Get an Advantage on your Budget by Signing up for your Pop-Up Gourmet Card Today!

Pop-Up Gourmet can satisfy a variety of customers. Families, persons in the corporate sector that may have to buy lunch daily or host business lunch or dinner meetings, bar hoppers and ofcourse, the foodie that loves to dine at restaurants frequently throughout each month, all benefit from Pop-Up Gourmet.

Pop-Up Gourmet Advantage Card Holders can use their cards at over 70 locations in Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Port Antonio and the South Coast. Members can also enjoy special discounts and privileges at Food Lovers’ Experiences such as the annually held Simply Red ($500JMD off of ticket for 2014) and more.

It costs $6500JMD to sign up annually, where payment can be made online. They will also even come to you with a swipe card machine for payment! The card is valid for one (1) year and there is a referral programme for other benefits.

So how does it make sense? The average working person that buys a decent lunch including a beverage everyday for about $1000JMD and goes a little harder on the weekend can make back that fee in just over a month with 10-15% discounts at various restaurants and bars. Not to mention the family that eats out or gets take-out at least twice per week, that money is made back promptly.

Unfortunately, card holders cannot use Pop-Up Gourmet for Restaurant week menus but cards can still be presented for items otherwise. Also remember that Christmas is right around the corner with many outings, so the more you can save, the better.

Popular lunch locations include Toss & Roll, CPJ Market, China Express, Cuddy’z, Deli Works, New Leaf Vegetarian, JoJo’s Jerk Pit and More, Ocho Rios Jerk Centre, John Crow’s Tavern, Pier 1 and more.

Hot dinner spots include Caffe da Vince, Tamarind Indian Cuisine, Saffron, Fromage Gourmet Market, Evita’s, Opa, 689 by Brian Lumley, Mystic India and more.

When the end of the week comes and you are running up that bar bill, fret not if you hit up Macau, Bin 26, Cru, Margaritaville, The Deck and others.

I have enjoyed discounts of $500JMD and more from The Wine Shop, Christopher’s at Hermosa Cove and China Express to name a few. My Pop-Up Gourmet Card is so precious, I literally never leave home without it. One night I was hurrying to leave the house, switching from hand bag to clutch so carried just my cards and ‘get vex’ money, only to realise when I got to the restaurant that I left my debit card and only had my Driver’s License, Insurance card, Pop-Up Gourmet card and hardly any cash. Hilarious. But that Pop-Up Gourmet card popped me out of debt or having my friends pay when I was able to use my exact amount of cash as a result of getting over a $500JMD discount by presenting my Advantage card. Phew!

I have also found that when I have slightly overspent or was just within budget, the money from my discount can be used towards tips instead of having to find even more money to spend.

What are you waiting for? Check out http://www.popupgourmetjamaica.com/ for information on more participating locations, what’s hot in the culinary industry, benefits and to sign up now!

Also follow ‘popupgourmetjamaica or Pop-Up Gourmet Jamaica’ on Instagram and Facebook respectively, to keep updated on deals and when new Restaurants and Bars have signed on thus giving you more options to save!

Where to Nyam and Scram (30% off) for Restaurant week!

The Nyam and Scram Category finally has some actual deals this year!

Asia’s Cafe in York Pharmacy will offer their OMG Burger, Soup and Bread pudding all for $595JMD. While Michael’s Restaurant and Coffee Shop on Constant Spring Road will have Hot and Spicy Fried Chicken with Sweet Potato Salad and a Chocolate Chip Cookie for $440JMD.

Brick Oven will have a combo with Shrimp Patty, Apple Pie and a scoop of Ice Cream for $550JMD that sounds fattening and awesome at the same time.

Check out Suzie’s Bakery and Coffee Bar for their decadent Jerked Chicken Pasta, succulent Shrimp or Chicken Noodle Stir Fry, juicy chunks of Curried Chicken plus lovely sides, all for $995 each, inclusive of tax.

Super’s Spicy Doubles (Indian cuisine) in Mona is also a place to check out with meals ranging from $400JMD to $600JMD.

Oasis on the Oxford will offer combos of Curry Goat and Roti with vegetables and juice for $550JMD and Chicken Satay, Pumpkin rice cakes with vegetables and juice for $490JMD.

Have great lunches starting this Friday, November 14 to Saturday, November 22!

Go to http://www.go-jamaica.com/rw/ for more information.

Epicurean (*$4300JMD) seems more of the same for RW 2014, but what are SuGa’s Picks?

