Try making the Suga Pink Whisky for the Weekend!

image2
Suga Pink Whisky by Craig Fleming.

Suga requested a Whisky Cocktail for her Birthday week from friend, Le Cordon Bleu Paris Graduate and Designer Chef, Craig Fleming and look what I got! Check out the recipe here:

Screenshot_20200612-094242_WPS Office

Thanks so much Craig!

Give it a try and enjoy the weekend! 🍹

XoXo,
Suga 💖

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.

How is the AC Lounge at the NEW AC Hotel Kingston?!

 

image1

Suga Taster, Craig Fleming’s Ratings for AC Hotel Kingston

Date and time of visit: Friday, June 21, 2019 at 1pm

No. of diners: 2 adults

NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum 

Parking: ★★★☆☆

(Should improve with the completion of the multi-level parking garage)

Ambience: ★★★★★

Décor: ★★★★★

Comfort: ★★★★★

Service: ★★★★★

Speed: ★★★☆☆

Food quality: ★★★☆☆

Serving amount: ★★★★☆

Plating: ★★★★☆

Value for $: ★★★☆☆

Suga Taster, Craig Fleming’s Breakdown!

The new kid on the Kingston hospitality block, AC Hotel had its official opening two weeks ago. From the Laura Facey and Andre Woolery commissioned Art installations displayed throughout the lobby to the open air interior design, the AC Hotel (a collaboration between local hoteliers Sandals/ATL Group and the international hotel conglomerate, Marriott Bonvoy) is a beauty in contemporary design and aesthetics.

image2
Laura Facey and Andre Woolery commissioned Art installations displayed throughout the Lobby.

It’s located on the same compound as the BMW/MINI showroom. The open air feeling makes guests feel welcomed with outdoor/indoor music. Guests can look forward to Starbucks, a multilevel parking garage and potential establishments along the mini boardwalk in the near future too.

I decided to check out the AC Lounge last Friday for a quick lunch. It consists of a HUGE wraparound bar, outdoor pool bar and a cozy, but intimate dining area. If you are like me and have lodged at any other AC Hotel location, you would know what to expect from the millennial targeted brand: simple tapas, basic, but tasty libations, all wrapped in an affordable package. The newest Kingston location does not disappoint in that aspect.

Upon entering the lobby, the hotel staff will direct you to the quaint dining area located directly beside the open bar and you will have a choice to either sit alongside the sound padded cushioned walls or adjacent to the breakfast buffet area separated by a sliding glass casement.

Appetizers

My friend and I started with a simple request of Club soda and lime alongside bottled water, which was promptly sent to our table. We perused the limited menu and being a quintessential foodie, decided to start with Appetizers.

image3
Mini Potato Bites

We got the mini Potato bites with sea salt, scallions and garlic+paprika aioli and the Arugula Salad with shaved parmesan, prosciutto and salami. The Potato was fried perfectly, but my only vice is that the aioli be served on the side rather than beneath the mound of fried Potatoes.

image4
Arugula Salad with shaved parmesan, prosciutto.

The Arugula Salad had the perfect amount of prosciutto and parmesan. They did not have the salami as advertised, which normally would be problematic, but it truly was not necessary for this salad. I also loved that the dressing was not drizzled on it beforehand, as my personal preference is to pour it myself. The server promptly apologized for the unavailability of salami and we continued to order our next lunch course.

Main Dishes

image5
Garden Salad served with toast.
image6
Panko Fried Snapper Fillet with butter sautéed root vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, carrot and Brussel sprouts) and garlic remoulade.

I found the Garden Salad to be more basic than usual, but the Panko Snapper was really tasty. The Fish was flaky, NOT overcooked like a lot of establishments and the panko crust was golden and crispy as it should be. It went well with the butter sautéed root vegetables and garlic remoulade. This was surely the highlight of the meal. The so called parmesan fries on the other hand, were tasteless, limp and one of the worst I have ever had. Pathetic.

Dessert

The Dessert choice was no better. The Molten Chocolate Lava cake tasted like a Betty Crocker cake mix topped with cheap chocolate sauce, far from the expectations of what an actual molten lava cake is supposed to be – decadent and yummy.

image7
Molten Chocolate Lava cake.

Advice: order the Macarons or the Cheesecake.

We ended our meal with Coffee which appeased my disappointment with the fries & Lava cake.

The AC Lounge is a great locale for Drinks and quick bites after work. Hopefully they will follow suit with the other global locations and have discounted Happy Hour drinks and appetizers. There are a few quirks to iron out from the first few days of opening, but the customer service from the get go has raised the bar positively, which is in line with the expectations of the AC Marriott mantra.

AC Hotel Kingston

Location: 38-42 Lady Musgrave Road. Kingston 5. JA. W.I 

Ph: 876-750-3000

Website: www.achotelkingston.com/

20190625_160120
[Photos and Review contributed by Suga Taster, Craig Fleming]
Edited 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.

 

Suga Lifestyle brings you Suga Tasters!

20190702_062743.png
The website, Suga Lifestyle was launched in November 2013 by Gabrielle Burgess a.k.a Suga.
Since then, I have been bringing you up to date, exciting reviews of culinary hot spots and hidden gems across the island and even a few international ones too.
I was given the honour and pleasure of being a Food Judge for The Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards in 2014 and served as a Jamaica Gleaner Restaurant Week Ambassador by the public’s vote in 2015.
Suga Lifestyle has been known to keep it real, giving honest, yet balanced reviews, taking you through each review line by line, almost letting you feel as if you were there.
Suga Lifestyle has grown a lot since 2013, where it has maintained its goal of intending to inspire, educate and entertain via various types of posts categorized by; GW Art,
Restaurant Reviews and Ratings, Brand Jamaica, Charities, Health and Fitness, Sports and more. The blog, currently has a reach of over 1,500 followers and grows daily.
To further expand Suga Lifestyle’s reach, I have selected Suga Tasters!
Suga Tasters are Objective, Observant, Adventurous travelers and foodies that support Brand Jamaica. They enjoy taking photos and keeping up to date and in touch with the Culinary industry, the Chefs, Bakers and Caterers that keep it alive and thriving, and of course, hot spots and hidden gems in Jamaica, Florida and Washington DC. 
Suga Bears, Suga Babies and Suga Daddies, I present to you, Suga Lifestyle’s Suga Tasters!
PhotoGrid_1562068697615.jpg
As time goes by, you will hear more from them. But first up, is
Craig Fleming!
20190625_160120
Suga Taster, Craig Fleming
Craig is a Logistics Specialist, but also a Private Chef. His favourite dishes are Smoked Salmon and Petrossian Beluga Caviar Pizza from Spago in Beverly Hills (USA), Escargots from the Terra Nova Hotel and Pho!
Craig’s favourite places to eat casually out of town are Stush in the Bush, Mystic Thai, Woody’s Portland and Jack Sprat, Treasure Beach.
Craig is even more straighforward than Suga, has Cosmopolitan culinary expertise from travelling, culinary school and various events.
Look out for Suga Taster, Craig Fleming’s Review tomorrow!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this Blog, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.