San Jose Jazz 2022: Dim sum, jerk chicken join the soul food lineup this weekend

As jazz, blues and salsa return for San Jose Jazz Summer Fest Aug. 12-14, so too will jambalaya, barbecue and tacos.

And some new culinary treats, including pad Thai, jerk chicken and dim sum.

The food booths will be located near the Main Stage at downtown’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez.

Here are our picks for the top acts to see. And when you want to plan your between-sets snacking, here is the vendor lineup for the Friday-Sunday concerts, with some menu details.

FIRST-TIME VENDORS

ABVE the Basics: Gabriel Vegas’ enterprise specializes in Cali-style tacos and bowls filled with marinated steak, carnitas, chicken, pork belly, shrimp, fish or vegetables, as well as Cali steak fries, quesadillas and churro doughnuts.

Spicy Roy’s Caribbean Grill: A Jamaican menu of jerk chicken, oxtail, jerk tofu, rice and peas, chicken salad and plantains.

Lin’s Dim Sum: Look for a long lineup of offerings, including charcoal lava buns, siu mai, har gow, potstickers, barbecue buns, vegetable buns, beef brisket noodles, wonton noodles and more.

Christine’s Cookies: Freshly baked chocolate chip, chocolate walnut, flowerfetti, black sesame and blueberry chocolate oatmeal cookies.

Suds & Floats: Handcrafted cream sodas, ice cream floats, cold brew coffee and cookies.

Thai Chef: Seafood pad Thai, shrimp fried rice, teriyaki beef, orange chicken, chow mein, shrimp rolls, vegetable eggrolls, potstickers, calamari, Thai iced tea and coffee.

RETURNING FAVORITES

Roux: East Bay chef Lydia Walker will be making jambalaya (links, chicken, shrimp), along with collard green eggrolls and fried cabbage eggrolls. For dessert, there will be sweet potato pie eggrolls.

Chicken and the Farm: These festival cooks will be making smoked meat sandwiches, “cow tipper” skirt steak tacos, chicken wings, smoked brisket “not-chos,” loaded fries and deep-fried cauli bites and brussels.

The Juicery: Warm weather coolers, including frosts (lime, watermelon, mango, red hibiscus), fresh lemonade, iced tea and Arnold Palmer freezes.

BNB Wings N Things: Chicken wings and tenders in seven flavors (hot, honey barbecue, lemon pepper, hot lemon pepper, honey garlic parmesan, spicy honey garlic parmesan, Jamaican jerk), plus a chipotle chicken melt, fries, sweet potato fries, garlic fries and “big dog fries,” topped with cheese, fried onions, jalapeños and chipotle ranch dressing.

Lord of the Ribs BBQ: Award-winning San Jose pitmaster Ralph Reyes and his crew will offer smoked ribs, sausage, pulled pork chili, nachos and salad. Tip: The ribs sell out quickly, so order early.

3 Hermanos Mexican Grill: Burritos, tacos, quesadillas, nachos, tortas and hot dogs, plus agua fresca.

Seymart: The bright yellow-and-red signs at this booth announce chicken wings and snapper in huge letters, but these Louisiana-style caterers are also known for their catfish, shrimp, oysters, breaded okra and hush puppies.

Jess’s Place: Tacos, corn in a cup, aguas frescas, fruta picada.

Sandi’s Soul Food and Cobbler Cups: Santa Clara caterer Sandi Dailey plans to make gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, mac and cheese, sweet tea — and her signature dessert, peach or mixed berry cobbler cups.

Hot and Sizzling Grill: A Greek food specialist serving gyros, lamb, falafel and sausages.

Poor House Bistro: Po’boy sandwiches, chips, salad, soup and dessert.

MoLatte Cafe: Tacos, burritos, fries, coffee and smoothies.

Olde Tyme Kettle Korn: The traditional favorites: Kettle corn, caramel kettle corn and roasted peanuts in the shell.

Snackey’s Bakery: Cookies, muffins and cake pops, some in vegan, gluten or sugar-free options.

Twisted K’s Soft Serve: Eleven flavors of soft-serve ice cream, plus Dole Whip. To find the booth, look for the inflatable cone.