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TGIF! Cellar 8 has Revived their Menu!

Suga and a friend visited Cellar 8 in Manor Park two Saturdays ago for GNO talk over dinner.

I arrived a few minutes before her at 6:15pm and their Mixologist, one of my faves, Milton greeted and seated me. He was his usual courteous self and started me off with my cue of Johnny Walker. He then took the time out to make me aware of various changes to their menu. He made me want to try everything! He also told me that he will have a Johnny Walker Mojito in the mix for me soon.

New Appetizers

There are now Pork Belly Tacos ($1400JMD) and Shrimp Tacos ($1400JMD). A nice addition to their Signature Oxtail Tacos that we love.

They have added a Charcuterie Plate ($2200JMD) for sharing that is great for a group with a few glasses of vino.

In addition to their tasty Crab dip, they now have Bacon & Cheddar, Spinach & Cheese and Artichoke Dips for $1500JMD.

My friend had their new delightful and flavourful, Seafood Bisque.

I had the spiced and breaded fresh Calamari with Chilli sauce ($1400JMD). For those who love pepper, it was tasty and quite spicy!

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Spiced & breaded fresh Calamari with Chilli sauce ($1400JMD)

New Salads, Pizza, Sides

They now have a Lobster Salad. You would have to ask your server for availability and price.

There is a Going Green Pizza ($1400JMD) with spinach, red onion, cranberry, tomatoes, bell pepper and roasted garlic that sounds both healthy and savoury.

Spiced fresh Quinoa and more have been added to their Side Order offers ($500JMD).

New Entrees

I am happy that they have replaced the Basa with the Catch of the Day Grilled or Blackened with the Chef’s special spices ($1850JMD).

There is a Surf and Turf ($3500JMD) Filet Mignon and Grilled Shrimp, Pork Tenderloin ($2400JMD), Fire Grilled Flank Steak ($2200JMD) and more!

I had an old favourite, the Herb Crusted Grilled New Zealand Lamb Chops ($2400JMD). I was asked how I liked it and got how I liked it. It was tender, juicy and medium rare. Delish.

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Herb Crusted Grilled New Zealand Lamb Chops ($2400JMD)

My friend is expecting and was settled with the Soup, but of course disappointed that she could not have alcoholic drinks. Milton took care of her and whipped up a refreshing Peach Cocktail that she enjoyed.

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Dr. Rachelle Shirley Walcott about to enjoy her Peach Cocktail by Cellar 8’s Mixologist, Milton Wisdom

All prices quoted have an additional G.C.T and 5% service charge, that is increased for groups of 10 or more. So Cellar 8 is indeed pricey but delivers with great food and consistently, excellent service.

When it gets late and more people arrive, the tables are a bit too close for comfort though. Conversations of course get louder with drinks and depending on where you are sitting, getting out of your seat may be a bit of a challenge. They have started to seat persons outside but I believe they should cut off once inside is full. Persons have expressed not feeling comfortable or safe dining or having drinks beside the ATM machine with their belongings exposed.

Suga encourages you to still visit Cellar 8, a spectacular weekend spot but ensure that you call and book your table prior to going.

Enjoy the Weekend!

Cellar 8 Wine Bar

Location: Shop 10, Upper Manor Park Plaza

Ph: 876-613-5934

Opening Hours: Tuesdays-Sundays, 4pm-11pm

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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Tina’s Healthy Recipe to Dress up Your Breakfast Toast!

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Photo and Recipe By Tina Davis

Ingredients/Method:

Whole Wheat Toast (1 slice)

Simos Bread and Catering’s Basil Pesto

***Although made with healthy Olive oil, you want to be cautious of staying within your healthy fats limit for the day, so just use a few smears, a bit lighter than the illustration above (Daily essential nutrients: Carbs -55%, Proteins -27%, Healthy Fats -18%)

7-minute Boiled Egg (One)

Sprinkles of Grated Parmesan

***Healthy choice of cheese

Sprinkles of Fresh Parsley

Sprinkles of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

Dash of Cracked Pepper

Dash of Green Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce

____________________________________________

Tina loves to bake, cook and EAT from Montego Bay, Jamaica!

For more delicious and innovative goodies like this from Tina Davis, follow or visit her Tumblr Page, sweetteeskitchen.tumblr.com/

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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Jamaican Cuisine at Tulips Restaurant

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Sunday before last, Suga got out of cooking and took her husband to the Tulips Restaurant at Eden Gardens for Sunday dinner.

