Last Wednesday, I thoroughly enjoyed my warm, freshly baked Jumbo Chocolate Walnut Cookies from The Sweet Dozen!
Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, with a rich, Chocolate flavour!
I had the Funfetti as well that has white chocolate in it! It was yummy too, even though Danielle Boothe, owner of The Sweet Dozen is still perfecting it as one of her new flavours.
The Sweet Dozen offers Cheesecake, Brownies and more. Delivery available. Order your sweet treat today! Treat Yo’ Self!
By: Gabrielle Burgess (Founder/Owner, Suga Lifestyle)
If you liked this Blog, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
If you liked this Blog, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
Hope Gardens will again come alive and be transformed into a giant kitchen tomorrow, July 27th from 4pm – 11pm.
The list is out as to which of your favourite Chefs, Caterers, Bakers, Farmers, Food Entrepreneurs and Artisans will be there! There are so many great options, so how do you choose?! Stay tuned to Suga Lifestyle’s Instagram stories (@sugalifestyle) to be reminded of the top picks, but here is Suga’s guide and a few tips!
â— Try someone NEW!
If you are a true foodie, you have hit many places on the list more than once, so give someone new a try, but be very selective.
> 2 Yutes (Shawarmas and loaded fries)
> Tacodon
> All Spice Catering & Events’ Food Truck (Their Chicken & Waffles and Pulled Pork Fries look good)!
> Nice cream
***Gambles, but willing to try if menu, food and prices look good***
> Cafe Hibiscus
> Sheriff Gourmet BBQ
â— NEW Kids on the Kingston Kitchen Block to try if you haven’t tried them at other Events
> Outland Hurders Creamery and Farmstead
Outland Hurders will have a Raspberry & Rosemary Grilled Cheese Sandwich that looks salivating!
> Dream Bowls Ja (Delish Acai fruit bowls)
â— Places that are usually a hit and worth a try if you haven’t experienced their food before or you just can’t get enough of them!
Spicy
> Lucky Strike Seafood Bar and Grill’s Seafood Bucket
> Jabba’s Peppa Swims
> Stush in the Bush’s Blow Fyah Pepper Sauce
For Curried Goat,
> Chillin’ Restaurant
> Lyming at Walkerswood
Sweet
> Kuk Up Kreations (They now have Salads!)
> It’s Rolly Polly
The leading duo for Vegetarian Gastronomy, STUSH IN THE BUSH will be there and it is a no brainer to stop by and see what they have to offer!
â— Small servings that are a bit pricey, but good
> Fromage Gourmet Market
> Pink Apron Ja
***Ladies, wear your fanny packs or a crossover bag and comfortable shoes***
Go early and travel with Cash! Enjoy with your friends and family!
#FortheLoveofFood #EatGood
By: Gabrielle Burgess
If you liked this Promo, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
Save the Date, Saturday, July 27th at 4pm – 11pm for when Hope Gardens transforms into a giant kitchen!
Stay tuned to see which of your favourite Chefs, Caterers, Bakers, Farmers, Food Entrepreneurs and Artisans will be there and you can follow Kingston Kitchen’s Instagram page, @kgnkitchen.
#FortheLoveofFood #EatGood
By: Gabrielle Burgess
If you liked this Promo, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
Gabrielle Burgess a.k.a Suga of Suga Lifestyle with husband, Randy Burgess at the Jamaica Observer Food Awards last Thursday, May 30, 2019.
The 21st staging of the Table Talk Jamaica Observer Food Awards last Thursday on the lawns of Devon House was truly a euphoric atmosphere with the highest standards of food and drink in abundance with vibrant music to bounce and wobble to while guests indulged.
All the booths were quite inviting, but with experience, my friends and I were quite selective about our approach to ensure that we didn’t neglect or overlook any of our favourites or newbies on our hit list.
We started at Rainforest Seafoods, where they had salivating Sushi spreads and Wines to pair it all with, including one of my faves, the Kung Fu Girl Riesling courtesy of Select Brands.
