Milestone Bar and Grill had a launch party for their Opening last Friday, September 29 in Runaway Bay!
They are located close to Sharkies Seafood Restaurant on the opposite side of the road. The building is so big, you cannot miss it.
I stopped by last Sunday. I love the large, open space overlooking the sea across the road. It seems suitable for cosy dining and hosting events. Although it’s in Runaway Bay and not in a busier town such as Ocho Rios, it can serve as a great chill spot in between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay once they are fully up and running.
They were closed when I stopped by, but still offered to cook up some Fish or Chicken since the Chef was there. I decided not to pressure them, but Suga will return soon!
The doors are Open at Milestone Bar and Grill, Runaway Bay
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Angela Davis, familiarly known as The Kitchenista presented by DC Events, in partnership with Diplomatic Enterprises LLC, will be hosting another Sunday Dinner this October 15 in DC!
It will be bigger this time around, accommodating more people. Tickets are available now for this fall-inspired Family style meal.
Last time I checked, there were only 2 VIP tickets left and general admission tickets were going fast. So check The Kitchenista’s website and reserve your seat at a table today!
Until then, reminisce vicariously through these images from The Kitchenista’s Christmas in July dinner.
Have you been attending a lot of Wedding Expos, making a lot of phone calls for advice and quotes lately and/or having various consultations with Wedding Vendors in preparation for your Big Day? If so, this Wedding Promotion is for you.
When you feel the pressure of planning a Wedding, GCG Events Jamaica takes many items off your to-do list and makes them seem hassle-free. Suga had this experience with GCG catering for her Wedding. We all know my demands would be specific and expectations would have been high and they delivered flawlessly last April 2016. Kudos to GCG!
GCG not only caters for Weddings but for Corporate and Social events as well. For the complete package that they offer, for instance if you also require their Bar Services, they provide all the necessary glassware, ice, flatware, cutlery, disposables and service staff for an unbeatable price. Not to mention that they come fully equipped with their cooling trucks, electricity and more.
When booking with GCG, it is likely that you would communicate with Jasmin Ramsay or Cheridah Douglas who are the epitome of quick, efficient communication, quality service and the ability to deduce the needs of their customers, often without even having to ask.
The Chefs and Waiting Staff are personable, pleasant and conduct live cooking stations with delicious dishes. I highly recommend their Carving station. They do a tender, fresh, succulent Beef Tenderloin cut to perfection.
GCG Event’s Beef Tenderloin
They also do a scrumptious Cheesecake and the list goes on. I haven’t had a disappointing dish from them to date.
GCG Events’ Cheesecake
GCG usually makes the effort to have their Presentation suit your theme as well. Check out this Presentation to go with a Rustic theme:
Do you want the Catering and Bar service at your Wedding to be Simply Outstanding?
Enter GCG Events Jamaica’s “The Day We Met” Wedding Promotion for the chance to be one of three lucky couples to win Simply Outstanding Savings for your Jamaican Wedding!
They will be teaming up with other reputable Wedding Vendors, offering discounts for Music and Equipment, Photography, Decor and Wedding Planning Services.
***Conditions apply. So see the Prize Details, Rules and Requirements to enter the Wedding Promotion below:
PRIZE PACKAGE:
â— 35%- 45% off GCG Events’ Wedding Catering Package
â— 30% off Music and Equipment from Blaktie Entertainment Jamaica (@blaktiejamaica)
â— 20% off Sean Murray Photography’s Photography Package (@seanmurrayphotography)
â— 25% off Taylor’d Events’ Decor Package (@Taylord.events)
â— 30% off Concierge Jamaica’s Wedding Planning Services (@conciergejm)
***CONDITIONS APPLY!***
1. The Competition will run from August 28th – October 31st, 2017Â on both Facebook & Instagram, and is open to couples planning on getting married in Jamaica between November 2017 and June 2018 whose minimum guest count is eighty (80).
2. Weddings already booked with GCG Events prior to August 28, 2017 do not qualify for entry.Â
3. Top three couples whose post has the most likes win! So there isn’t just 1 winner!
4. Entries close October 31, 2017. Winners will be announced on November 2, 2017!
HOW TO ENTER:
1. Post a video on your FB or IG page telling us how you met, the proposed date & venue of your Wedding, your ideal Wedding concept & menu preferences.
