The Minnesota Timberwolves clinched the last Playoff spot in the West in a do or die overtime game versus the Denver Nuggets last night.
Here is your Playoff Bracket for the 16 teams!
Early Suga Prediction:
The Warriors should be in the Western Conference Finals again versus either the Rockets or OKC.
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Suga’s Ratings for Crystal Edge Restaurant
Date & Time of Visit: Sunday, April 1, 2018 at 1:00pm.
No. of diners: 2
NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum
Parking: ★☆☆☆☆
Ambience: ★★★★★
Décor: ★★★☆☆
Comfort: ★★★★☆
Service: ★★★☆☆
Speed: ★★★★☆
Value for $: ★★★☆☆
Suga Endorsement: ★★★☆☆
Comments:Â I went specifically for the Oxtail, but the quality has fallen off majorly. It lacked seasoning and did not slide off the bone this time, but still had good texture. Diners at another table were expressing the same sentiment. The taste of Coffee was lost in the Coffee infused Chicken. Both dishes in chipped plates were served with Steamed Vegetables and Rice and Peas, but were swimming in gravy. Mediocre service and food with a breathtaking view.
Suga’s Ratings for Café Blue
Date & Time of Visit: Sunday, April 1, 2018 at 1:00pm.
No. of diners: 2
NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum
Parking: ★☆☆☆☆
Ambience: ★★★★★
Décor: ★★★★☆
Comfort: ★★★★☆
Service: ★★☆☆☆
Speed: ★★☆☆☆
Value for $: ★★★☆☆
Suga Endorsement: ★★★☆☆
Comments:  Staff was pleasant but inattentive. Crystal Edge’s staff were seen more around that side than the Café Blue waitresses. Desserts were dry. We had the Chocolate Mocha Cake and Strawberry Cheesecake.
For such a long commute, disappointing experience thankfully overshadowed by the picturesque view of the Blue Mountains with cool, fresh air and the taste of rich, authentic Blue Mountain Coffee.
After the boost of the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival 1 week before my visit, I expected more from Crystal Edge and Café Blue. Hope they get back on track soon. Not worth the drive.
Did You Know?
Strawberry Hill is now charging $2500JMD at the gate to include a welcome drink if you do not have a booking or reservation.
I was passing by for a drink in between Breakfast and Lunch. So for persons like myself and others who happen to be nearby and spontaneously choose to stop and may end up staying for Lunch etc., I think an entry fee is ridiculous. It would be similar if The Jamaica Pegasus would charge you to enter.
Stay tuned next week to see where is worth the drive on the Blue Mountain Culinary Trail!
Crystal Edge Restaurant
Location: Irish Town, St. Andrew
Ph: 876-944-8053
Opening Hours: Tues. – Sun. @ 9am – 7pm
_ _ _
Café Blue, Irish Town
Ph: 876-944-8918
Opening Hours: Mon. – Fri @ 8:30am-4:30pm
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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WOMEN’S TRIPLE JUMP FINAL
Jamaica’s ever so determined Kimberly Williams won Gold in the Women’s Triple Jump! Congratulations to her as well as our Shanieka Ricketts, who took the Silver. Thea Lafond of Dominica got the Bronze.
MEN’S 110m HURDLES FINAL
Jamaica got the 1-2 in the Men’s 110m Hurdles too! Congratulations to Ronald Levy who won Gold and our Olympic medallist, Hansle Parchment who got Silver. Aussie, Nicholas Hough placed third.
MEN’S 400m FINAL
DONKEY MAN IS BACK!
…But so is MAKWALA!
At last, Isaac Makwala of Botswana wins Gold impressively in 44.35s! His compatriot, Baboloki Thebe got the Silver and Jamaica’s Javon ‘Donkey Man’ Francis got the Bronze!
If you missed it, watch the “Men’s 400m Final – Commonwealth Games Gold Coast 2018” on YouTube here:
Well done Team Jamaica!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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The teams for the NBA Playoffs in the Eastern Conference have been set, while the Western Conference teams are still battling it out.
However, both Conferences remain competitive with a few games left in the season to determine their final standing before the Playoffs.
Current Conference Standings
Eastern ConferenceÂ
Western Conference
The Utah Jazz clinched their Playoff berth in the West last night with a win over the Lakers. Congrats to them.
