A new restaurant will open Monday, Oct. 4, at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at Wausau, serving both students and community members.
A Taste of Jamaica is located in the dining hall of the Wausau campus, 518 S. 7th Ave. It will offer a "grab and go" lunch menu featuring sandwiches, soups and salads, with a daily featured Jamaican sandwich. Hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. -1:30 p.m. A snack service will be provided in the Student Union Café Monday through Friday, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Dinner service – with a separate menu – will be offered on Fridays from 4-9:30 p.m., available for dine-in on campus or delivery via EatStreet.
A Taste of Jamaica was selected following a "food start-up contest" in which applicants pitched their food service ideas to a committee of self-appointed foodies at UW-Stevens Point at Wausau.
Restaurant owner Janice Watson migrated to the United States from Jamaica at age 19 and moved to the Wausau area in 2017. She learned to cook from her grandmother, Lillian, in the family's outdoor kitchen.
"We are thrilled to partner with Janice to provide this unique and flavorful opportunity to the campus and community," said Ann Herda-Rapp, UWSP at Wausau campus executive. "A Taste of Jamaica will offer delicious and convenient lunch options for our students and staff, and a one-of-a-kind Friday dinner option for the community."
Watson started catering in 2018, working many events for area nonprofits and businesses. She has participated in MCDEVCO's Pop-Up Market and operates a pop-up restaurant at Timekeeper Distillery two Saturdays monthly. This is in addition to working for the Boy Scouts Samoset Council in Wausau and previously serving as executive director of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, Mass. Watson has a master's degree in organizational management.
She is excited to "allow people in our community the opportunity to enjoy the authentic flavors of Jamaican cuisine."
To access A Taste of Jamaica, community members may park in Marathon Park (near the little red schoolhouse) and enter the restaurant on the west side of the main UWSP at Wausau building north of the terrace.
For more, see A Taste of Jamaica's Facebook page: https://it-it.facebook.com/ATasteJA/?ref=page_internal
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