A month ago, Suga Taster, Stephen Greig ventured up to the cool Blue Mountains on a Sunday, with visiting San Francisco based brother and fam to check out the fairly new, Blue Brews Bistro (Ig: @bluebrewsbistro) in Holywell National Park.
Here’s what he had to say!
The drive was relaxing with majestic views of the Blue Mountains and fresh air to open the appetite along the way.
Upon arrival at Holywell Park, we were directed to Blue Brews Bistro, which had quite a few patrons by 11am. I would recommend that you make a reservation in advance via their email if you have a large party. Kudos to Owner/Manager Jovan Yapp for his hospitality, accommodating our party of 6. The staff were also friendly and attentive.
The menu expectedly had variations of your favourite Blue Mountain Coffee, Burgers, Hot Dogs and Pastries. It was interesting to see that they had non-bistro fare including smoked Pork Chops, Steak & Fried Chicken.
Our party had Pumpkin Soup, Burgers with seasoned fries and more traditional Breakfast fare such as Eggs and Bacon.
We tried their “Brookie” for Dessert, a merger of a Cookie and Brownie along with fresh Lemongrass Lemonade too.
The food was satisfactory, but you really go for the drive and experience. Also, the view and the cool, salubrious surroundings, where you can even go for a walk around the park while waiting. The park museum is directly above the restaurant, so do check it out.
There wasn’t any traditional Jamaican cuisine offered, so if there was a recommendation, it would be to really have a more Jamaican experience. Definitely worth a visit though. Big up Blue Brews Bistro.
Blue Brews Bistro
Location:National Holywell Park. Hardwar Gap, Holywell. Saint Andrew. Jamaica
By: Gabrielle Burgess (Founder/Owner, Suga Lifestyle)
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If you don’t remember Suga’s post on our local Chocolatiers last year or haven’t tasted Likkle More Chocolate yet, here is your update!
To refresh your minds, Founder, Fine Pastry Chef and Artisan Chocolatier, Nadine Burie has been awarded, Table Talk Jamaica Observer Food Awards Dessert Chef of the Year for the past 4 years.
Fine Pastry Chef and Artisan Chocolatier, Nadine Burie. (Photo: www.likklemorechocolate.com)
The Production of Likkle More Chocolate Bars are still in the creative process. ‘We’ve been working on this project for more than 3 years now and we really want to give an excellent product that would be accessible to everyone in Jamaica with this line. We ferment, dry, roast, process the bean from the beginning until the end products and we work with different farmers from different regions. We press our own cocoa butter that we use in our chocolate. We control everything’ says Burie.
Nadine Burie and staff cracking the Cocoa pods for Chocolate production.
Likkle More Chocolate Produces Decorated Chocolate Bars with a unique variety of flavours!
Photo: www.likklemorechocolate.com
Likkle More Chocolate’s Decorated Chocolates ***The brand is under continuous expansion or changes, so the percentages and flavours stated are what Suga Lifestyle has observed over the past few years and in speaking with Nadine Burie this March, 2020. They are also currently on Likkle More Chocolate’s Website***
– 72% Single Cocoa Estate (Their darkest Chocolate is made of rich fruity cocoa, featuring delicious cherry & woody rum notes!) – 72% Dark Chocolate with Nibs – 70% Dark Chocolate with Fresh Ginger – 70% Cocoa Sea Salt – 70% Cocoa Scotch Bonnet – 67/68% Cocoa Blue Mountain Coffee – 55% Cocoa Coconut Milk – 55% Cocoa and Milk Plantain – Hazelnut Milk Chocolate – White Cocoa MatchaOther Decadent Chocolate based treats from Likkle More include Seashells, Coffee Pearls and Truffles.
Did you know?
Chocolate varies in taste depending on where the cocoa bean it was made is from.
Nadine Burie also produces a line of Chocolate for Cafe Blue, which I had the pleasure of tasting! Well, eating, because it is true that once you take a bite, you say to yourself, just get a ‘likkle more’.
