For the fourth year, JC Project Eats will unveil new and unusual dishes for the dining public in a street fair-like setting in front of City Hall. The two-day event, on June 18 and 19 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., will feature cool drinks and sampling of new dietary delights offered by local food establishments that may be seeking to expand their menus but want a little feedback first.
Since starting in 2013, the fair has expanded to include more than 40 vendors this year as well as other groups, such as The Hamilton Inn, which supplied three beer trucks.
Project Eats is one of two annual events put on during the year by a group called the Jersey City Project. Project Eats usually kicks off the summer, while Project Market, held in early December, is geared more towards the holidays and gift buying.
This year, according to co-founder of Jersey City Project Kristen Scalia, Project Eats was moved up a month into June rather than previously being held in July.
“Last year it was so hot that people had a hard time finding shade,” Scalia said.
Over the years, Project Eats has brought out more and more people. Two years ago, 10,000 people came to Grove Street to participate. Last year, that number doubled, and organizers believe this year, the crowds will be even bigger.
The idea for Jersey City Project came about just after Superstorm Sandy struck the East Coast in early November, 2012.
Scalia, who owns Kanibal Home, had a store front on Montgomery and Grove streets which was flooded by the storm.
She and Elizabeth Caine, owner of Hound about Town, were talking about the impact of the storm and the need for many of the local store owners to have income while they made repairs.
“Some of the food vendors are trying out new dishes here to see how people take to them.” – Kristen Scalia
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“While I was able to open my doors again within two months, other local business still struggled,” she said.
Most of the businesses were at the point where they could not rely on insurance or FEMA to make up for lost income, and so Scalia and Caine decided to start Jersey City Project and host fairs that would allow these and other local merchants to sell their wares while they rebuilt from the storm.
“We wanted to provide them with income while they recovered from the storm,” she said.
A different flavor these days
The outdoor marketing concept has since taken on a slightly different aspect. While it still promotes local small businesses, local talents, and provided opportunities for people to meet the business owners, it also has become a testing ground for new products, in this case, possible food items that a vendor would like to try out before actually incorporating it into the regular menu.
“Some of the food vendors are trying out new dishes here to see how people take to them,” Scalia said.
Sponsored by some of the most prominent business people in downtown, JC Project EATS was designed to serve as a sampler of existing and potential food vendors in the area and to provide emerging talent with a showcase. The event also is part of a series of happenings throughout the city, providing residents with a reason to come out into the streets to enjoy and celebrate their own community.
This year there will be 40 tables each day as well as 10 to 15 food trucks.
Some of the vendors will be the same each day, but are expected to provide different offerings each day.
“A few haven’t been in the market before,” Scalia said. “Some are testing the market in Jersey City.”
Customers come from throughout the Tri-State area, even as far as Pennsylvania and New York State.
Both Project Eats and Project Market tend to have a spillover effect on local businesses as well. People who come to the booths often also stop in at local shops.
For more information about the event go to http://www.thejerseycityproject.com/project-eats.html
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.