Haitian Restaurant Week 2025, coming May 10 through 25, is proof positive that appeal for Haiti’s satisfying cuisine resonates strongly outside the Caribbean nation — with participating restaurants and eateries in the New York City metropolitan area, across the continental U.S., and as far away as Hawaii and Paris.
Just before the week begins, the “Haitian Restaurant Week Kick-Off Party” will be held May 9 at the DjonDjon restaurant, 1206 Nostrand Ave. in Brooklyn. On the final day of Restaurant Week, “Manje Lakay 2025 Celebration”—presented by Gran Pan Pan Foods and featuring food vendors, beauty products, artisanal goods and more — will take place at Flatbush Central Caribbean Marketplace in Brooklyn on May 25.
Organized by the Tap Tap Now Haitian restaurant mobile app, renowned entrepreneur and culinary veteran Chef Stephan Durand, restaurateur and caterer Nadege Fleurimond, and the Bonspoon Media marketing agency, the international Haitian Restaurant Week 2025 taps into the country’s flavorful national cuisine that’s steeped in history. Tradition is a common thread running through Haitian cuisine. National dishes of “lanbi” (edible meat of the conch, a large sea snail) and Haiti’s “soup joumou” are connected to the nation’s bold and successful revolution from French colonial control.
Visit bit.ly/HaitianRestaurantWeek2025 for an updated list of Haitian Restaurant Week’s participating establishments, check Instagram @haitianrestaurantweek_ and Facebook for highlights and announcements.
Here comes ‘Sheribaby’
The official launch for the novel “Sheribaby,” by media personality and Jamaican influencer Sharon Gordon, will be held Thursday at the Island Seas Restaurant and Lounge, 1440 Utica Ave. in Brooklyn, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Gordon will read excerpts, sign copies of the new book, and participate in a Q&A session for “empowering work” of resilience. Visit bit.ly/SheribabyOfficialBookLaunch to RSVP for the event. Sheribaby is available on Amazon.com.
Caribbean Film Series
The three-day Caribbean Film Series 2025 — the African Diaspora International Film Festival’s (ADIFF) impressive lineup from the region — begins Friday at Columbia University’s Teacher College, 525 W. 120th St. in Manhattan.
“Aluku Liba: Maroon Again” from French Guiana and Canada, an homage to Felix de Rooy from Curaçao with screenings of “Nomad” and “Ava and Gabriel: A Love Story,” and “Deep Blue” from Antigua and Barbuda are among the 11 films featured in the festival lineup. For the full schedule, tickets, and passes, visit the ADIFF website at nyadiff.org or call (212) 864-1760.
Spring into The Bahamas
With The Bahamas encompassing hundreds of islands, it’s hard to pick a favorite isle. But the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism chose quiet and calm Eleuthera to feature in its recent “Island Focus” segment of its “A Bahamian Spring Bloom” message.
“For those seeking a tranquil spring retreat, Eleuthera beckons with its unspoiled beauty and laid-back allure,” read the Island Focus, noting Eleuthera’s “pink-sand beaches, dramatic cliffs and crystal-clear waters” that are full of tropical marine life. For more information on events and offers, visit the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism website at bahamas.com.
The Bahamas offers many marine-related activities, such as the Red Bays Snapper Tournament, May 15-17, in the fishing community island of Andros, where visitors can enjoy Bahamian food and beverages, while anglers compete for “Best Fisherman” honors. And May 21 through 24, the fifth annual Walker’s Cay Blue Marlin Invitational will attract elite fishermen and fisherwomen as they vie for more than $1 million in prizes.