2. Be sure to include the following hashtags – #gcgeventswedding #simplyoutstanding #winningwedding
3. Tag: @gcg_events, @blaktiejamaica, @conciergejm, @Taylord.events, and @seanmurrayphotography
4. Share your post with friends! Most likes wins!
*** GCG Events Jamaica reserves the right not to accept or to disqualify any entries if any of the above terms & conditions are not followed correctly***
Let GCG make your Wedding Simply Outstanding! #SugaEndorsed
GCG Events
Location: Norman Manley Int’l Airport. Kingston, Jamaica
Ph: (876) 924-8364
Website:Â http://www.gcg-events.com
Facebook: GCG Events
Instagram: @gcg_events
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Oven Roasted Plantains stuffed with Black Beans, Pepper Jack Cheese and Cilantro Sauce
This is a smart, tasty and spicy idea for a Meatless Monday! Awesome way to switch things up for the Vegetarian diet. Note that the Black Beans provide additional fiber.
To go completely healthy, you can substitute the Pepper Jack Cheese with Borden’s Fat-Free Pepper Jack Cheese that can be found at Wal-Mart or with another spicy, flavourful Fat-Free Cheese of your choice based on availability.
Check out The Kitchenista’s blog for the full Recipe!
Believe it! I cannot begin to imagine how magical this Sweet and Savoury event should be. My heart started racing instantly when I saw the promotion.
Stush in the Bush and Simo’s Bread and Catering have joined forces for a Bottomless Mimosa Brunch on Sunday, October 8th in Duncans, Trelawny by Silver Sands.
Bookings are under www.stushinthebush.com/visit and fabulous vendors such as Reve Jewellery, Story & Myth, Deaf Can Coffee and more will be joining them.
This event is not one to miss!
Suga’s Flashback to Stush in the Bush’s Moonlight and Simo’s Bread and Catering and Miel-Meel’s Bottomless Mimosa Brunch a.k.a Heaven on Earth
Early Bird Tickets cost $75USD till tomorrow! Get your tickets now!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
If you liked this Promo, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
Suga visited Hajarie last Saturday for Lunch at about 3:30pm. Hajarie has been open for about a month now at what I would like to call the Phoenix Avenue Complex of Eateries. Hajarie is not entirely new, but they have expanded their repertoire. They are familiarly known as The Teapot that used to be located in Sovereign Centre. A Suga Bear used to go there frequently for their refreshing Teas.
Persons have the option of comfortable indoor or outdoor dining with a scenic garden view.
We were seated instantly by our pleasant, professional waitress. I observed two groups of content and comfortable diners that included a Birthday celebration. A new place pleasing big groups was a good sign already.
I appreciated the well-tailored Menu. It offered suitable variety without overwhelming options.
My husband, Randy and I started off with the Soup of the Day ($400JMD) that was a Pepper Pot Soup. It was rich in taste with the expected level of spicy.
Our dishes came out like clockwork with a little time to talk in between. Just how I like it. We had the appetizing Smoked Herring Salsa ($650JMD) that complemented our preferred side of Eggplant Chips well. The Olive wood and mother of pearl plates were a fine touch.
Smoked Herring tossed with a fresh combination of tomato, cucumber, scotch bonnet pepper served with biscuits or preferred side option ($650)
My Avocado and Chickpea Wrap with added Chicken was perfection even though they didn’t have whole wheat tortillas. The Wrap was a sweet combination of grilled plantains, balsamic marinated cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado and chickpea.
Avocado Chickpea – wrapped ($900JMD) with added Chicken ($400JMD).
Hajarie serves Wine by the Bottle only. We opted to have their refreshing White Berry and Lemon Mint Iced Teas ($400JMD each). Ginger Honey was the other option.
We didn’t have Dessert, but their Brazilian Banana Cake is highly recommended by local Chef Anthony Fleming and I need to be there the next time they bake the Apple Cinnamon Torte!
