connors Jazz/R&B
9:15- 9:45 PM Zulu Connection Stilt Dancing, Drumming and Dancing
10:00 – 11:30 PM Benaiah Roots Music and Lovers Rock Reggae
For more information, contact the Lansing Community College at 517-483-1285
