jasmine’s brings the caribbean to times square
Source: Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine
Jasmine Gerald is the owner of Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine located in Times Square on Restaurant Row. Unlike many other restaurants that closed at the start of the pandemic, Jasmine’s opened right around the time the pandemic began after a friend of hers asked her if she was interested in the space.
Coming from a restaurant background, (her mother ran a restaurant in the Virgin Islands for 11 years), Jasmine knew she had the skillset to make it work. Her tenacity and perseverance helped her push through the adversities they faced as a result of the pandemic, and now the business is thriving.
“I always tell people, I walk in faith not in fear. Whatever I put my mind to, I'm able to do it. Having a team of people that believe in your vision and are supportive [makes it so that] nothing is impossible. And if you love it, that makes it even better,” Jasmine says.
Her mother is from Dominica and her father is from Antigua, and the cuisine at the restaurant infuses a mix of flavors from all over the Caribbean. Some menu items feature recipes that have been passed down through her family, but others are newer takes created in collaboration with their head chef, Chef Basil Jones, the inventor of rasta pasta, (sold as jazzy pasta at Jasmine’s).
The menu also includes other best sellers such as oxtail, coconut salmon, jerk wings, escovitch fish, and stew chicken.
Jasmine’s also offers a wide array of vegan and vegetarian options such as their vegan stew peas and veggie cook up. Their extensive cocktail selection also includes signature cocktails such as the Island Gyal and the Scandal Rum Punch.
When asked how she describes Caribbean food, Jasmine says, “Flavorful, exciting, mouth watering, memorable. It's a delicacy. You will always remember the taste. The smell, the aroma of the food it just calls you.”
Being located in Times Square on Restaurant Row has been a blessing for them, as traffic spreads through word of mouth as well as advertising that promotes businesses on Restaurant Row. “We definitely have a lot of recurring customers that come back all the time. But throughout the week, we see a lot of tourists. They love the food, they love the energy. I had a guy come in the other day from Missouri who said, ‘This is the best food I've had in a while.’”
The food clearly speaks for itself, and the welcoming and lively atmosphere transports guests to the islands. From the brightly colored decor, to the music, to the tropical drinks, to the flavorful food, Jasmine’s brings the Caribbean feel right to the heart of Times Square. “It's a little gem. When you walk in, you feel like you're in the Caribbean. It’s like a getaway. That's what I wanted to do, just bring the culture there because a lot of people have never experienced Caribbean food before. That was important for me.”
Jasmine wants to expand her reach and bring Caribbean food to more people to improve the cuisine’s representation in the culinary world. “I want to branch out and open up Caribbean restaurants in different states so people can get the taste and the feel of really good authentic Caribbean food. It doesn't only start with me. I'm just the vessel for all of us.”