One of the salivating Sushi spreads from Rainforest Seafoods.
We then made our way over to the Restaurant booths from Sandals Resorts International. Tender, juicy cuts of Beef, Ham and Lamb, Seafood, Ribs, Cheese platters, Cocktails, you name it!
Cumin and Honey marinated Lamb Chops from Sandals Resorts International.
They also had a gigantic Sushi spread.
As I continued to walk the lawns of Devon House with 18-year old whiskey in hand from Johnnie Walker, my stops had to include my other faves, Stush in the Bush, Christina Simonitsch, Half Moon, Uncorked Sovereign North, Mystic Thai, Steak House on the Verandah and newbies, Jamaican Peanut Butter Factory and Butcher Block by Gregory Burrowes who had savoury offerings from Chef Celeste Gordon, last year’s OFA Caterer of he Year.
Sending a special shout out and hearty Congratulations to Chris and Lisa Binns of Stush in the Bush who cleaned up this year and deservedly so! Their plant powered spread by their very own Sagicor Group booth this year, satisfied scores of guests at a time.
Lisa and Chris Binns of Stush in the Bush who walked away with 3 awards including the coveted, ‘Jamaican Restaurant with Outstanding Gastronomy Experience Award’.
Christina Simonitsch, who walked away the Enterprise and Outstanding Caterer Awards tantalised our taste buds with her Charred Scotchie Shrimp, then cooled it down with her G.H. Mumm & Strawberry Popsicles. The scrumptious Oxtail Arancini left me speechless.
Christina Simonitsch serving Randy Burgess some of her Charred Scotchie Shrimps.
Other Highlights of the night:
Outstanding Caterer Nominee and Jing Shi Award Nominee for Dessert Chef of the Year, Trevanne Donegal, also by the G.H. Mumm booth, with delish Dark Chocolate Truffles.
Uncorked’s Charcuterie and Cheese platter spread!
The Solomon Gardner Awardee for Outstanding Service, Best Culinary Team Experience Awardee and Norma Shirley Awardee for Restaurant of the Year, Sugar Mill Restaurant at Half Moon Hotel’s succulent Barbeque Jerk Pork Belly!
Did you know?
Half Moon will be opening a Seafood Restaurant this September!
Half Moon’s Seafood Restaurant, Delmare’s Chefs Claudio and Clarfield
A taste of what to expect from the Seafood Restaurant to come at Half Moon, Delmare were absolutely delicious Pan Seared Scallops accompanied by tomato compote with saffron and vanilla zucchini spaghetti with Tarragon.
Newbies on the block and Best Food Product 2019 Nominee, Outland Hurders Creamery and Farmstead Cheese Platter Displays! My tasting plate was quite appetizing.
Sweet Obsession Ja’s White Chocolate Mousse with Strawberries by the Johnnie Walker booth!
Just a touch of the mouth-watering Desserts at Future Bakery by Jing Shi’s booth!
Even if I didn’t indulge, I had to also stop by newbies Chillin’ Restaurant and Bar, Seaside Dutchie and Tastee Ltd./Brew’d Awakenings
You are always as good as your last show and this was by far the biggest and best Table Talk Jamaica Observer Food Awards that I have attended.
This year the Food Awards celebrated various Communities with Jamaican cuisine as authentic as you can get. Congratulations to the Chefs of the Communities that were selected and awarded:
• The Sephestines for Mount Estate, St. Thomas • Monica Ottar for Bailey’s Vale, St. Mary • The Allens for Gifford House – Granville, St. James, Montego Bay • Christopher Marsh for Chris’s Cafe – Main Street, Oracabessa St. Mary • Chris & Lisa Binns for Stush in the Bush – Free Hill, St. Ann
Chefs, Bakers, Caterers, Retailers and Restaurants have really elevated the level of quality for what they had to offer over the past year.
