Oxtail
The crown of the table. Oxtail braised low and slow in a deep, savory gravy with butter beans until the meat falls clean off the bone. Rich, silky and unforgettable — most people try it once and talk about it all week.
A taste of Jamaica,
Joan's Jamaican Cuisine
Jamaican catering in Sarasota, Florida — oxtail, curry goat, jerk chicken and all the fixings, cooked the island way: low, slow and seasoned to the bone.
Opening January 2027
Coming soon to the Gulf Coast
Real Jamaican cooking, on its way
Joan's Jamaican Cuisine is a new catering kitchen preparing to open in January 2027, bringing the food of Jamaica to tables across the Sarasota area. Think pots of oxtail that simmer for hours, jerk chicken with real pimento smoke, curry goat the way it is made back home — the kind of cooking that turns any gathering into a celebration.
This page is a first look at what is coming: the dishes, the occasions and the neighborhoods we will serve. When the doors open in January, the full details will be right here.
The food
The dishes everybody asks about
Every spread starts with the classics. These are the pots that anchor a Jamaican table — and the ones guests go back for seconds of.
Curry Goat
Tender goat simmered in Jamaican curry — warm with Scotch bonnet, garlic and thyme — until the sauce turns golden and the meat gives way with a spoon. A celebration dish in Jamaica, and the heart of a proper spread.
Jerk Chicken
Chicken marinated in pimento, thyme, scallion and Scotch bonnet, then grilled until it is smoky, charred at the edges and juicy inside. The flavor Jamaica is famous for, done the patient way.
Curry Chicken
The family favorite. Chicken cooked down in a gentle, fragrant curry with potatoes soaking up the sauce — comforting, golden and friendly to guests who like their heat on the mild side.
And no spread is complete without…
Rice & Peas
Rice simmered with kidney beans, coconut milk, scallion and thyme. The anchor of every Jamaican plate.
Fried Plantains
Ripe plantains fried until the edges caramelize — sweet, soft and golden.
Festival
Golden fried dumplings with a hint of sweetness, made for tearing and sharing.
Steamed Cabbage & Greens
Cabbage and seasoned greens cooked down with peppers and onion — the fresh balance to the rich mains.
Jamaican Mac & Cheese
Baked, golden-topped and unapologetically cheesy — the side dish that disappears first at a party.
You bring the people.
We bring the food.
A Jamaican spread is built for gatherings. The mains arrive in chafing dishes, the rice and plantains are piled high, and everybody eats family-style — which means nobody has to cook, and the host gets to enjoy the party too.
Office Lunches
Feed the whole team something better than the usual sandwich tray.
Church Events
Fellowship halls, fundraisers and after-service dinners, served with love.
Family Parties
Birthdays, graduations and milestones — the food becomes part of the memory.
Backyard Cookouts
Jerk chicken was born outdoors. A cookout spread is its natural home.
Reunions
When family comes from near and far, a familiar table brings everyone together.
Celebrations
Showers, anniversaries, holidays — any reason to gather is a reason to eat well.
Catering service begins with our opening in January 2027. Until then, this page is the place to watch — the launch announcement will be posted here first.
Where we will serve
Sarasota's own Jamaican kitchen
Sarasota
From downtown to the barrier islands, Sarasota is home base.
Bradenton
Just up the road — Manatee County gatherings are on the map.
Venice
South Sarasota County events, from Venice Island to North Port's doorstep.
Lakewood Ranch
Neighborhood parties and community celebrations out east.
Good to know
Questions, answered
When does Joan's Jamaican Cuisine open?
Joan's Jamaican Cuisine opens in January 2027. This website is an early first look while the kitchen is being prepared — the opening announcement and full details will be posted here at launch.
What is on a Jamaican catering spread?
A classic Jamaican spread is built around slow-cooked mains like oxtail, curry goat, jerk chicken and curry chicken, served with rice and peas, fried plantains, festival (golden fried dumplings), steamed cabbage and seasoned greens, all laid out buffet-style in chafing dishes so guests can help themselves.
What kinds of events is Jamaican catering good for?
Jamaican catering suits any gathering where people eat together: office lunches, church events, family parties, backyard cookouts, reunions and celebrations of every size. The food is hearty, travels well and is served family-style, which makes it easy to feed a crowd.
How far ahead are catered events usually arranged?
As a general rule, caterers recommend planning an event menu two to four weeks ahead for larger gatherings, and earlier still during busy holiday seasons, so there is time to plan the menu and prepare everything fresh.
Are there milder and meat-free dishes in Jamaican cooking?
Yes. Curry chicken is often made gentle and family-friendly, and Jamaican cooking has plenty of naturally meat-free favorites — rice and peas cooked in coconut milk, sweet fried plantains, steamed cabbage and seasoned greens — so a spread can suit every guest at the table.
Which areas will Joan's Jamaican Cuisine serve?
When it opens in January 2027, Joan's Jamaican Cuisine will serve the Sarasota, Florida area — including Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice and Lakewood Ranch.
See you in
January 2027
The pots are being seasoned and the menu is being perfected. Check back here for the opening announcement — Sarasota's table is about to get a lot more flavorful.