It’s no secret that Westwood’s culinary palette is extensive, but there’s only so much that can fit into a few city blocks.
This weekend’s JazzReggae Festival features a selection of vendors that promises to overshadow Westwood’s menu, offering most of what is available in the humble village, along with more exotic flavors.
“We’ve got Jamaican food, Greek food, Hawaiian food, Southern food, vegetarian and health food, and lots of desserts,” fourth-year neuroscience student and festival director Osa Omoruyi said. “All together there are 25 different food vendors.”
The multicultural jambalaya of food, though, is only a complementary element to the talents of the many performers.
“It all goes hand in hand,” Omoruyi explained. “If you’re going to have a reggae festival, you want the food to complement your theme. We’re trying to get into more worldly music, so the food reflects that.”
Each year, as the JazzReggae Festival gains popularity, the vendors grow with it, adding to its diversity as well as its scale. For example, for the first time the festival is offering a healthful and vegetarian-friendly assortment.
“That’d be great if they had some healthier options … with some sort of health cart, I think they’d have a pretty nice selection,” second-year nursing student Kellie Miner said. “Last year, I think a lot of the choices were either fried or covered in powdered sugar. Though I did love the funnel cake.”
Vendor selection is not a simple process. Vendors go through an application screening before they are selected to serve on campus, and event directors narrow down the choices.
“(The festival) started out with only a handful of vendors, but each year it’s grown. Now it’s a big community, and they all love and know each other,” Omoruyi said. “The majority of them are returners ““ it’s hard to say no to loyal supporters ““ but we get a lot of applicants, and we want to give new people opportunities too.”
The carefully selected, culinarily varied vendors are often welcome by students sick of the monotony of dorm food.
“For people who might not be familiar with different types of foods, it’s an opportunity to try out a new culture,” Omoruyi explained. “People come to college to experience new things, but sometimes you can get stuck in a rut. The festival offers new opportunities, new people, new food. It’s got stuff you’d never be able to find in Ackerman.”
Even those who may not find themselves in a rut can appreciate the freshness of the festival.
“Food was never a big deal to me, but the festival really does seem like a great opportunity to expand my culinary repertoire,” Miner said. “I’m definitely over the Sizzler salad bar at Covel.”
Students aren’t the only ones who enjoy the tasty, even jazzy, delights of the JazzReggae Festival. Performers have also been known to appreciate the flavors of love, especially those of the more loyal vendors.
“Some of the vendors have been here for years and years ““ they’re known for being the best Jamaican restaurants in the area,” Omoruyi said. “Even some of the artists request specific vendors. They know they’re getting quality with it.”
But the gift of high quality hodgepodge does come at a price.
“I was impressed with the variety last year, but the prices were ridonkulous,” Miner said. “A hot dog was, like, $9. It’s true that I probably can’t get oxtail or pupusas anywhere else, but I think for that price I can probably commission The Roots to come to my dorm and play.”
Most vendors have taken part in festivals before, while others earn their take through more conventional methods.
“(The vendors) are really heavy in the festival circuit,” Omoruyi explained. “They do farmer’s markets, they do lots of festivals. But some have restaurants and only do this now and then.”
Since, however, none of the more exotic restaurants can be found in Westwood, students may want to consider checking out the Jazz Festival, not only to see The Legendary Roots Crew, but also to choose between goat jerky and funnel cake.