It had a quiet, comfortable atmosphere and televisions for entertainment.

Our waiter was extremely courteous and took our order at 7:40pm. He wanted to get our order in before a big group upstairs at the Black Orchid Restautant, which seems to share the same kitchen. We were the only diners at Tulips so that is worrying if they have more diners or a full house.

The Black Orchid Restaurant upstairs is fine dining with white glove service so even more pricey, while Tulips is casual dining with mainly Jamaican cuisine.

We had ordered the Oxtail & Beans with a side of baked potato and steamed vegetables and had a standard 20-minute wait.

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Oxtail & Beans ($2429JMD incl. tx)

The Oxtail & Beans was expensive but we were given quite a healthy serving. It had too much oil in the gravy but it was still tasty and flavourful.

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Sweet Potato Pudding

The Sweet Potato Pudding for dessert was delish.

For such a simple Restaurant I think they are too pricey.

They are open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. So if you are not watching the pocket too much and in the mood for some tasty, home cooking and would like to eat out in a low key atmosphere, give Tulips Restaurant at Eden Gardens a try.

Tulips Restaurant

Location: Eden Gardens Wellness Resort & Spa @ 39 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston

Ph: 876-946-9977

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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What did you have for Sunday Dinner?

Olive Garden has a new Mediterranean Menu and their Shrimp Scampi sure looks good. It seems as of they are still buzzing with tasty Italian cuisine and more.

Have a great week!

Photo: @love_food (Instagram)

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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Reasonable & Healthy Lunch Option near Dunrobin!

Chinese Roasted Chicken Lunch + sides and veggies – $400JMD

Directly across from Dunrobin Plaza, you can get a tasty and healthy Lunch for just $400JMD at Gym’s Kitchen.

They offer a range of options including Whole Wheat Pasta that is hard to find at Restaurants, Broccoli, Kale, Lentils and Beans, Baked and Grilled Chicken, an abundance of Sweet Potato and more.

Quick service and properly portioned lunches. #Sugaendorsed

Check them out! They are on Facebook as @GymsKitchenja and on Instagram as @gymskitchen_ja. They deliver too.

Gym’s Kitchen

Location: 35 Dunrobin Ave. Kingston 10

Ph: 876-882-0932; 876-319-3587

Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday, 6am-10pm

Delivery Hours: 10:30am-3pm

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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Suga Bears Visit Simma Soupery & Bakery

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Photo Credit: Randy Burgess

Suga Bears visited the Simma Soupery & Bakery last Saturday afternoon and had an average experience.

Simma Soupery & Bakery is a take-out only Restaurant and my Suga Bears found their service quite efficient when they were having lunch on the go.

They ordered Sandwiches and Soup. They enjoyed the tasty Chicken with pumpkin and vegetable Soup but found the Sandwiches (Pimento Beef Sandwich -$650JMD; Coconut Chicken Sandwich) to be lacking condiments, especially for their price. So they did not think they got value for money but it was a convenient stop to get food quickly.

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Pimento Beef Sandwich ($650JMD incl. tx) – Photo Credit: Randy Burgess
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Photo Credit: Randy Burgess

Simma Soupery & Bakery

Location: 157 Old Hope Road, Welcome Plaza. Shop #1. Liguanea

Ph: 876-649-7246

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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How was the New Fromage Brasserie in Market Place for Suga?! – Part 2

Suga returned to Fromage Brasserie that opened recently in the Market Place for dinner with hubby two Saturdays ago at 8pm. I hoped to have better quality food after being disappointed with the first visit.

If you would like to refresh your memory with the experience of my first visit, click here:

How was the New Fromage Brasserie in Market Place for Suga?! – Part 1

It was night time and diners were out. The Restaurant was full and we had no reservations so had no problem with being seated in the Courtyard. The hostess was quite pleasant and accommodating and it was refreshing to see such bubbly, courteous staff compared to the last visit.

We skipped appetizers and went straight for the main and ordered at 8:15pm. I appreciated the waitress coming to inform us that they were plating at 8:35pm, the point at which we would be expecting the food to arrive. The food came out literally 2 minutes later as promised.

My husband had the Crab Stuffed Chicken ($2400JMD) with a side of Rustic Parmesan Potatoes ($700JMD) that we could share. We weren’t sure of the serving size of the entrée but we realised a side order was not totally necessary.