So one can eat healthy, unhealthy or a little bit of both at Hajarie.
Suga waited a month to visit Jamaica’s 1st and only Vietnamese Restaurant located in Manor Centre.
Coincidentally, I went two Saturdays ago, which happened to be the Saturday following its marketing publication on Thursday, August 24 in one of our local papers, The Jamaica Observer.
It was a bad day. Positives? All their dishes such as Spring Rolls, Rice, Vegetable, Beef and Chicken dishes, Soups, Salads, Sandwiches and Dessert cost less than $800JMD. So, I was only impressed with their reasonable prices and modern decor. Apparently I wasn’t the only one. I was approached by two young ladies after I left, who asked my opinion of the experience and expressed their dissatisfaction.
I found the contrast of views to be interesting between them as foodies, and a member of the Chaine des Rôtisseurs (International Association of Gastronomy, IAG) who also dined there that day. The ladies believed that, since they are just opening everything should be on point, versus the IAG member who was quick to opine that you cannot judge an establishment within their first month of opening.
I agree with both views, but not entirely. I know of Restaurants that have gotten it right within the 1st month of opening. Nirvanna Indian Fusion Cuisine, Great Escape – Runaway Bay, Jamaica Liquor Warehouse Deli, Cellar 8 and Hard Rock Cafe – Montego Bay are some of those Restaurants, just to name a few.
Since it can be done, what excuses do the Restaurants that don’t get it right have? When is it suitable not to judge and to tolerate teething pains?
It is suitable to tolerate teething pains when the owners are willing to seek general feedback via all mediums whether face to face, over the telephone or via direct messaging. Also, when the owners are willing to have respectful, balanced discussions with dissatisfied diners and are inclined to accept honest, negative feedback and suggestions so that they can prepare themselves with solutions to turn things around as quickly as possible.
Vi Nguyen, one of the founders for 4U Vietnam Restaurant spoke with Suga, and is excited about bringing something new to the Jamaican market and would like to guide her staff to do their best to improve the Restaurant everyday.
Obstacles and Outlooks
â— Lack of Owners’/Managerial Presence
It is critical for an owner to oversee their Restaurant for at least the first 3 months after opening, put in the marketing and stress test the Restaurant. Nguyen, who does not live here and has a different career overseas, got a taste of Jamaican reality. It was a reality check in terms of how long things can take to get going in Jamaica because of various regulations and just how slow the overall process is to open an establishment compared to the USA and Vietnam. It definitely surpassed her time here of 4 months, so she had to leave shortly after the opening to return to work.
There was also unexpected difficulty in getting visas for overseas staff members, which include another Chef and Manager.
She will return to Jamaica in about a week and four other members of staff from overseas, with experience in Vietnamese cuisine should be arriving in November.
â— Overwhelmed staff members leading to an increased shortage of staff
After my visit, where they were one server short, a new server was trained and employed to replace the previous server.
â— Shortage of Ingredients, thus lack of authenticity compared to Vietnamese Restaurants overseas, a limited menu and being unable to offer certain options at a late time on a busy day
A huge shipment of ingredients and supplies is on its way. There is a consideration to eventually buy land here and grow various ingredients such as lemon grass as well.
Why is lemon grass short in Jamaica? Despite the global demand for lemon grass essential oil and the relative ease with which the plant grows in Jamaica, it is not produced commercially.(Jamaica Observer, May 20, 2012)
***Note that one of my brothers’ favourite cuisine in the States is Vietnamese, so I had no choice but to experience it several times and I enjoyed it. Clean, healthy and fresh eating with kicks of herbal flavour. I am looking forward to having this plan realised.
â— Will they take the risk of Participating in Restaurant Week this November?
Yes, but they will only be doing the Lunch Special, which is the most manageable option.
It was a pleasure speaking with Vi Nguyen. It was refreshing to hear how genuinely passionate and eager she is about her plans to improve the Restaurant. I hope they overcome the various setbacks by December and persevere, as I think there is a lot of potential for the Restaurant to improve and possibly grow into a franchise here in Jamaica.
Good luck to Vi Nguyen and the team. Suga will visit again.
