Fairly new from welcoming first guests last year and published earlier this year by The Jamaica Observer, we learnt that US civil rights attorney, Dana Kurtz opened Blue Skies Beach Resort (Ig: @blueskiesbeachresort) and realised her dream. This led to her also driving the dreams of aspiring Jamaican Chefs.
I can appreciate the old authenticity of shacks and huts on Negril beach, but appreciate modernizing it even more. Negril is one of the top tourist destinations in the world and we should move with the times and strive to keep it as such.
If strolling on Negril’s 7 mile beach, you cannot miss the Blue Skies Beach Resort. Bright blue and new furnishings on its wooden sea deck with not one, but 2 bars and blazing music. They also advertised having the best Coffee on the beach, but we were on a Rum run.
Fast forward to night time, we approached from Norman Manley Boulevard where they have a bit of construction happening for greater things to come. There was a Baby Shower happening on the top deck, but we were still able to get suitable parking.
With the event happening, more staff should have been on deck (literally) that night, but Chef Sanika Clarke picked up double duty and greeted us like guests to her own home. She took our order and still attended to us even when our server, Veronica introduced herself to us mid-service. Veronica was quite hospitable as well.
Blue Skies Beach Resort focuses on Jamaican cuisine, but had International and Italian options as well. We enjoyed the enhanced flavours of each dish by local herbs, spices and fresh farm veggies, topped off by freshly made, scrumptious dessert made by Chef Sanika herself.
ðŸ´Spicy Crayfish soup (spicy and tasty!)ðŸ´Chicken soup (tasty!)
ðŸ´Fried Farm Fresh Okra (delish!)
ðŸ´Roasted Conch (yum, nom nom!)ðŸ´Oxtail (a bit too heavy on the spices & herbs, but still tasty)ðŸ´Bread Pudding (the Rum Caramel sauce was 🔥)ðŸ´Key Lime Pie (Perfection👌ðŸ¾ðŸ‘ðŸ¾)
Blue Skies Beach Resort is definitely #SugaEndorsed.
Blue Skies Beach Resort
Location: Norman Manley Boulevard, Negril, Jamaica
Ph: 876-882-4500
Instagram: @blueskiesbeachresort
By: Gabrielle Burgess (Founder/Owner, Suga Lifestyle)
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Suga dining seaside by Indies 957 at White Sands Negril last Saturday, June 11, 2022.
It just took a walk on Negril beach to find some fairly new spots with good, Jamaican food.
Indies957 at White Sands Negril (Ig:@whitesandsnegril) is the spot for Oxtail!
Control yourself with portions and save space for dinner😀
Oxtail with rice and peas and raw veggies.
The right balance in seasoning, but also a good cut of Oxtail! Tender to the bone. Cut and slide 👌ðŸ¾
Indies 957 is a neat spot for Lunch with a view of the Caribbean sea from up top and courteous, down to earth staff.
You can check out Indies 957 at White Sands Negril for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner. #SugaEndorsed
By: Gabrielle Burgess (Founder/Owner, Suga Lifestyle)
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Cafe Etal, one of the additions to the fairly new Knutsord Express Terminal Building in Drax Hall, Ocho Rios is not only a convenient stop, but a comfy stop.
Location: Knutsford Express Terminal Building, Drax Hall, Ocho Rios. St. Ann. Jamaica
Ph: 876-972-6455; Whatsapp 876-315-8461
Instagram: @cafe.etal
By: Gabrielle Burgess (Founder/Owner, Suga Lifestyle)
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Suga at Bayside Restaurant at Couples Tower Isle, St. Mary, Jamaica during Easter Weekend 2022
Eight Rivers! We’re back again and will keep returning. Superb service from Shenara last Easter weekend. Eight Rivers took us through a fine dining experience with Sorbet palate cleansers in between courses.
Everything was perfection, except for dessert, but no complaints here.
Watch “Cheers to Fine Dining at Couples Tower Isle!” on YouTube here:
We started off with a Seafood Tasting, Coconut & Herb Crusted Crab Cakes, Jerk rubbed Beef Carpaccio with pickled Beets, crumbled feta and more, hand poured Thyme roasted Shrimp Bisque with Sherry, followed up by a succulent cut of Cracked Black Pepper Crusted Beef Fillet Mignon and then dessert!
Another night we headed over to Bayside! Authentic Asian cuisine at its best and spiciest!
We were introduced to Bayside with a tasting platter of Thai fried Butterfly Shrimps, Garlic & Honey Chicken Skewers, Spring and Summer Rolls and Korean Cabbage Cakes accentuated by amazing dipping sauces – peanut, sweet chili and sriracha honey!
