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Two women have brought their Caribbean roots and passion for their native cuisine to downtown Greensboro.

Princella Ibrahim and Julett Holness have opened Taste of Caribbean (114 N. Elm St., Suite 108, Greensboro; 271-4099) in the Piedmont Building. The space, formerly occupied by Poblanos, sports the colorful yellow, blue and green of the West Indies and a menu to match.

The Caribbeans are very colorful, Princella Ibrahim says.

Steamed red bell peppers, carrots and cabbage are served alongside spicy jerk or curry chicken. Red beans cooked in coconut milk are tossed with rice a weekend staple in the home when Ibrahim was growing up.

Ibrahim is originally from Panama. But it was the cuisine of her West Indies grandparents that followed her to the United States when she moved to New York City at a young age. She came to Greensboro in 1987 to attend N.C. A&T. Thats where she met her husband, Jimo Ibrahim , a farm safety, energy and environmental specialist with the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service and a staff member at A&T.

Julett Holness moved with her husband, Rickie Holness , from Jamaica to Greensboro about eight years ago. Rickie Holness is in applied research with the Cooperative Extension Service and on staff at A&T.

The men are as passionate about the menu at Taste of Caribbean as their wives. Rickie Holness can be found grilling the days jerk chicken, which is marinated overnight in a sauce made from Scotch Bonnet peppers. A researcher on growing chili peppers locally, he raises his own Scotch Bonnet peppers because they are hard to come by in these parts. And despite what many think, the readily available habanero is not an acceptable substitute for jerk seasoning.

The flavor of a Scotch Bonnet is very unique, Jimo Ibrahim says.

You can just smell it, his wife says.

Curry and Brown Stewed Chicken are both simmered in homemade sauces. Island-Style Brown Stewed Fish and Escoveritched Fish are cooked in vinegar and garlic. For the more adventurous, Taste of Caribbean offers seasoned and browned oxtail or goat stewed in curry.

Sides include fried plantains, rice and peas or beef, chicken and vegetable patties a type of stuffed pastry that can be eaten as is or stuffed into a small roll called Coco Bread.

Thats how the children in Jamaica eat it, Rickie Holness says.

Taste of Caribbean plans to offer traditional Jamaican soup and rum and fruit cakes for the winter holidays.

When people sit down and eat your food, you feel good, Princella Ibrahim says.

If things go well, the Ibrahims and Holnesses hope to open another location. For now, because of the restaurants location in the downtown office building, Taste of Caribbean is open only for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Stories and a meal

Head downtown for the North Carolina Storyfest this weekend and get a discount on some nearby eats.

If you attend the festival, from 1 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Cultural Arts District adjacent to the Greensboro Public Library at 219 N. Church St. in Greensboro, be sure to pick up a stamped bookmark for a 20 percent discount on selected items from The Green Bean (341 S. Elm St.), Calhoun Specialties Brew Bar (113 McGee St.), Fincastles Diner (215 S. Elm St.), Ganache Cafe and Bakery (403 N. Elm St.) and Simple Kneads Bakery (227-B S. Elm St.).

For information, visit Downtown Greensboro Inc. at http://www.downtown

greensboro.net.

Cafes anniversary

While downtown, be sure to say hello to Manuel Manny Polanco at Mannys Universal Cafe (321 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Greensboro; 638-7788).

Mannys is celebrating its second anniversary all month starting with an outdoor fish fry at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

In addition to a small coffee for a buck on Thursdays and Fridays during May, the cafe will offer other specials on cakes and coffee drinks.

Mannys also has added a line of lunch sandwiches and salads and is now serving beer and wine.

On Thursday nights, live jazz is performed at 7:30 p.m. on the patio.

Animal rescue benefit

It seems Carolina Coffee and Tea (400 State St., Greensboro) has gone to the dogs.

The longtime bean roaster and comfy java joint is holding CaPOOCHino Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday .

The annual event is a benefit for the Animal Rescue and Foster Program. It includes live music, information on ARFP and how to be a foster pet owner and even some cuddly cats and dogs in need of adoption.

For more information, call Carolina Coffee & Tea, 333-9557 or ARFP at 574-9600.

Free ribs

May is National Barbecue Month. To open barbecue season, Shanes Rib Shack (4217-A W. Wendover Ave., Greensboro; 292-7272) is offering free ribs on Saturday .

The first 100 customers to walk through the door starting at 11 a.m. will get a free half-rack of baby back ribs, a large Coca-Cola Zero and a numbered Shaniac jersey T-shirt.

If you cant make it in time, Shanes is offering buy-one-get-one-free coupons to patrons who dont make the first 100. Shanes is also offering a chance to win a backyard barbecue from May 18 to Aug. 15. For details on this contest and other giveaways, visit http://www.shanesribshack.com.

And take note, rib lovers: Shanes will soon open another Greensboro location at 1410 Westover Terrace.

Italian trattoria to open

Rivas Trattoria, a small Italian restaurant offering moderately priced family-style cuisine in a casual atmosphere, is opening soon at 257 N. Greene St. in downtown Greensboro.

Owners Tracy and Rob Lamothe plan to continue Greensboros growing Slow Food Movement by offering seasonal dishes based on whats available at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market and local producers.

For a peek at what Rivas will be serving, visit http://rivastrattoria.com.

Chain comes to Alamance

Texas Roadhouse, a Louisville, Ky.-based chain serving hand-cut steaks, award-winning ribs, homemade side dishes and fresh-baked bread, opens Monday at 1651 Glidewell Drive in Burlington.

For the opening, the restaurant is planning an invitation-only event to serve its hearty grub to local firefighters and raise money for United Way of Alamance County.

Regular hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

Call 584-1205 or visit http://www.texasroadhouse.com.

Lunch no longer served

Rim Tapas and Fine Wine Bar (219-A S. Elm St., Greensboro; 230-2055) is no longer serving lunch.

Dinner continues to be served from 4 to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Visit http://www.rimtapas.com for new menu items.

Have restaurant news for Short Orders? Contact Carl Wilson at 373-7145 or carl.wilson@news-record.com.