Same old Same old for the Epicurean category this year. Rojo practically has the same menu as last year. If no new restaurants emerge on the scene with Epicurean standard or none of the current restaurants improve enough to be added to this category, some new elements need to be incorporated to spice it up. Otherwise its ‘been there, done that’ or persons will just use the opportunity to host business meetings and dinners.

The Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel and The Restaurant at Round Hill Hotel and Villas (Montego Bay) seem to have the fresher, more interesting menus including Lobster Creole, Lamb Ribs, Oxtail Ravioli and Braised Short Rib.

Bon appétit!

Go to http://www.go-jamaica.com/rw/ for more information.

* Prices for each category include 1 choice of Appetizer, Main Course and Dessert. Beverages, Gratuity and G.C.T are additional.

The North Coast takes the Delectable (*$3800JMD) category for RW Jamaica hands down!

Majestic, Red Bones and Whitebones need to step it up, not only during Restaurant Week, but all year round. All roads lead to the North Coast! Fresh menus and ambience galore!

All courses at Calypso at Seawind Beach Club (Montego Bay) look great. Pan Seared Tuna Medallions, 12 oz Black Angus Rib Eye, Chilean Seabass, Chocolate Lava Cake with Mint Gelato and more. Dinner at Calypso is usually a treat.

The House Boat Grill will provide another exciting option in Montego Bay with their infamous Caesar Salad, Thai Red Curry Mussels and more for Appetizers. Thai Red Curry Lobster amongst other scrumptious meats will be offered for the main course and the Chocolate Molten Cake looks like it will be divine.

Christopher’s at Hermosa Cove, the hidden gem in Ocho Rios will offer their delicious Smoked Marlin Salad as an appetizer with a variety of other options. They will have Seafood Linguine with Shrimp, Conch and Fish, Smoked Ribs, Beef Tenderloin and more.

Go to http://www.go-jamaica.com/rw/ for more information.

* Prices for each category include 1 choice of Appetizer, Main Course and Dessert. Beverages, Gratuity and G.C.T are additional.

SuGa’s picks for Simple but Tasty (*$1850JMD) for Restaurant Week Jamaica!

The Tasty category is more on the simple side with dishes that most persons should be familiar with. A few restaurants still stand out in terms offering more value for money even though they do not have the greatest ambience.

ROE Japanese Cuisine, Tandoor Indian Restaurant and the Chill Out Hut Restaurant (Montego Bay) seem like great choices. Chill Out Hut will have Chicken Wings, Nachos, 1 lb whole Fish/Fish Fillet any way you like it, a Chicken and Ribs combo and more.

JoJo’s Jerk Pit and More usually offers a large serving of BBQ Spare Ribs, small desserts and basic appetizers.

East Japanese seems satisfactory with their usual Miso soup and Salads, simple Vanilla Ice Cream and main course including Shrimp Tempura and Teriyaki Chicken. However the choices at Northside Kitchen, aside from their location seem like more value for money. There is also a wider range of items to choose from.

The menu from Lillian’s at UTECH looks good with a variety of options. The quality of food is usually decent as well.

Pizza Hut – Dine In in Kingston and Montego Bay look like awesome Binge fests!

Go to http://www.go-jamaica.com/rw/ for more information.

* Prices for each category include 1 choice of Appetizer, Main Course and Dessert. Beverages, Gratuity and G.C.T are additional.

 

So many places to go in Kingston for the Savoury (*$2800) category, where to go?

With so many choices, to make a decision or decisions, it all comes down to reputable service, quality, ambience and ofcourse the menu.

Caffe Da Vince in The Marketplace is at the top of the ladder for SuGa. The menu choices look delicious for appetizers, entrees AND desserts. Eggplant Caprese salad, their infamous Seafood pasta, Chicken Lasagne, Beef Tenderloin, Pork Tenderloin, Flambe, Panna Cotta, Chocolate Mousse Cake and the list goes on. It will definitely be hard to choose dishes, but that’s a good thing.

Gimbilyn Restaurant at Alhambra Inn is not too far behind with an inviting menu including Shrimp salad, Ackee and Saltfish pockets, Tomato Bruschettas, Grilled Salmon, their signature Sirloin of Beef, topped off by some good looking dessert choices.

Fromage is looking good as well. Their standard of good quality food and service has been high this year. They ofcourse will offer their signature Blu Crab Cakes, Steak Au Poivre, salivating Caramel Crumble Bread pudding and more.

