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Café El Centro, cosy spot to eat all day long

About 2 Saturdays ago, Suga faced the famous question from her other half, ‘Where should we go for lunch?’. After the usual pondering for a few minutes, I mentioned that House of Loaves was having a New York ‘Halal’ Cart-Style day at Active Home Centre. His response when he looked at the ad showing that their food ranged from $800-$1500JMD was, ‘No sah. 15 bills for food from a truck that sells in New York for $7.99US and we can still sit down and have something nice somewhere else for that price or less?!’ He suggested Café El Centro above Fromage on Hillcrest avenue where friends have been going and enjoying their food, so I agreed to go.

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Smoked Pork Chops enjoyed by a Suga Bear yesterday at Café El Centro      Photo credit: Tennyson Arnold

We arrived at about 3:30pm and we were greeted pleasantly and seated. I instantly felt cosy in the quiet, quaint atmosphere with vintage décor. I loved the use of wooden palettes for the ceiling, hanging lanterns, decorated wooden signs on the walls and wine glasses hanging from the palettes in part of the ceiling above a wine and pastry cooler. All of this was complemented by a calming colour scheme of browns, beiges and a pastel green.

There were a few diners and one of them was enjoying Pancakes and Eggs beside us because they serve American-style Breakfast all day!

My husband and I were discussing items on the menu which they seemed to have revised again including items for dinner as well. The menu had quite a range of items including Paninis, Sandwiches and Wraps, Pastas, Soup, Snapper Fillet and Shrimp dishes, Pork Chops and more. The prices quoted were tax inclusive as well.

The diner beside us overheard us trying to decide and since I mentioned that I felt for a Wrap, she said that their Chicken Roti Wrap was really good. So my husband ordered the Lamb Burger with fries, which you can get with a wheat bun ($1200JMD) and I ordered the Curried Chicken Roti Wrap with veggies on the side ($950JMD).

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Our food arrived quickly and the manager, Tina Newman who took our order was very attentive. She was Professional but friendly at the same time. She gave my husband the option of having Mint jelly on the side, which she brought and I also ordered their homemade Lemonade ($300JMD) that was refreshing.

The Curried Chicken Roti Wrap was very tasty and did not kill me with pepper, it had just the right amount of spice that I enjoyed. I liked that the veggies were fresh as well.

The Lamb was tender and flavourful for the the Lamb Burger, the bun was fresh and it was appreciated that the meat filled the bun perfectly. Not many places get the meat and bun proportion right.

Even though we were sitting and chatting after our meal, our table was cleared quickly. The Chef came out and asked for our feedback, which was positive.

Tina came back over to our table and told us about their Steak night that they started on Fridays. Since Medusas is now closed, the same Chef Robin Rickhi does Steak night and I know his Steaks are succulent and he has a special marinated seasoning.

We were told they face the demand for Steak on other days so she said you can call in your order early if you wish to do so and the Chef there will whip it up for you, whether you are ordering steak or not.

The newlyweds had a delightful experience and we will return.

Café El Centro 

Location: 8 Hillcrest Avenue

Ph: 876-927-8415

Opening hours: 9am -10pm

Email: [email protected]

 

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Burger and Beer at NK Deli today!

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Last Wednesday, I attended the opening of ‘Burger and Beer’ at NK Deli (above Cuddyz) with my fiancé.

It was advertised to run from 6pm-10pm and I arrived at 8:45pm. Music was still playing but I missed the Happy Hour buzz with the rush of persons who attended after work and had a good vibe going.

For $1500JMD tax included, you can get a Burger (Beef, Chicken or Fish from what I remember) served with wedges or fries and 2 beers. Quite a good deal!

I had the Chicken Burger and wedges and my other half had the Beef Burger with fries. My Chicken Burger was tasty and the Beef Burger was well seasoned and tender on the inside with a bit of crisp on the outside. Fresh meat, bread buns and veggies. Yum! You could also add bacon for a small cost.

Additional beers, wines, rum, vodka and juices were on sale as well. So check out ‘Burger and Beer’ this evening or any other Wednesday from about 6pm-8pm and make it your Happy Hour!

Also note that NK Deli offers lunch and delivery on Mondays to Fridays (closed on Saturdays) at reasonable prices with a good range of dishes, where the menu changes daily. The prices posted for lunches now include GCT.

More to come?!

Lasagne and Tiramisu on Thursdays! $1500JMD+tx (Beverages not included) from 6-10pm and Vegetarian will be one of the options. If I don’t make it soon, Suga bears, do feel free to report!

