Top left: Turkey wrap Below left: Escoveitch Fish wrap Right : Menu

There is a NEW Healthy Food Spot in Town – VIANDAS!

Top left: Turkey wrap Below left: Escoveitch Fish wrap Right : Menu
Top left: Turkey wrap
Below left: Chicken salad
Right : Menu

Just this week, Verginia Mitchell opened her BRAND NEW Restaurant, VIANDAS at Shop #46, Pulse 38A, Trafalgar Road, Kingston 5. The menu is mainly comprised of healthy wraps, salads, shakes and smoothies. 

Understandably, there are a few kinks to iron out since they just opened, for instance, only cash will be accepted for the next 2 weeks and its best to call their cell number. Ambience will also be worked on this weekend and others to come so you do not have to just walk in, but you can sit and enjoy your meal. Calorie counts are expected in the future too, but until then you can trust that Verginia who studied Culinary Nutrition will not be using fatty milk or any milk for that matter in your mashed potatoes, will give you a healthy selection of cheese or portions and will use natural seasonings. Nothing is fried.

I had my Turkey wrap delivered to my office today and it was quite tasty and filling for an affordable price of $550JMD. The presentation was lovely and vibrant. The delivery time was not too delayed either. Quite impressive for an opening week. I am surely looking forward to more weeks to come and will be trying other items on the menu. Word is the Escoveitch wrap is delicious and filling as well.

For now, Viandas is OPEN Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 5pm. Delivery is free with 5 orders and $300JMD if less than 5 orders. Call Viandas at 876-946-2424 or 876-831-3606. Follow Viandas on Instagram @viandasja!

 

Attention All Foodies! Kingston Kitchen this Saturday!

Tutti Frutti Truck + Rainforest Seafoods, Best Dressed Chicken, NCR Sheep, Hellshire Style Fish Booths and more will be there!

Pre-sold tickets available at CPJ Deli – Lady Musgrave Rd., Copy Cat – Barbican Centre, Cafe Blue – Sovereign, Tea Tree Creperie – 8 Hillcrest Ave. and Candy Craze – Manor Park.

Support Brand Jamaica – our local chefs, caterers, restaurants, small batch vendors and farmers.

 

Planning to go to ‘Pizza by Moonlight’ at Moon Hill Tonight? Best you change your Plan!

‘All you can Eat Pizza’ on Wednesdays at Moon Hill have been far too crowded with hardly anything to eat. If you are lucky, you may get to taste one of the pizzas but it is definitely not ‘All you can Eat’ as advertised.

There is no adequate parking. Prepare for a hike up the hill and then a slow process to be banded for entry after you pay $1000JMD. What’s the point of making reservations then? There is no guaranteed seating and a fight to see which pizza is brought out for you to get your hands on.

Thank goodness the quality of the pizza is good though, but not good enough for the desire to return and an overall negative experience for many.

 

Kids from the Jamaica Christian Boys Home get a Day Out to Tour the Institute of Jamaica

The New Kingston Rotaract Club in partnership with the Institute of Jamaica hosted marginalised boys from the Jamaica Christian Boys Home, between the ages of 7 and 17 on July 18, 2014 at the Institute of Jamaica. The children were exposed, educated and their awareness broadened, while they also got time away from their place of residence.

The activities of the day included Exhibitions of Rastafari, Equal Rights, Reggae and Social Change, National Art in Schools and a viewing of the National History Museum Discovery Room.

After the exhibitions, the boys enjoyed lunch provided by the New Kingston Rotaract Club.

As many good deeds like this often go under the radar, many Clubs and Non-Profit Organisations like the New Kingston Rotaract Club continue to work hard and serve the unfortunate selflessly, offering many opportunities for them to progress as well. Feel free to like or join the New Kingston Rotaract Club’s Facebook page, ‘New Kingston Rotaract Club’, to see what else they have in store this year and perhaps contribute to their efforts as well.