All the cocoa used to make Cafe Blue Chocolate is from the central and eastern parishes of Jamaica, from over 3000 small farmers!
There is also less sugar, more Cocoa. Natural Cane juice is used to sweeten and there are no preservatives and no artificial flavours.
My favourite was the 57% Bean to Bar Blue Mountain Coffee Dark Chocolate. Imagine it only had 3.2g of Saturated fat, no Cholesterol and only 2.6g of sugar! I ate that bar guilt-free.
Put Likkle More Chocolate on your #PostCovid19BucketList, BUT you can have the Chocolate line for Cafe Blue right now! You can either go to Cafe Blue, Sovereign Centre or purchase them for $600JMD+tx in Loshusan Supermarket, Barbican. By purchasing these chocolates, you help to impact the lives of over 3000 small farmers and their families. #SugaEndorsed
Stay tuned for when I get to try the Likkle More Chocolate line!
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Classic Eggs Benedict from Eleni’s Bakery Jamaica [Ig photo: @elenisjamaica/@brischh]You wanted Eleni’s famous Sunday Brunch, but could not have it? Well, the Bakery is on lockdown until further notice and offering curbside delivery as they aim to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
Owner, Eleni Daperis, made quite a statement on the Bakery’s Instagram page over the weekend, highlighting the need to keep safe, especially for our children, for instance two of her employees who have children with dengue and asthma and there were no beds at Bustamante Hospital for Children to accommodate them. So we can’t imagine if COVID-19 spreads to our children, especially those whose lungs are already affected by asthma or are immunocompromised by dengue and other conditions.
The Bakery will sell bread on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1pm-5pm and will be taking orders through whatsapp on the Bakery phone (See below) on Mondays and Tuesdays for Wednesday pick ups and on Thursdays and Fridays for Saturday pick ups. They will also make an effort to meet your requests for Pastries, or whatever you may need.
Eleni’s we understand and admire your stance taken in light off COVID-19. In the mean time, we will daydream…
Eleni’s Bakery Jamaica
Location: Sovereign North Plaza. 29 Barbican Road. Kgn. Ja.
If you liked this Promo, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
The 2nd annual Blue Mountain Coffee Festival starts today! Blue Mountain Coffee has the reputation of being one of the most expensive and sought-after coffees in the world over the past few decades.
This event hopes to attract tourists and international coffee buyers, as well as create awareness of the rapidly growing coffee culture amongst us as local consumers.
Friday, March 1st – Trade Day
The Festival kicks off today with a networking and learning experience for farmers allowing them to showcase their coffee and coffee byproducts.
Saturday, March 2nd – Festival Marketplace
Last year’s view from Newcastle at the 1st staging of the Marketplace at the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival
After you finish with Suga Lifestyle’s Nutrition session tomorrow, the Festival Marketplace in Newcastle will be buzzing with activity. You can then browse and purchase coffee to put in your protein shakes each morning!
There will be coffee galore, coffee byproducts and live demos if you are a barista at home, as well as live musical entertainment and crafts on showcase from local artisans. You would also learn about coffee related tours.
Festival Marketplace Ticket costs: $1500 (Adults); $500 (Children 2-12 years and students with ID)
***Complimentary round trip Shuttle Services will be provided from UTECH Library Car Park to Newcastle starting at 9am***
If you would like to make a weekend of it, there are activities on Sunday too!
Sunday, March 3 – The Culinary Trail (Reservation Only)
There will be a Coffee-themed Brunch at Strawberry Hill and other eateries along the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Trail should have a signature Blue Mountain Coffee infused dish on their menu that day.
Enjoy!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
If you liked this Promo, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
Expo Jamaica was quite impressive this year. The show that was put on weekend before last at the National Arena and Indoor Sports Centre, displaying and offering products that were ‘All Things Jamaican’ had tremendous support. It was great to see that especially after seeing the hard work and effort that went into putting on the expo. It was bigger and better, the logistics were as good as they could be given the space and the quality of products were sensational. Not to mention the deals! The Farmer’s Market was a big hit too. I shopped till I almost dropped.
