Jamaica Food and Drink Festival has come and gone. Brunch at The Gallery was quite memorable for patrons yesterday. Now on to the next!
Restaurant Week Jamaica starts Friday, November 11 and ends Saturday, November 19, 2016.
Here are your categories. Suga’s picks coming soon!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Here’s the Schedule!
There is a new Bar in town that the uptowners of Kingston are raving about. Cellar 8 Wine Bar! Its location in Upper Manor Park where Training Camp used to be, is close to home for most of the persons who were quick to stop by last weekend.
Suga visited last Saturday evening with husband and friend and was delighted to see the tasteful, modern decor from ceiling to floor. There was comfortable seating downstairs and a lounge area upstairs.
Service was on point all around. If we followed our waitress, we would have tried everything on the menu and drank out the bar as well.
One of the teething pains for them though, is the Wine List, which probably should have been their priority seeing that they have named themselves a Wine Bar. Just about 6 Wines were listed on the menu with reasonable prices by the Glass ($700-$950JMD) and Bottle. However, there was an entire wall with Wines to choose from that you were encouraged to walk over to if you desired to do so. If persons were seated by the wall you would not want to invade their privacy or space though. They explained that this issue would be sorted out soon.
Spirits were offered by the cue. V/X for $1100JMD, Overproof for $1200JMD and Johnnie Walker for $1800JMD to give you an idea.
Cocktails were also on the menu such as Mojitos ($800JMD), the Classic Martini ($900JMD) and more.
Persons can go for dinner as well with dishes that pair well with Wines such as Lamb Chops ($2100JMD), Basa Fillet ($1700JMD), Steak ($2500JMD), Pastas ($1400-$1800JMD), Pizzas ($1000-$1200ZJMD) and on the lighter side, Salads ($1000-$1100).
A friend was not happy with her Basa Fillet, which was communicated to her waiter and the Manager. It was described as slippery and slimy, served in small bites with a lot of skin on it, all overpowered by the cream sauce. Apologies everything could not be sugar-coated folks.
The portion of Steak served to her other half was described as quite small for the cost.
With that aside, feedback from others was extremely positive. They not only salivated over the food but it was refreshing to have it come out so fast after ordering in a room full of people. I was very happy to experience and observe that and I hope they keep it up.
Of course, if you didn’t just go for just drinks or dinner, after a couple glasses you are ready to order some tasty bites. Their Signature dish, Oxtail Tacos screamed out at me from the menu and I had no regrets! Delish!
We also had the Chimichuri Angus Beef Sliders that was fantastic as well.
Wedges, Wings, Mac and Cheese, Pork Sliders, Fine Roasted Thai Shrimp and more in the range of $450-$1700JMD were offered too.
The wide variety of options on the Menu were listed with the Prices subject to G.C.T.
A bar close to home is both a good and bad thing, but I think this one is here to stay. I will be returning for sure.
Word is, last Friday night was so full, everyone could not be seated. There was no need to worry though, because there was a lot of standing room. They enjoyed the vibe, their drinks and conversation. Most importantly, conversation. I was quite pleased that the music was low so I could have and enjoy a good conversation, which is lacking at many bars nowadays.
Cellar 8 Wine Bar was described as being ‘So New York!’.
Have fun checking this one out!
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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Suga has had a growing list of foodie spots to hit and last Saturday, the Olive Cove Cafe was a must because of knowledge of future unhealthy bites to come over the weekend.
I arrived at Olive Cove Cafe at 4:45pm. It is across from Toyota Jamaica on Old Hope Road. Parking looks like it may be a challenge during the busy breakfast and lunch hour in the work week but it was quite accessible that day as they say traffic to the Restaurant is less on Saturdays.
There are stairs leading down to the Cafe from the side of the road. It is quite small and quaint on the inside with such lovely use of decor, namely light fixtures, branding, shelves and comfortable seating in a limited space with air conditioning.
I met my husband there for a very late lunch. Service was great. Our waitress was very polite, attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and how the various dishes were prepared.
Their Wraps have been heavily marketed on Instagram, as well as Smoothies, Shakes and Cooked dishes including custom orders.
I still don’t get the concept of frying fish and putting it in a Wrap. Most restaurants I know do that then try to pass it off as healthy and it is not.
Anyhow, we were in the mood for something a bit more filling. Most places not only add too much sauce to Brown Stew Fish, but an oily one so I was sceptical about ordering that and went with the Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry despite our waitress’s positive recommendation. My husband ordered the Brown Stew Fish. Both dishes came with brown rice! Thanks Olive Cove. Much appreciated.
Food came out in standard time. The Chicken in the Stir Fry was a bit too dry without the sauce. But once you added it, the flavour was tasty. The waitress’s recommendation was on point though! My husband’s Brown Stew Fish was very savoury. The sauce was light and was not overpowering or oily at all.
Tasty, filling food with a healthy touch for affordable prices. Definitely value for money.
Looking forward to trying their Shakes and Smoothies!
***Bring cash only. Their Point of Sale machine application is still being processed.
Olive Cove Cafe
94M Old Hope Road. Kingston 6.
876-995-9903; 876-390-9833
Instagram Page: @the_olivecove
Opening Hours: 8am-5:30pm
Deliveries: 10am-1pm
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Delicious!
Big Al’s Island Grill
Location: Salt Mills Plaza,
Grace Bay Rd., Grace Bay TKCA 1ZZ,
Providenciales, Turks And Caicos Islands
Ph: 649-941-3797
Trevanne Donegal’s Bon Voyage Lunch Special at Jerkaz did not disappoint last Friday. The food was superb as usual. The stuffed Pasta shells were delish!
Somehow, she always manages to combine unique flavours that complement each other well. Carefully thought out dishes.
Thanks Trev. Good luck on your 1-year journey in London that will make you even more fantastic in the kitchen.
Bon Voyage from Suga!
Caterer, Trevanne Donegal is leaving on a Jet plane to London! Don’t worry folks, it’s just for a year to sharpen her culinary skills. Those of you who have had the pleasure of tasting her food must be wondering why she would need to do that, but more knowledge means more power.
Here is a reminder of some of Trevanne’s dishes and desserts that have tantalised our tastebuds:
Join Trevanne for her last and most delicious Gourmet Lunch Special to date this Friday from 12noon to 6pm. Dessert will be on sale as well as Wine specials for $300 per glass.
Venue: JERKAZ Restaurant
2 Downer Avenue, St. AndrewÂ
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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