Publix
Culinary Stage
Publix Culinary Pavilion
Get ready for an unforgettable gastronomic experience at the Publix Culinary Stage! This incredible festival feature is jam-packed with food-centric excitement, featuring mouthwatering samplings, cooking demonstrations, epic competitions with celebrity chefs, food bloggers, and local TV personalities, all hosted by the amazing Chef Irie.
With high-energy cook-offs and plenty of chances for audience involvement and giveaways, this promises to be an interactive and exciting experience you simply can’t miss. And that’s not all – prepare for engaging Q&A sessions with food experts. Calling all foodies – this is a feature you absolutely must experience.
Delicious Vibes
Bringing musical heat to the Publix Culinary Stage, DJ Radcliffe and Extatic Sound will keep the vibes high and the energy flowing! With their infectious beats and lively mixes, they’ll set the perfect soundtrack for a day filled with mouthwatering flavors and culinary thrills.
Host & Resident Chef
Chef Irie
Meet Chef Hugh Sinclair, better known as Chef Irie – the culinary mastermind behind Chef Irie Spice Inc., serving unforgettable dishes across South Florida. While he holds a degree in architecture from the University of Florida, designing buildings just couldn’t compare to his true love: crafting flavors! Trading blueprints for cutting boards, Chef Irie ditched the world of architecture for the sizzle and spice of the kitchen, enrolling in Johnson & Wales University’s Culinary Arts program. Graduating with flying colors (and a lot of delicious meals), he’s since become a culinary force in the Sunshine State.
From personal chef gigs for athletes and entertainers to cooking for South Florida’s elite, Chef Irie’s flavorful creations have been winning hearts and appetites alike. But his talents don’t stop there! You might recognize him from the hit TV show “Taste the Islands with Chef Irie,” a PBS favorite that showcases the vibrant flavors of the Caribbean. It’s the first of its kind, bringing Caribbean cuisine into the spotlight for food lovers nationwide. Oh, and let’s not forget his appearance on the Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen,” where Chef Irie sliced and diced his way to the second round.
Catch Chef Irie live at the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival and experience how his passion for food is truly
irresistible!
The Competitions
The Celebrity Quick Fire Challenge
This year the Publix Culinary Pavilion will feature guest celebrities competing in the Celebrity Quick Fire Challenge. Local 10 Reporter Alexis Frazier will challenge NBC6 Weekday Morning Anchor Kris Andersen in our Celebrity Quickfire Challenge.
Alexis Frazier
Kris Anderson
Kris Anderson is a five-time Emmy® award-winning news anchor at NBC6. He currently anchors NBC6 Today, weekday mornings at 5am and 6am, and is the host of “Innovation on 6,” a segment dedicated to technology in South Florida.
The Miami native, who started his career as an intern at NBC6 more than 25 years ago, is a graduate of Miami Central Senior High School, and earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Florida International University.
25 years after graduating from FIU, Kris is back at his alma mater working on his master’s degree in Global Strategic Communications. Kris is thrilled to be back in his hometown, close to family and friends, anchoring for the TV station he grew up watching! He believes that everyone has a story to tell and loves that his job as a journalist allows him to help people tell theirs. Kris is the proud father of three boys and a stepdaughter. His older twin sons were born in Memphis, where he met his wife Brooke, and their youngest son was born in Boston. Kris and his family live in Broward with their rescue dog Tucker.
The "Chef Clash"
Get ready for an epic culinary showdown as Chef Lemaire and Chef Williams go head-to-head in an exciting Chef Clash! Watch these two master chefs battle it out with bold flavors and creative twists, bringing heat to the stage.
Chef Alain Lemaire
Award-winning Chef Alain Lemaire is a native of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where he first discovered his interest in cooking. That interest in food grew out of the need to feed himself what he wanted, and when he wanted it by watching his mother and grandmother in the kitchen, to full-blown passion by the time he graduated high school. Alain is the Co-owner and Executive Chef of Sensory Delights, a full-service catering company based in South Florida. He also owns the brand “Ou Manje Deja?” which means “Did You Eat Yet?”
Chef Alain Lemaire has appeared on several TV shows in the USA, Canada, and Haiti. He was the host chef of the “Taste of Haiti” episode of the “Luda Can’t Cook” series with award-winning rapper, actor, and restauranteur Chris “Ludacris” Bridges. He was also a contestant on the Food Network’s hit series Fire Masters, Cutthroat Kitchen, and Chopped.