There were hundreds of booths but Suga will highlight a few in weeks to come.
Most Innovative Product for Suga?
Mountain Flavor’s Instaperk Coffee!
Just tear the top of the bag as indicated and add hot water, wait about a minute or two and you have 2 servings of instant percolated coffee! Great for travelling or when you are on the go.
Mountain Flavor is from coffee farms along Jamaica’s Blue Mountains and the flavour was evident.
Mountain Flavor’s Instaperk comes to the market soon! Look out for it!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Suga’s Ratings for EITS Cafe at Mount Edge Guesthouse
Date and time of visit:Â Sunday, April 1, 2018 at 10:30am
No. of diners: 2
NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum
Parking: ★☆☆☆☆
Ambience: ★★★★★
Decor: ★★★★★
Comfort: ★★★★★
Service: ★★★★☆
Speed: ★★★☆☆
Food quality: ★★★★☆
Serving amount: ★★★★☆
Plating: ★★★☆☆
Value for $: ★★★★☆
SuGa Endorsement: ★★★★☆
Comments:
Exquisite ambience and scenic view with hummingbirds in full flight while you wait for your food made fresh to order. Menu items were quite reasonable in cost. My husband and I had the Jamaican breakfast that included Ackee and saltfish, along with sides of our choice. I thought that they needed more filling in their Fritters, but their Ackee and other sides such as boiled banana were spot on.
Ackee and Saltfish with Fritters and Fried Dumpling ($900JMD+12.5% serv. charge)
The father-daughter duo who run EITS, Michael and Robyn Fox, were hospitable, making us feel right at home.
Their high standard as a must-stop on the Blue Mountain culinary trail has been kept. Suga snaps for EITS.
EITS Cafe at Mount Edge Guesthouse
Ph#: 876-944-8974
Address: 17 Mile Post, Newcastle. St. Andrew Jamaica
Stay tuned for 2 spots that have gone downhill on the Blue Mountain Culinary trail for Suga Bears next week!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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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.
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.
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!
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!
Overlooking the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival’s Marketplace in Newcastle last Saturday, March 24, 2018. (Instagram Photo: Blue Ridge Restaurant and Cottages)
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.
Cafe Blue’s Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate covered Coffee beans (Photo: Suga Bear, Stephen Greig)
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.
Deaf Can Baristas at the Country Traders Ltd. booth (Instagram Photo: @deafcancoffee)
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.
Farm to table Coffee Beans from Island Blue!
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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TGIF! Remember that the Jamaica Blue Mountain Festival starts today!
Today
The Coffee Industry Players in association with JACRA and RADA will be busy hosting workshops.
Tomorrow
Do not miss The Festival Marketplace! It should be a cultural experience showcasing not only our local coffee and coffee-induced products, but our talented crafty artisans, dancers, singers and more, headlined by Tarrus Riley!
The shuttle departs hourly from UTECH starting at 9am and Tickets cost $1000JMD for Adults and $500JMD for Children under 12 and Students with ID. The Festival ends at 6pm.
Ticket Outlets:
> Cafe Blue (Sovereign & Irish Town)
> Cannonball Cafe (New Kgn, Sovereign North, Manor Park)
> Toyota Coffee House: 93 Hope Road
Sunday
Take a drive along the Blue Mountain Culinary trail. It has some cosy spots with spectacular views and food. See the list with numbers on the flyer below, call and make your reservations today!
They are all quite a treat, but if you like local cuisine, Crystal Edge is the place. If you have a sweet tooth, Cafe Blue is just next door with exquisite desserts by award-winning baker, Nadine Burie.
Blue Ridge is far up, but worth the trek. Savoury food and good service. Their presentation is also one of a kind.
Support Brand Jamaica and our flagship Blue Mountain Coffee this weekend in Newcastle, St. Andrew!