Then what better starter than the flavour that defines Thailand! Thai Tom Yam Goong Hot and Sour Soup with Shrimp, Chicken and Veggies. Yum! We also had the tasty Indonesian Rice Noodle Salad.
We tried almost everything from Thai Green Curry Beef, Manchurian Chicken, Chinese stir-fry Shrimps to Red Curry Pan-seared Snapper Fillet. Thick, rich, spicy, authentic curries paired well with the fresh seafood and meats and veggies to cool off the tastebuds.
Then the night was complete with tasty Coconut Cake made with a Green Tea Custard and candied orange sauce! Fantastic experience for Couples. As quoted in the Eight Rivers menu, ‘There is no sincerer love than the love of food – George Bernard Shaw’
Gabby and Randy Burgess, Owners of Suga Lifestyle at Couples Tower Isle, St. Mary, Jamaica
By: Gabrielle Burgess (Founder/Owner, Suga Lifestyle)
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By: Gabrielle Burgess (Founder/Owner, Suga Lifestyle)
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We visited Ciao Bella Art Cafe(Ig: @ciaobellaartcafe) on Easter Sunday in Taj Mahal Plaza, Ocho Rios, where my beloved Mama Marley’s used to be.
The service was up to par, the staff were pleasant and we enjoyed our Italian staples of choice, Bruschetta, Pizza & Pasta in their cosy ambience.
Puttanesca from Ciao Bella Art Cafe
The Pizza lacked a bit of authenticity for me though. I prefer Pizza from a Wood Fire oven and the use of more fresh garlic and herbs for flavour.
Delightful experience with more than satisfactory servings nonetheless. Value for money.
🇮🇹Fresh Mushroom & Goat Cheese Bruschetta + 24 Karat Global Beer 🇮🇹Proscuitto Pizza (medium) with cured Italian Ham, Arugula, Mozzarella & Marinara sauce + Da Luca Prosecco 🇮🇹Puttanesca with house made Marinara sauce, anchovies, olives, capers and parsley
Did you know?! 👀
Puttanesca is an easy sauce, briefly cooked, very fragrant & spicy. Puttanesca translates as “in the style of the whore.â€Â The name derives from the Italian word ‘puttana’, which means whore. Google this odd sauce history!
Ciao Bella Art Cafe
Location: Taj Mahal Plaza, Ocho Rios. Jamaica
Ph: 876.974.3733; 876.463.9998
Instagram: @ciaobellaartcafe
By: Gabrielle Burgess (Founder/Owner, Suga Lifestyle)
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Pot a boil! You like yours with Pig’s Tail too? I do!
FEATURED: Ig: @jabbaspeppaswims(Ph: 876.376.9347)
If you’re treating yourself to some juicy Stew Peas today, where you gonna get it?! Igs @jabbaspeppaswims, @jangas.soundbar, @soniashomestylecooking, @jenskitchenja, @karparkcarwashandbar,YuModdaPot BIG UP YUSELF!
Drop your favourite spot for Stew Peas in the comments Suga Fam.
Have a great Day!
By: Gabrielle Burgess (Founder/Owner, Suga Lifestyle)
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Feeling peckish after the Coffee Festival a few weeks ago on Saturday, April 2, hubby and I finally got to check out Epican Tapas Lounge (Ig: @epicantapas) at The Marketplace (Ig: @themarketplaceja) on Constant Spring Road.
I was disappointed they didn’t have Steak or Lobster Tapas, but opted for Fish Tacos instead.
ðŸ´Flat Bread topped with Chicken & Bell Peppers (I had my quota of dairy for the day, so had it without their cheddar, mozzarella & pepperjack cheese combo)
ðŸ´Herb & Garlic Roasted Chicken with house special gravy, creamy mash & sauteed fresh snap beans.
ðŸ´Fish Tacos
ðŸ¹Mojito
Chill spot for a picker upper.
Epican Tapas Lounge
Location: 67 Constant Spring Road. The Marketplace. Kingston. Jamaica
Ph: 876–672-7262
Instagram: @epicantapas
*Reservations Recommended; Open Everyday, 4 PM*
By: Gabrielle Burgess (Founder/Owner, Suga Lifestyle)
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As we transition fully to outside and face to face especially post long holiday weekend, many of us may be TIRED. But alas, a new weekend approaches quickly and so does the opportunity to visit a new restaurant!
As a part of the Nirvanna trilogy which began on Lady Musgrave road in 2015, we now have Nirvanna Global in Progressive Plaza, Barbican!
I would place Nirvanna in the middle of the trilogy, considering Nirvanna Indian more formal and Masala Wok, casual. However, in terms of the range offered on the menu for international cuisine, it is not comparable to the others.
Reasonable prices, comfortable dining and a relaxed bar setting with ‘Chin’ the Bartender (who is not Chinise fyi) serving up quality drinks by a large tv with the NBA Playoffs is a vibe.