NK Deli

30 Dominica Drive

New Kingston Business Centre

Ph: 876.754.8714

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Bigg’s BBQ Restaurant and Bar continues to impress!

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Suga had a great start to the New year with lunch at Bigg’s BBQ Restaurant and Bar last Friday on New Year’s Day at 4pm on the Hip Strip, Gloucester Avenue in Montego Bay.

The host was extremely polite and attentive and so was our waitress.

The menu was full of succulent Bbq and Jerk eats. I had the 1/2 lb of Pulled Pork ($16.99US incl. 2 small sides) with fries and added mixed grilled chef vegetables to slowly reintroduce healthy items to the diet since vacay was soon coming to a close.

My friends had the Biggs Burger (15.99UD with 1 side) with baked mac and cheese and and the Jerked Pork ($16.99US incl. 2 small sides) with baked mac and cheese and mixed grilled chef vegetables. The Jerked Pork was lacking the actual Jerked flavour and tasted more like BBQ Pork, but was good nonetheless. There were no complaints about the popular, delicious, Biggs Burger made with a blend of minced Beef and Bratwurst with your choice of cheese on an onion bun.

The Blended Fruit punch, Frozen Lemonade and Blended Hummingbird beverages were delightful.

A bit pricey in tourist town but filling and worth it!

 

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The Pegasus Burger!

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For only $960+tx and service charge ($1214.40), ‘The Pegasus Burger’ served with fries from The Blend Bar and Lounge is fantastic!  Spicy and succulent to the core with jalapeños, mushrooms, cheese, bacon and more.

Suga gives it 4.5/5 stars but just because the bread broke up a bit too much while eating.

Fatty b

ut wholesome. Worth a day of make up in the gym.

The Blend Bar and Lounge

Ph#: 876-926-3690

Address: The Jamaica Pegasus, 81 Knutsford Boulevard, Kgn. 5

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Kingston Kitchen tomorrow!

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Hey Foodies, Kingston Kitchen returns to Hope Gardens tomorrow from 6pm to midnight. They claim it is their 5th anniversary. I am sure most of us remember the first staging about 3 years ago? Go figure.

Pre-sold tickets are now $800JMD. But do not think this is a cheap event. I believe the concept has been lost a little. Less sampling, more selling and successful sponsors who everybody knows about already, take up a lot of space. Maybe it is part of their deal with the organizers. If you have been to a few of the recent stagings, you would realise you need to travel with some cash, minimum $3000JMD excluding entry money, if you choose about 2 or 3 vendors wisely plus drinks. Otherwise carry more, especially if it is a family night or you are carrying a date. Some spots may have regular plates, lots will have cocktail plates, so be sure to walk around if you are concerned about value for money and head there early!

Who will be there?

● Fromage Gourmet Market

● Sheriff Gourmet BBQ Ribs

● NCR Sheep Ltd. – Fresh, Local Lamb 

● Chef Brian Lumley with Best Dressed Chicken Jamaica

● Tooksie Kay Catering

● Soupie

● Liqy Liqy – All Natural Popsicles

● Street Food Saturdays

● Tea Trea Creperie

● Fork in the Road Food Truck from Mandeville

  ….. and more!

Pre-sold tickets can be bought at Candy Craze (Manor Park), Chocolate Dreams Jamaica (Devon House), Cafe Blue (Sovereign) and Tea Tree Creperie (80 Lady Musgrave Rd.).

If you don’t get to try everything, take some cards for another time.

Have fun !

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Shake Shack on Peachtree Rd. in Atlanta Serving Kid’s Size Burgers

20141222_170527-1 I heard that Shake Stack was a hot spot in New York and decided to go to the franchise in Atlanta. I was extremely disappointed. Firstly, it was in a highly upscale plaza, but when you enter persons are practically sitting on top of each other. They definitely needed a bigger spot. Also, combos are not available. Everything has to be ordered separately, hence hiking the price. Perhaps their burgers are considered gourmet, since one of the least expensive burgers that I ordered, the Shack Burger costed $4.99US that was a regular cheese burger. Friesn costing $2.90 US and my Strawberry shake ($5.15US) was additional. So I exprected a decent size burger with the name, ‘Shack Burger’. When it arrived, it looked like a slider! The Shack Stack Burger (Veggie burger with Portobello Mushrooms) for $9.15US that my friend ordered was practically the same size, with the patty being slightly bigger. Perhaps they were putting all their customers on a diet to fit into their small seating space. Thankfully, the burgers at least tasted good. Drinking a milk shake with their burgers is highly recommended to help fill the void.