The Chicken was tasty but did not ignite the taste buds.

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Crab Stuffed Chicken – Roasted Chicken Breast stuffed with Local Blue Crab ($2400JMD)

I had the Land & Sea that consisted of Beef Fillet topped off with Shrimp and Crab in a rich Béamaise sauce. I had reservations when it arrived though because after ordering, I realised the waitress made a fundamental error. She did not ask how I would like my Beef prepared. The Courtyard was full and buzzing and we weren’t exactly close to the Restaurant so I was not going to go out of my way to make the request. I ensured I pointed it out to her though and she apologised genuinely and profusely.

The Beef arrived well done, so was not as enjoyable as I would have like it to be. The Béamaise sauce was rich indeed though. It added a spicy touch to the Shrimp and Crab and also complemented the Beef well.

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Land & Sea – Beef Fillet topped with Shrimp & Crab in a Rich Béamaise sauce ($3600JMD)

The quality of food was better this time around, but different types of dishes were chosen. At the end of the day with a full tab plus G.C.T and Service charge, I think the items are too pricey for the mediocre standard of food you are getting despite the Restaurant being at a bigger and better location. I have to revisit Fromage Gourmet Market on Hillcrest but if memory serves me correctly, the quality of food was much better there and I know for a fact the prices for some of the same dishes were much less. So for now, I will stick with the original Fromage.

Fromage Brasserie

Location: Market Place- 67 Constant Spring Road. Kingston.

Ph: 876-649-0820-1

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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‘Gastronomic Experience’ from Iberostar Chef on Tour, Emma Bengtsson

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Cured Salmon [Photo Credit – Tina Davis]
Iberostar Chef on Tour had Suga Bear, Tina Davis raving over what Chef Emma Bengtsson had to offer last weekend.

Chef Emma Bengtsson, a native of Sweden is the Executive Chef of Aquavit, a 2-Michelin star Scandinavian Restaurant in Manhattan, New York.

Aquavit was established in 1987 and continues to impress and be popular with New Yorkers and travellers from around the world two decades later.

Aquavit was also the first Restaurant in New York to have both a casual Bistro and Fine dining, i.e. house 2 Restaurant concepts under 1 roof.

Chef Emma Bengtsson was made Executive Chef in Spring 2014 and her talent, experience and fresh perspective earned Aquavit its 2nd Michelin Star in 2015. So Chef Bengtsson is now the 2nd female in the US and 1st Swedish female to run a kitchen with 2 Michelin stars.

She displayed her talents, ‘bringing a gastronomic experience to Montego Bay’ according to Suga Bear, Tina Davis over the weekend at the Iberostar Grand Suites Hotel.

Tina was amazed by every course, but seemed to enjoy the Cured Salmon the most. Chef Bengtsson even added a Jamaican course that was much appreciated, consisting of Sorrel stuffed with Ackee, roasted Ackee and seared Scallop. Tina was surprised the Ackee and Sorrel complemented each other well.

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The Menu [Photo Credit: Tina Davis]
Thanks for visiting Jamaica Chef Bengtsson and Suga is looking forward to visiting Aquavit in NYC!

Aquavit

65 East 55th Street

Manhattan, New York

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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#fbf to Suga’s Bread Pudding from 100!

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Bread Pudding ($1000JMD)

Suga surely enjoyed her Ash Wednesday treat from 100. The Bread Pudding did not arrive as advertised, with most of the crumble missing from the top, but it was quite warm, soft, delicious and moist, just the way I like it.

I give up on trying to find one better than that of Fromage now, as their sweet, nutty crumble on top with caramel and more is unbeatable. However, I definitely endorse the Bread Pudding from 100 and put it 2nd in line.

Appreciated the great service from my waitress on the Terrace as well!

100

Location: 100 Hope Road. Kingston 6
Ph: 876.665-3BET (3238)
Instagram: 100hoperoad
Facebook: 100 Hope Road

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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Where to Escape this Ash Wednesday!

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Would you like to eat delicious food with that spectacular view and good service?

Blue Ridge Restaurant and Cottages will be open today!

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Blue Ridge Restaurant and Cottages
Location: Salt Hill Lot 9 East Rural, St. Andrew, Blue Mountain
Ph: 562-7580
***Reservations recommended***

By: Gabrielle Burgess
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