Chef Lemaire has participated in and been featured as a guest chef at numerous food events and festivals throughout the United States and overseas. Recent events include the Charleston Wine & Food Festival, New York African Restaurant Week, Grace Jamaican Jerk Fest, South Beach Wine & Food Festival, and more. He also lands his voice and expertise as a panel speaker for Munaluchi’s Coterie Retreat, New York African Restaurant Week, A Week on Haiti, and more. In addition, Chef Alain Lemaire has been featured in several online and printed publications such as USA Today, The New York Times, Saveur Magazine, Food & Wine Magazine, Epicurious, and more.
Chef Winston Williams
Inspired by his mother and grandmother, Chef Winston Williams began his culinary journey early, falling in love with cooking while working at a top resort in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. He honed his skills at Florida Culinary-New England Tech in Florida and now runs a successful catering business, Catering CC Inc., specializing in Floribbean Cuisine.
Today, he continues to cater, hosts a weekly YouTube cooking show, coaches aspiring caterers, and offers a shared commercial kitchen space. His product line includes spices and his Virgin Islands Johnnycake-Pate dough mix.
An award-winning caterer, Chef Winston, has catered at five Super Bowls, authored e-cookbooks, and is a preferred vendor at top venues. His mission is to create memorable culinary experiences and teach essential techniques to home cooks and startup caterers.
Culinary Demonstrations
Chef Reece
Meet Travis “Chef Reece” Reece, the mastermind behind Chef Reece Kitchen, a beloved Jamaican fusion spot in Davie, Florida, known for flavors that are truly “out of this world.” Born in Kingston and raised on a farm in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, Chef Reece’s passion for food took root early as he helped his grandmother care for animals and harvest fresh produce. Though once dreaming of becoming an agronomist, the kitchen became his true calling.
What started with selling plates of his mouthwatering dishes grew into a thriving catering business, Taste of Jamrock, where he served bold, flavorful Jamaican fusion to celebrities, athletes, and food lovers. Chef Reece’s journey from Jamaica to becoming a celebrated chef in South Florida is a testament to his love for great food and his deep connection to his roots.
Chef Darian
Straight from Jamaica, Chef Darian is heating up Buffalo, NY and beyond with his bold flavors and bigger-than-life style! You may recognize him from his appearance in Dodge Ram commercials, or from his
features on Food Network, CBS News, ESPN, and more. Known for his unforgettable “Jerk Hut” events, Chef Darian serves up colossal surf and turf and other Caribbean-inspired dishes that leave you craving
more.
From fine dining pop-ups to private events and meal prep for pro athletes, this culinary rock star believes food should make people happy. His signature fedoras and chef jackets are just as extra as his dishes, blending fine dining with island vibes. Chef Darian’s mission? To represent Jamaica to the fullest while spreading joy through every bite. Follow his flavorful journey on Instagram @chefdarianbryan, and come watch him in action at the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival as he executes a live culinary demonstration you won’t want to miss!
Social Media Influencers
Watch the sparks fly as social media influencers Cheyanne Rodney and Monica Gonzalez face off in a culinary challenge! These foodie powerhouses will bring their flavor and creativity to the stage, cooking up an unforgettable showdown you won’t want to miss!
Cheyenne Rodney, a renowned food blogger with Trinidadian roots, is celebrated for highlighting unique restaurants and culinary experiences in Miami and beyond. Her passion for food and storytelling inspires her followers to create unforgettable memories with loved ones, sparking deeper connections through shared experiences. Catch her in action at the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival, where she’ll bring her vibrant energy to the social media influencer culinary challenge!
Monica Gonzalez, aka KREAM Celebrity Food Blogger, is a powerhouse in the South Florida food scene and founder of the Dade vs Broward Food Festival. Known for blending food and hip-hop culture through her KREAM persona (Kalories Rules Everything Around Me), she has interviewed stars like Kodak Black, DJ Khaled, and Trina Rockstarr. Monica’s vibrant energy shines through her event hosting, festival coverage, and dedication to community service. Born in Miami with Cuban roots, she now calls Fort Lauderdale home. Don’t miss Monica in action at the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival’s social media influencer culinary challenge!