What will be the fate of the New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, OKC and the Denver Nuggets?
Stay tuned!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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After being open for just a short period of time, the nightly hot spot in upper Manor Park, Cellar 8, now offers Saturday and Sunday Brunch and has outgrown its space. Who knew they could create more?!
Suga checked out their new, well furnished deck last Easter Sunday and will return on a day when the Wine Bar and Bistro is buzzing.
Stay tuned for their updated review!
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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Prep Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 3 Hours 20 mins (Don’t worry, it includes 2 hours chilling time in the fridge)
Servings: 18
Ingredients
– 1 cup Graham cracker crumbs
– 3/4 cup and 2 tbsp. Sugar, divided
– 3 tbsp. Butter or Margarine, melted
– 3 pkg. (8 oz. each) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
– 1 tsp. Vanilla
– 3 Eggs
– 1 cup and 2 Tbsp. Baker’s Angel Flake Coconut, toasted
– 54 (3 per mini cheesecake) speckled malted milk eggs/Chocolate eggs
Method
1. Heat oven to 325°F.
2. Mix Graham crumbs, 2 tbsp. Sugar and Butter, then press onto bottoms of 18 paper-lined muffin cups.
3. Beat Cream cheese, Vanilla and remaining Sugar with mixer until blended. Add Eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low-speed after each, just until blended.
4. Spoon mixture over crusts.
5. Bake 25 to 30 min. or until centers are almost set.
6. Cool completely. Refrigerate 2 hours.
7. Top each mini Cheesecake with 1 tbsp. coconut and shape to resemble bird’s nest. Add 3 malted milk eggs to each.
Recipe Source: Kraftrecipes.com
Don’t have the time?
Although cooking from scratch usually tastes better, you can get the Betty Crocker No-Bake Cheesecake Mix that includes the crumb base.
Here is how you buy less ingredients and cut 7 steps to 4!
Ingredients
– Betty Crocker Cheesecake Mix
– 90g melted Butter
– 400ml cold Whole Milk (or Almond Milk to cut down on the sat. fat)
– 1 cup and 2 Tbsp. Baker’s Angel Flake Coconut, toasted
– 54 (3 per mini cheesecake) speckled malted milk eggs/Chocolate eggs
Method
1. Blend biscuit crumbs with melted butter. Press into base of paper cup in pan.
2. Beat mix with milk in large bowl on low-speed until moistened. Scrape the bowl and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until thick and creamy.
3. Spread on top of biscuit base. Put in fridge to chill for at least 2 hours.
4. Decorate with Coconut and Chocolate Eggs, and serve!
Enjoy and Have a Happy and Holy Easter!
By: Gabrielle BurgessÂ
If you liked this Recipe, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page. Â
It’s official! The Houston Rockets have clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference of the NBA. This ends the Golden State Warriors’ 3-year reign.
Suga thinks that the Warriors’ Dynasty will come to an end. Their players are plagued with injuries this year and things just aren’t going their way. The natural thirst to win the title after winning three, is likely to be less than others such as the Rockets and OKC.
Current Standings for the NBA’S Western Conference
I think there will be a new NBA Champion this year and I still don’t think it will be the Rockets.
Stay tuned! Don’t you just love this game?!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Suga scoped out the new, Jablum Coffee House located on the grounds of NCB Twin Towers, by the intersection of Oxford Road and Old Hope Road last week.
It is still a work in progress. At the moment they only offer Coffee, Snacks and Pastries. I was informed Sandwiches are coming soon.
Based on its central location, the Cafe has a lot of potential and should strive to live up to it. It is quite small, but still has seating available. Plasma screens display clearly what they have to offer along with costs. Prices were relatable to other Cafes. For instance, Iced Coffee costs about $600JMD.
Stay tuned to Suga Lifestyle to see what happens with Jablum Coffee House!
Jablum Coffee House
Location: 1 Oxford Road. Kingston 5. (By NCB Twin Towers)
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Coffee producers and baristas were out in their numbers last Saturday at the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival Marketplace in Newcastle, St. Andrew.
Many booths had hot coffee to keep patrons warm in the fog, such as Cafe Blue, Stoneleigh (Mavis Bank 100% Blue Mountain Coffee), Toyota Coffee House, Starbucks, Perk Up and Country Traders Limited (Coffee Roasters Blue Mountain Coffee).
