Ellington

The hungry downtown crowd has spicy new option for lunch, thanks to husband and wife duo Richard and Chandra Higgins. The two opened up Taste of the Island Caribbean Take-Out June 22, and the restaurant has already developed a thriving customer base. Chandra, a native Jacksonian, spoke to the Jackson Free Press in between lunch rushes about opening a business downtown.

"I know that we need more businesses downtown," Chandra said. "And I just can't wait to see the revitalization of downtown with the King Edward and Farish Street. We didn't want to go anyplace else but downtown."

Richard is originally from Jamaica, and the two decided to open a restaurant for his native cuisine because, as Chandra puts it, "Jackson needed more variety."

Taste of the Island offers an exciting counterpoint to the standard Southern plate lunch. In addition to Jamaican classics like jerk chicken, oxtails and fried plantains, the Higgins offer rotating specials like jerk ribs and curried goat, along with traditional sides like rice and peas and kallaloo, a Jamaican grain.

Located in the old Fanatics location on corner of Capitol and President streets, Taste of the Island is primarily a carryout joint, but it does have some seating available inside the restaurant.

Taste of the Island Caribbean Take-Out, 436 E. Capitol St., 601-360-5900, open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Previous Comments

ID

149937

Comment

Welcome to town, Mr & Mrs Higgins. Godspeed to your success.

Author

GradyGriffin

Date

2009-07-22T14:17:37-06:00

ID

149942

Comment

I might try this tonight. My cousin made jerk chicken over the weekend and it was good. And she's not even Jamaican!

Author

golden eagle

Date

2009-07-22T14:28:48-06:00

ID

150063

Comment

I found myself downtown this afternoon and tried this place out. Since I gave up my vegetarianism a few months ago I tried the beef patties, which are actually little meat filled pastries. I was out running some errands and they were recommended for eating on the go. They were excellent and lunch cost less than $6.00. I was wondering if I might run into you Baquan. ;)

Author

WMartin

Date

2009-07-24T16:13:45-06:00

ID

150077

Comment

Stuff like this makes everyone- even those of us in the suburbs- want to buy in Jackson. I know where my lunch will be coming from on Monday...

Author

Rico

Date

2009-07-25T09:46:10-06:00