Anyhow, check out what we enjoyed, cooked exactly as we ordered from our on point server, Vish.
ðŸ´Jerk Spiced Calamari with spicy guacamole
ðŸ´Classic Onion Rings with sriracha sour cream dip
ðŸ´Lemon Grilled Salmon with citrus marinade, basmati rice, seasonal salad
ðŸ´Shrimp Pesto Fettuccine with mushrooms
👌ðŸ¾Happy to see the high standard maintained across the trilogy.
Visit Nirvanna Global (Ig: @nirvannaglobalja)! The menu is posted on their Instagram page highlights. #SugaEndorsed
*Closed on Mondays* *Open at 12 noon; Kitchen closes at 9:30pm*
By: Gabrielle Burgess (Founder/Owner, Suga Lifestyle)
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When Mystic Thai comes to Kingston, foodies unite! (L-R) Le Cordon Bleu Paris Graduate & Blogger, Craig Fleming, Blogger, Vanessa Lalasingh, Owners of Suga Lifestyle, Gabrielle and Randy Burgess with Suga Taster, Ashleigh Arnold.
Last Saturday at Jamaica Food + Drink Kitchen (Ig: @jafoodanddrinkkitchen), a bit over 30 guests had the pleasure of experiencing a Night in Thailand with Mystic Thai (Ig: @mystic_thai_jamaica) coming in from Montego Bay, Select Brands (Ig: @selectbrandsja) and Debra Taylor-Smith a.k.a Wine Lady Debra (Ig: @wineladydebra).
In the mean time, we had the delight of being taken through 7 courses with the most interesting, some shocking, but tantalizing pairings presented by Wine Lady Debra of Select Brands.
Let Suga take you through!
The Beefeater Gin Cocktail was a bold welcome, tempered by Lemongrass that got guests buzzing, catching up after not seeing each other for a little while, then eventually seated with anticipation for what the rest of the evening had to offer.
Then BOOM came an unexpected shot of Stone’s Ginger Wine topped with Torresella Prosecco paired with Tom Kha Soup! A Ginger Mimosa Shot that got us off to a fast, but great start. The rich, creamy coconut flavour of the Soup was amazing by the way.
One of my faves, the Kung Fu Girl Riesling followed to pair with the Mystic Dragon Roll, where its flavours were even more enhanced by a homemade pepper sauce that was offered. It took a little while for Kung Fu Girl to grow on those who were just introduced, as she is on the dry side, but hints of citrus and white peach perhaps made them appreciate her more as they sipped in between bites.
Truffle Infused Pad Thai Chicken paired with a California Cline Gewurtztraminer definitely spiced up the night again! Pun intended. Wow. I enjoyed that pairing thoroughly.
The highlight if the night for me then arrived.
GREEN CURRY SALMON with Hahn PINOT NOIR…What?! “Life is too short”, said Wine Lady Debra. It is indeed. Naturally a Creamy or Lemon Sauce, or even a Salsa topping on Salmon would pair well with a Traditional White Wine, but I applaud this chance taken. It was a HIT for ME. BRAVO…YOLO.
Crispy Sesame Lamb paired with a Malbec followed. It was tasty, but the small cuts of Lamb were unfortunately overwhelmed by the sauce and crispy texture.
Before we knew it, it was Dessert time! Oh but a bit of an anti-climax for me and my Suga Tasters who have recently traveled to Thailand. They’ve been spoiled by a wide selection of Sticky Rice Puddings, Fried Bananas, Coconut Puddings and other authentic Thai Desserts. Alas, we were served Chocolate Mousse. Owner, Kareena Mahbubani was surprised to know we would have been open to having her Sticky Banana Pudding. Of course, bring it on next time.
Wine Lady Debra did not skip a beat though! The Cocktail paired with the dessert literally fired things up again. An El Dorado Rum Cream Slide with smoky Cinnamon sticks! Delicious! Awesome finale.
Wine Lady Debra in action, assisting to pour the last Cocktail of the night.Wine Lady Debra with Gabby Burgess
Let us remember that Mystic Thai is one of, if not, the best Ethnic Restaurant in Jamaica, so expectations were high. It was truly a fabulous evening. Kudos to Kareena and her team, Jamaica Food + Drink Kitchen for creating such a spectacular space for these Culinary Experiences along with their amazingly attentive and professional team, Select Brands and Wine Lady Debra who all delivered. A fantastic experience. Cheers. 🥂
Randy and Gabby Burgess of Suga Lifestyle with friends and Suga Tasters, Tennyson and Ashleigh Arnold.Gabby Burgess with Owner of Mystic Thai, Kareena Mahbubani.
By: Gabrielle Burgess (Founder/Owner, Suga Lifestyle)
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