Congratulations to conceptualiser, Novia McDonald Whyte, the Jamaica Observer, the Judges, Sponsors, Retailers, the talented Nominees, Awardees and everyone responsible for the successful execution and staging of the Food Awards this year.
Cheers to next year!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
If you liked this Blog, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
If you liked this Promo, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
Here are your JFDF Ticket Ambassadors and Outlets:
Did you know?!
> This year, JFDF will be 100% plastic free!
> Part Proceeds of the event will go towards UTECH’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Hotel Facility
The Festival will sponsor the complete outfitting of UTECH’s demo kitchen.
Enjoy 7 World Class Food Events at 7 Iconic Kingston Venues.
By: Gabrielle Burgess
If you liked this Blog, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
The Sweetart Bake Expo held at The Jamaica Pegasus two Sundays ago had patrons in awe at the creativity of Cakes decorated and probably sent everyone’s sweet tooth into overdrive with the samples given.
There were On-stage demos and Presentations on Cake Decorating, as well as classes that were conducted, including one that was by a local instructor.
Sometimes a Cake is decorated well and doesn’t taste as good as it looks, but the proof is in the pudding. Suga was most impressed with the Piña Colada cupcake by Alex’s creations (@alexcreationsja). I tasted the rum first, followed by the coconut flavour, then was hit with the sweet accentuated by the icing. Fantastic!
Other tasty highlights for Suga: *Instagram tags in brackets
• Cheesecake by Kelsey’s Kreations (@kelseyskreations_ja)
• Bread Pudding by Skimo’s Pastries (@skimos_pastries)
• Banana Bread by La Jazz Sweet Tooth (@lajazzp_c)
I know persons are straying from the traditional Fruit cakes for Weddings, but I only got two to taste that were not up to standard. Perhaps Blissful Bites by Delvena came close. Lemon cakes are now a popular choice for Weddings, but none of them hit the spot.
The presence of well-known Bakers was missed, but there are many on the rise with potential who were present and have been working on their craft for years. The Cake Decorating Competitions displayed high levels of skill and creativity, making things look so real.
Here are most of the Winners! Pre-decorated Cake Competitions by Theme:
• Fast Food Winner
The Bucket Meal by @alissweetfantasy won 1st place. It was also voted the People’s Choice winner for the show!
2nd Place
The Subway Meal by @cakesbyqueata won 2nd place.
Decorated by Students! • Fast Food theme Winner
Winner of the Student Category was Annalise Powell of @baked876.
• Wedding Winner
The winning Cake was Decorated by @thesweetspotja
• Topsy Turvy Winner
First time entrant who just started Baking last year of @doms.delights was in tears after the announcement and moved even a few members of the audience to tears too.
Runner up
@fabulous_cakesja came 2nd.
• Jungle Theme Winner
Winner of the Jungle Theme Pre-decorated Cake Competition by #sweetimpressionsja
CONGRATS to the WINNERS and See you at the 5th Anniversary Edition, #sweetartbakeexpo2019!
Save the date! It will be May 26,2019 with 5 days of activities.
Don’t forget that the Sweetart Bake Expo will be at The Jamaica Pegasus this Sunday!
Our Jamaican Bakers’ Skill and Creativity will be put to the test! There will be a Cake Decorating Challenge for the Bakers with the theme, ‘Movie night’, a Pre-decorated Cake Competition with the 4 themes, Wedding, Cartoon, Topsy Turvy and Fast Food. For persons who would like to have fun and are also inspired to be like our Bakers, there will be Cake Decorating classes.
Check out these elaborate Cakes from some of our Jamaican Bakers!
Don’t miss out!
Ticket Information:
Children under 12 are FREE!
Presold: $800JMD
***Available at Monarch Pharmacy (Sovereign Centre Liguanea & Portmore), Fontana Pharmacy (Islandwide), York Pharmacy – Half Way Tree, Health Plus Pharmacy on Brunswick Ave., Spanish Town***
