Afro-Caribbean and Latinx Food & Spice Market Comes to Staten Island
Get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture at the Afro-Caribbean and Latin Food & Spice Market! This new spice market at Tompkinsville Park features delicious cuisine, captivating art, and lively dance and music, all uniting to honor the richness of Afro-Caribbean and Latin traditions on Staten Island.
Here, you’ll find unique spices essential for creating authentic cultural dishes, like freshly made sofrito, yuca, and jackfruit which aren’t always widely available in local stores. Additionally, there will be live culinary demonstrations featuring community gardens and artisans who will share their enticing recipes. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a curious foodie, there is something for everyone to enjoy and discover, no matter your age, making it a perfect fall outing for families.
Meet Abuelita Masala
The market not only provides authentic quality food and spices, but it also offers the opportunity for artistic appreciation and design. An art installation kiosk entitled, “Abuelita Masala” serves as the centerpiece of the market. This unique art structure is designed to enrich the cultural programming at Tompkinsville Park and is meant to signify the power of maternal strength and love.
The name “Abuelita” is a tribute to the strong, powerful, and nurturing ancestral figure of a grandmother, while “Masala” a spice mix used in Afro-Caribbean food represents the inclusivity and diversity found in Afro-Caribbean cuisine. The piece was co-designed with Staten Island Urban Center’s volunteer youth The A-frame structure will be the home of the upcoming Afro-Caribbean and Latin Food and Spice Market.
In addition to its artistic charm, Abuelita Masala will primarily function as an information hub for the market. Even when the market is closed, it will actively promote arts and culture through a variety of engaging activities, including food drives, movie nights, karaoke, and exhibitions featuring books, arts, and photography.
Designing the Food & Spice Market
The Food & Spice Market was conceived by community leaders to highlight the rich diversity of ethnic communities in Staten Island. Kelly Vilar of Staten Island Urban Center, Sarah Blas of Staten Island Therapeutic Gardens, and Jamilah LaSalle of Bait Ul Jamaat House of Community collaborated to bring this vision to life.
They garnered support from the Local Center-Urban Design Forum and Foley Hoag Foundation, which helped propel the project forward. Soon after, the group enlisted A+A+A for design services and received fabrication assistance from T&J Set Design and Silman Engineering.
Future Tompkinsville Park Programming
The team is also working together to design a new town square for the North Shore community. Their focus includes addressing food justice issues such as cultural food deserts and nutrition, while also promoting vibrant Afro-Caribbean and Latino culture and representation in Staten Island’s public spaces.
Several upcoming events at Tompkinsville Park will continue to build on the previous activities organized by Friends of Tompkinsville Park. These include the Harvest Fest, Turkey Giveaway, Holiday Toy give-away, Community Pop-up produce, photo and art exhibitions, music concerts, food and clothing distribution, and drum circles.
The Tompkinsville Afro Caribbean and Latin Food & Spice Market takes place every Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm and will continue through October 27. For further information, contact info@siurbancenter.org. Tompkinsville Park is located at 45 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, New York.