The Melting Pot Restaurant and Lounge at the Knutsford Court Hotel will have crispy Wonton Dumplings with corned pork and more. Roasted Air Line Breast stuffed with Smoked Turkey Pastrami, butter beans, pepper jack cheese and sundried tomatoes sounds flavourful. Seafood Portofino, Herb marinated Fillet with smoked Marlin and Chutney will also be there with a ‘rub your belly’ finish of Double Fudge Chocolate Cake, Rum Cream Cheese Cake or their Assorted Dessert Trio.

Black Orchid Restaurant at Eden Gardens may be under the radar, but this is one of the advantages of Restaurant Week. Go somewhere you haven’t been before and see what the restaurant has to offer. Their menu stands out with a few unique dishes. Citrus Quinoa salad, Ackee and Saltfish Puff Pastries and Crab Chowder are on their appetizer list. For the main course, they have a Peppercorn Crusted Striploin, Pan Seared Salmon and the interesting choice of a Garlic Shrimp Coconut Polenta. Dessert choices look decent as well.

Even if not chosen for Restaurant Week, restaurants that put themself out there are still recognized. Restaurant Week also provides a good outlet to promote or launch new dishes. The end of the year will definitely not go by before SuGa tries that orgasmic-looking Oxtail Lasagne offered at 689 By Brian Lumley on Wednesdays and Sundays!

Have fun supporting Brand Jamaica and our local chefs SuGa Readers!

Go to http://www.go-jamaica.com/rw/ for more information.

* Prices for each category include 1 choice of Appetizer, Main Course and Dessert. Beverages, Gratuity and G.C.T are additional.

The Savoury (*$2800JMD) category in Ocho Rios is poppin! But EVITA’s is Leading

All restaurants in the Savoury category in Ocho Rios look like they will be enjoyable. However, it is Evita’s Italian that looks the most impressive and may guarantee more value for money. They have an astounding range of mouth-watering entrees (11!) including Lasagna Bolognese, Seafood or ‘Rastafari’, Salmon Risotto, Lobster and Baby Shrimp Fettuccine and more.

 

If you feel like taking RW to the beach, Bamboo Beach Club is looking good and interesting with an Oxtail Bruschetta appetizer, a main course of Smoked Pork Chop with Guava spiced rum sauce, escallion curry rice and Rum & Raisin Bread Pudding or Coffee Cheese Cake for dessert.

The appetizers at Spring Garden’s Cafe do not look too appetizing, a bit too simple. However, they have some exciting choices for the main course including Seafood Thermidor, Lobster Primavera, Chicken Caprese and more. A warm Bread Pudding with Ice Cream for dessert is usually satisfactory as well.

Ochi here comes SuGa Lifestyle!

Remember you can visit http://www.go-jamaica.com/rw/ for more information.

* Prices of each category includes 1 choice of Appetizer, Main Course and Dessert. Beverages, GCT and Gratuity are additional.

Where to go for RWJ in Montego Bay for Savoury ($2800JMD*) !

Pelican Grill and Seahorse Grill look like the places to go SuGa Readers!

Pelican Grill’s RWJ menu certainly has some stand outs with Jerk Shrimp Spring rolls, Surf and Turf (Grilled Fillet Steak paired with Lobster Thermidor) and some seemingly yummy desserts. The fact that Pelican Grill is even in this category is a good deal.

Seahorse Grill at the MoBay Yacht Club will have a lovely choice of appetizers including Buffalo wings, Pita and Hummus dip and Smoked Blue Marlin on toast. For their main course, the Shrimp dish and Rocky Point Conch look like they will be divine. Then the Sweet Potato Coconut Pecan Pie served hot over rum/raisin Ice Cream ….yassss!

Hit up http://go-jamaica.com/rw/ for more info.

* Price of each category includes one choice of Appetizer, Main Course & Dessert. Beverages, GCT and Gratuity are additional.

 

Hamburgers and Milkshakes from Fuddruckers, Annapolis DC!

I took take out from one of the chain restaurants in the states, Fuddruckers a few weeks ago. They specialise in exotic burgers such as Buffalo, Elk and Wild Boar. They give persons the option to just have regular Beef or Chicken burgers as well. I had the Buffalo burger with pepper jack cheese, mushrooms and onions. But when I got there for pick up, I realised you could build your own burger by the market fresh produce bar, adding any topping you desired. So I went for more.

Looking on it I felt like I would put on 10 pounds, but the burger meats from Fuddruckers are usually lean since it’s all-natural, grass and grain fed, 100% hormone and antibiotic free. The exotic burgers are also served on a 3g fiber filled wheat bun. The fatty part is their irresistible Oreo Milkshake that was thick, creamy and super delicious. If ever in need of a good, fatty cheat day Milkshake, go get it at Fuddruckers.