A Taste Of Jamaica At the Chicken Box Written by Brian Bushard Photography by Kit Noble Recipe By Peticea Murray The Chicken Box as a venue is known for its music and bar scene, but during the day thereis a completely different vibe. In June, Peticea Murray started bringing her food truck, 876 Island Cuisine, to the Box. By the time the lunch crowd arrives, the truck, which takes its name from Jamaica’s area code, is slammed with customers.“A lot of the island workforce is built by Jamaicans,” said Murray, who grew up cooking with her grandmother in Montego Bay. “I have a passion for it, but I myself did not have anywhere to buy this authentic Jamaican food [on Nantucket]. I thought I have to have a Jamaican restaurant so my people can have somewhere to have authentic Jamaican food, and not only that, to bring Jamaican culture through food to the Nantucket native people.”Murray’s truck offers staples like jerk chicken, as well as escovitch fish, rice and peas (red kidney beans are typically used, but the name comes from the local red peas in Jamaica), and coconut water straight out of the coconut. “[My grandmother] taught me all the old recipes, all the good stuff,” she said. “That’s why I cook the way I cook, because it’s coming from generations of authentic flavors.” JAMAICAN RICE AND PEAS, yields 8-10 servings Ingredients: -2 cups long-grain rice, washed -2 cups cooked red kidney beans (or 1 can, drained and rinsed) -1 can (13.5 ounces) coconut milk -2 cups water(reserved from cooking beans) -3 cloves garlic, minced -4 sprigs fresh thyme -2 scallions, chopped -1 small onion, chopped -1 whole Scotch bonnet pepper(do not cut it open) -1 teaspoon salt (or to taste) -½ teaspoon black pepper -1 tablespoon butter Instructions: In a large pot, combine the kidney beans, coconut milk, bean liquid (or water),onion, garlic, thyme, scallions, salt, black pepper and butter. Add the whole Scotch bonnet pepper and bring everything to a gentle boil. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes so the flavors develop. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid, reduce the heat to low and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is tender and all the liquid has been absorbed. Remove the Scotch bonnet pepper and thyme stems. Fluff the rice and gently with a fork before serving. CHEF’S TIP: The key to authentic Jamaican rice and peas is allowing the coconut milk, thyme, scallions, garlic and the Scotch bonnet pepper to simmer together before adding the rice. This creates the rich, flavorful base that makes the dish stand out. Keeping the Scotch bonnet whole adds its signature aroma without making the rice overly spicy. This recipe pairs perfectly with jerk chicken, curry goat, brown stew chicken, oxtail or escovitch fish.

Written by Brian Bushard Photography by Kit Noble How could a traditional mooring possibly be bad for the environment? The fact is that the moorings that have been deployed for decades have had a deleterious effect on eelgrass in a way that has consequential impacts on Nantucket’s fragile bay scallop population. The problem with traditional moorings, according to Nantucket Land and Water Council ecologist and waterkeeper RJ Turcotte, is that after months of shifting winds, the boats they secure will pull in all directions, forcing a traditional chain to swipe at the eelgrass below—a process called scouring. The bigger the boat, the worse the damage. An aerial view shows the problem as clear as day: sandy rings around the moorings where eelgrass had been. “We’re obviously seeing a decline [in eelgrass],” Turcotte said. “It gets worse as you go up the harbor. We’re at a point where every year, the eelgrass is getting thermally stressed and we’re having nutrient inputs causing algal growth that’s competing with the eelgrass. Anything we can do to help them along, we want to do. To that end, the Land and Water Council is introducing new 200-pound pyramid-shaped moorings designed to keep the eelgrass in place. Above the surface, it’s a standard mooring. But unlike the traditional moorings, which are affixed to the seafloor with a mushroom-shaped base and a heavy chain, the new moorings use a system that looks more like a bungee that can contract and relax as the boat it’s securing sways around in the direction of the prevailing wind. Eelgrass provides a habitat for several species, including bay scallops. It also helps to hold sediment in place, mitigating coastal erosion, and improves water quality by absorbing pollutants. But eelgrass cover in the harbor has fallen precipitously over the past few decades, reaching 14% in 2024, according to Nantucket Shellfish and Aquatic Resources Manager Tara Riley. Preserving Nantucket’s eelgrass—and by effect, its scallop industry—is therefore a priority for fishermen and ecologists. It’s been the subject of numerous initiatives around the harbor, including efforts to reduce nitrogen loading from fertilizer use, which causes algal growth that blocks sunlight from reaching eelgrass on the harbor floor. Town Meeting has also voted to expand the town sewer to neighborhoods along the harbor, hoping to reduce runoff into the harbor. And nearly 10 years ago, the Land and Water Council undertook another project to transplant eelgrass to an area off Monomoy, which Turcotte likens to underwater gardening. The Land and Water Council’s pilot project for the new moorings is funded by the Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation. “There are obviously things that are out of our control, like the rising water temperature,” Turcotte said. “There’s not much we can do about that. But anything we can do, including things like this, to make gains and help [the eelgrass] out when it is struggling, we want to do.” This year, the Land & Water Council is starting with 12 of the new eelgrass-friendly moorings as part of the pilot project. If the project is successful, Turcotte’s goal is to replace every mooring with the new eelgrass-friendly model. At the end of the day, it’s a simple fix. “Scour is physical damage,” he said. “It has a direct link and we can figure it out."

Nantucket's newest youth theater group, the Nantucket Stage Company

Managed and staffed by world renowned St. Regis brand, this boutique residential building is located directly on the water in the heart of Boston's Seaport neighborhood where culture, dining and entertainment are just steps from your front door. Enjoy a curated lifestyle with 24-hour concierge, valet parking, doorman and a dedicated butler service, as well as the perks and privileges at St. Regis and Marriott properties around the world. Residences include Italian flooring in all living areas and the kitchen, BAMO custom designed cabinets, manufactured in Italy exclusively for the St. Regis Residences,Boston; natural stone backsplash and counter, and Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. The bathrooms are inspired by a world-class spa, including heated floors. Residents enjoy an entire 12,000 square-foot floor of amenities including an infinity edge resort indoor/outdoor pool and terrace with a nano folding door to a harbor view patio, sauna, jacuzzi, steam room, spa, library, conference room, fitness center, sports simulator, residential lounge/bar, private wine vaults as well as two resident hotel guest suites. Valet, doorman, butler, 24/7 concierge and in-room dining provided by newly opened SAVR Restaurant

Tim Ehrenberg, creator of “Tim Talks Books” and president of the Nantucket Book Foundation, gives you his Top Picks for August