NYAM & SCRAM - Lunch hour comes to Restaurant Week

As the weeks roll towards the annual Gleaner-sponsored Restaurant Week, founder Stephanie Scott is reflecting on the past and looking towards the future. And as she prepares for the week of November 11-19, Scott told The Gleaner that she is surprised at how quickly one year has become seven years.

"Twenty-three restaurants have grown to 60 and one city has expanded into two cities (Kingston and New York) and two capitals (Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. "What else was there to do?" she asked herself.

"For many years I have listened to the cry of restaurants who do not normally open for dinner, about how they could have an opportunity to reap the benefits of the massive publicity and the economic boost that Restaurant Week brings," Scott said.

Fitting name

She said, after much thought and the continued requests, she came up with the idea of the new category and found a most fitting name. 'Nyam and Scram' in Jamaican parlance simply means eating and running back to work or play. For Restaurant Week, the term will be transformed to encompass those persons who want to participate in Restaurant Week activities during the daytime. But, they will not be sitting down to dine, they will just purchase their meals and go.

Nyam and Scram consists of 12 restaurants, scattered across the city, which will offer to lunchtime diners discounted take-out combo meals.

Overworked professionals, weary mothers and busy young people on the go can order early and take meals home for dinner on those nights when cooking doesn't seem like fun.

"We are excited and expect that, like dinner, Nyam and Scram will be highly successful. Plans next year include expanding the category - we already have great interest from restaurants in the other capitals and the fast-food chains to join.

"Our aim is for the island to be abuzz day and night and all about food in Restaurant Week," Scott said.