Cafe Blue also had their Milk and White Chocolate covered Coffee beans that I enjoy.
My husband enjoyed the smooth, hot brew offered by Perk up, from Flamstead Estate. Perk Up had a soft launch at the Coffee Festival, as they are planning to enter the market more competitively. They are currently at a few cafe outlets, including Shelly’s Cafe at U.T.E.C.H.
Deaf Can Coffee Baristas were there, brewing at 3 different tents including Cannonball Cafe and Jamaica Toyota Coffee House.
I was impressed with Cannonball Cafe that uses Jablum Coffee. They were the only ones I saw that offered Frappes and Coffee Martinis. I had the Caramel Crunch Cafe Frappe for just $300JMD. They had Paint and Sip for $1500JMD along with a free Espresso Martini overseeing a picturesque view too! There were cold brews from Cafe Blue and Stoneleigh, but I prefer Frappes. Even though it was a cool atmosphere being up so high, the sun was still fully out and I warmed up after walking around the venue.
Cannonball’s coffee infused desserts were a treat too! My nieces and I enjoyed their Coffee and Chocolate Brownies for a steal of $100JMD, Mini Eclairs with Coffee infused cream ($300JMD) and Coffee Bread Pudding with Coffee glaze ($300JMD).
Cannonball Cafe can be found in Barbican (Loshusan Centre), New Kingston (Barbados Ave.), Manor Park (Lower Manor Park Plaza) and Sovereign North Plaza.
Restaurants other than Cafe Blue that are on the Blue Mountain Culinary trail were out, such as Belcour Lodge with their line of Preserves and Blue Ridge Restaurant and Cottages. Blue Ridge had a tasty Coffee Cake for $300JMD.
The experienced and poised hostess, Emprezz kept the patrons well-informed throughout the day and presented prizes and surprises, hosted short interviews and more.
The suits of Tourism came out, shook hands and spoke to the patrons. Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlet along with his entourage, as well as Adam Stewart, Chairman of The Tourism Linkages Council were there. The council has been making great strides, developing projects to increase our influx of visitors to Jamaica via the Gastronomy network, Shopping, Health and Wellness, Sports and Entertainment and Knowledge. The Jamaica Coffee Festival Marketplace branched out across all these networks, with major focus on the Gastronomic Network. Key initiatives and Projects such as development of a Blue Mountain Coffee experience, strategic partnerships with other networks and the promotion of food festivals were all achieved. Kudos to them and the great turn out of patrons to support such an important initiative. Tickets were sold out!
If the endless amount of coffee wasn’t enough, Tarrus Riley entertained the crowd for over an hour!
CB Chicken, Copperwood Pork and Best Dressed Chicken were out to feed the masses. The Best Dressed Booth was quite popular with their Gourmet Hot dogs, loaded fries and more. I enjoyed their Jerked Chicken.
Island Blue, which you normally see in our hotels, displayed and sold their Jamaica Coffee Liqueurs from Baronhall Estate, Coffee Beans, Branded mugs and more.
Kande’s Delights had long lines for ice cream including coffee flavours of course.
Various Arts & Crafts exhibitors were about, but one of the Skin Care exhibitors, I Love Sweetness Coffee Scrubs grabbed my attention with their body scrubs, scented soaps and skin tonics. Their representatives were quite knowledgeable about their products and marketed them well.
There were representatives and Informative pamphlets from Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) and Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) on the story of Jamaican Coffee. Jamaican Coffee Recipes were available too.
Hollywell provided information on tours and events, signing persons up to receive information on events in the future too. They also had persons chatting up a storm about their Coffee Rice and Peas cooked by ‘Natural by Nature’ in their community.
Congratulations to the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival Team. Great initiative, efficient use of space and well executed event. #SugaEndorsed
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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For just $1000JMD, please support St. Matthew’s Annual Easter Fair that will be held on Easter Monday at the Jack’s Hill Community Centre.
There will be music, live entertainment, food, prizes and surprises for the family to enjoy. You can also continue to support Brand Jamaica and buy local farm produce and other items at the variety stall.
Get your tickets today for a good cause!
Call: 876-702-0339; 876-783-9566
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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