TL/DR –
The Blue Llama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor is set to undergo a culinary revamp under the direction of award-winning chef JJ Johnson. The new menu will incorporate Johnson’s Afro-Caribbean style of cooking, with dishes inspired by Harlem, New Orleans, Barbados, and Puerto Rico. The jazz club will also offer a three-course, prix fixe tasting menu, and Johnson plans to incorporate rice, a signature ingredient in his cooking, throughout the new menu.
Significant Menu Revamp at Blue Llama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor
Celebrated chef JJ Johnson is set to revitalize the food experience at the Blue Llama Jazz Club in downtown Ann Arbor with a unique Afro-Caribbean menu. Johnson, known for his award-winning establishments in New York and TV roles, will be the creative culinary director for this project.
The menu will reflect Johnson’s expertise in Afro-Caribbean cuisine, combining flavors of American jazz hubs like New Orleans and Harlem with those of Barbados and Puerto Rico, according to the club’s website.
The jazz club, owned by Don Hicks, is marking its fifth anniversary this year. Hicks expressed optimism for the club’s future, claiming the venue and programming are top-notch and expects the collaboration with Chef JJ to make it “the most extraordinary jazz club in the world.”
Unique Dining Experience at Blue Llama
Starting Wednesday, Johnson will introduce a vibrant, adventurous menu for diners and jazz aficionados alike. The three-course, prix fixe tasting menu ($55) will offer choices like jerk chicken and vegetarian options, with a beef tenderloin with lobster upgrade available for $30.
Johnson’s culinary vision includes dishes like jerk-seasoned prawns, Yassa – a spicy Senegalese dish featuring leeks, and a perch escovitch dish marinated in vinegar and spice sauce. The menu also promises unique West African Peanut and Goat Noodles.
JJ Johnson’s Signature Rice Dishes
As a signature element of Johnson’s cuisine, expect to find rice in various forms on the Blue Llama menu. Johnson’s New York based Fieldtrip restaurants boast a menu of made-to-order rice bowls that he refers to as “one of the great connectors of the world.” The esteemed chef has also penned a cookbook titled “The Simple Art of Rice: Recipes from Around the World for the Heart of Your Table”.
Johnson’s new menu at Blue Llama Jazz Club will feature dishes with hints of rice, such as scallops with rice grits. The chef noted that jazz has significant roots in rice-producing regions, enhancing the holistic experience of the Club.
A multiple James Beard Award nominee, Chef JJ Johnson has a versatile portfolio that includes a TV show, “Just Eats with Chef JJ”. Despite his home base in New York, Johnson expressed a deep affinity for Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan.
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