Gabby from SuGa Lifestyle Checks Out What the New Chef has to Offer at Strawberry Hill

Last Sunday evening for a dinner date, I headed up to Strawberry Hill in the heart of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains in Irish Town, just 20 minutes from Papine by the foot of the hill. Upon arrival, the breathtaking, picturesque view of the mountains, botanical gardens, Georgian-style cottages and infinity-edge pool, formed the perfect ambience for romance.

We were greeted pleasantly by 2 waitresses simultaneously that happened to be coming from different directions. Now that was a reflection of their eagerness to show hospitality and a sign of good things to come.

It was Marva who seated us and issued or menus instantly. I was excited to see what their new French Chef had to offer. Over the years, I think Strawberry Hill has had their ups and downs where good quality food is concerned, but thankfully less of the latter. They seem to have a commendable reputation regardless.

I heard Chef Martin started at Strawberry Hill in March of this year. The variety of Appetizers popped out more to me compared to the Main dishes, however I am sure if persons wanted to try something they haven’t had in a while, they would surely find something they could choose.

I started with the Smoked Marlin cannelloni with cucumber and caper dressing. Doesn’t that sound interesting? It surely was. A unique blend of flavours that worked well together teasing my taste buds.

Braised shank of Lamb with Jerk and orange sauce, mashed pumpkin and glazed vegetables followed, tender to the cut and succulent. I was also pleased to find out that they buy local. Their meats are from a variety of local farmers, particularly small farmers, such as St. John’s Boscos, a local butchery in Mandeville, which funds orphans and teaches them the trade.

I indulged in warm Bread Pudding for dessert, of which it was the sauce that enhanced the taste. I tried a bit of the Stuffed Puffs with Coconut Ice Cream that was enjoyable but seemed to be missing the Hot Chocolate sauce that was mentioned on the menu.

Other tempting items on the dinner menu included Escoveitch Shrimps, stuffed and spicy Crab Backs, Tomato and Mozzarella Stacks salad, Vegetarian Lasagna with Callaloo and Tomato and an 8oz of Tenderloin of spicy Grilled Beef. A wide selection of Beverages are available as well. Ladies should have Marva mix them that special Piña Colada, its fire!

The service was on point throughout, ‘on cue to top up my glass’ style. Food came out in a timely manner but still with sufficient time to converse and enjoy the lovely ambience. The serving sizes were decent, slightly more than some restaurants but just right because I left feeling full but not stuffed.

Strawberry Hill continues to impress and sustain excellent service with an ambience like no other.

Strawberry Hill Resort

Ph#: 876-944-8400

Address: Irish Town

Date of visit: 10/8/14

NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum

Parking: ★★★★★

Ambience: ★★★★★

Decor: ★★★★☆

Comfort: ★★★★★

Service: ★★★★★

Speed: ★★★★★

Food quality: ★★★★★

Serving amount: ★★★★★

Plating: ★★★★☆

Value for $: ★★★★★

SuGa Endorsement: ★★★★★

 

Yummy Eats from EITS Cafe! Beat the heat & head up there this Summer!

Beat the summer heat and head up to the cool, scenic Hills of Newcastle. Service was a bit slow with a wait of half hour for some and an hour for others. The smaller the group, the less the wait. But the service by the waitresses and hospitality of co-operator, Robyn Fox was great. They made you feel at home. Their signature Barrel-roasted Chicken was divine as well as all of the other dishes we had, including Shrimp Pasta with Pesto sauce, Curried Fish, Curried Shrimp, Chicken Breast and Shrimp Pasta with Creamy Mushroom sauce. Imagine, lunch for 7 persons including a flask of rum, beers and other drinks, the bill was just $13,000JMD tax inclusive.

EITS Cafe at Mount Edge Guesthouse

Ph#: 876-944-8974

Address: 17 Mile Post, Newcastle. St. Andrew Jamaica

Date of visit: 2/8/14

NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum

Parking: ★★★★☆

Ambience: ★★★★★

Decor: ★★★★★

Comfort: ★★★★★

Service: ★★★★☆

Speed: ★★★☆☆

Food quality: ★★★★☆

Serving amount: ★★★★★

Plating: ★★★★☆

Value for $: ★★★★★

SuGa Endorsement: ★★★★☆