If you are going for elaborate, Suga recommends Rojo Restaurant at the Spanish Court Hotel. Make reservations of course by calling 926-0000 and request a table on the rooftop by the infinity pool. Nice ambience.
For quaint and affordable, The Wine Shop at Shop 7B Southdale Plaza is having a weekend full of events. You can start the celebration from Saturday with Jazz in the Street for $3500JMD per person for a full Buffet with Wine and Drinks on sale from 9pm until….
Then they will be open on Sunday from 4-10pm for $3500JMD, Food AND Wine Inclusive. Call 620-5098 to make reservations.
Thinking about Brunching it? Fromage Gourmet Market at 8 Hillcrest Avenue is the place. Call 622-9856.
Not feeling the vibe to wine and dine or you are going all out and would like to add extra to give the full package?
Go for sweet treats by Jodicakes, who will be taking orders up to 12 noon TODAY for her delicious Lava cake, Red velvet trifle and more! See info below:
Then of course, there is the Spa! Been there, done that with the popular ones? Well try the fairly new White Orchid Spa at the Jamaica Pegasus where they are sure to please. Gift Certificates available. Call 926-3690-1.
The sun is out! For those who were snowed in and couldn’t go to Chart House in Maryland, here is another cool spot for Seafood with a view to head to for lunch. Enjoy!
Charthouse in Maryland suits many occasions, whether it is for lunch or a dinner date, watching sailboat races in May or sparks for the 4th of July, it has an absolutely lovely view of Spa Creek.
It is a remodelled boat house by the waterfront in Annapolis, Maryland. They have good service and provide fresh seafood and other local ingredients on their menu. If Seafood is not your thing, they have delicious Steaks and prime Ribs to suit your fancy too. Their menu can be found on their website (see below).
Fresh Seafood with a view, go for it!
Chart House
Annapolis, Maryland
Ph: (410) 268-7166
Website: www.chart-house.com
Photo: www.chart-house.com
***If you are not in Annapolis, there are other locations in Colorado, New England and more.
A. Braised Lamb Shank                   B. The Gus Pizza             C. (L-R) Friend, Lisa Samough and Gabby from Suga Lifestyle
Two words to describe it – nice and quaint.
What did I have? No I did not have Red wine, can you believe it? Suga is a Chardonnay and Riesling kinda girl.
I had a 2014 Crnko-Riesling + Sauvignon Blanc Blend from Slovenia ($11USD/glass) that was lovely.
They have a wide selection of items, not only on their wine menu but food menu as well. Note that an alcohol charge (~3%) is added to your bill. Salads and Soups, Paninis, Pizzas (Crispy Wheat/Roasted Flat breads), Salmon, Catch of the Day, Crab cakes, Sea Bass and more are offered.
I had a tasty, tender Braised Lamb Shank ($24US) over chopped eggplant, green olives, golden raisins, shaved almonds with mint yogurt.
My friends enjoyed The Gus ($10) Pizza with pepperoni, sausage, ham and housemade marinara as well as the Bistro Filet ($23US) 8oz beef with red red wine reduction.
Our waiter was awesome too and will be coming to Jamaica next year!
Have you heard about Jabba’s Smoked Grill and Jabba’s Peppa Swims?! Gear up for next year, because if you are in the corporate area, especially New Kingston, some delicious, affordable food can be delivered to you at work or home, free of cost. Pick up options are also available. Sounds great right? Another option to add to our very limited lunch selection.
Lunch from Jabba’s Smoked Grill is available on Saturdays. Lunch costs $600JMDinclusive of delivery in the corporate area. You have a choice of either Jerked or Barbecue chicken along with sides of sweet potato, rice and peas and/or roast breadfruit.
Jabba’s Peppa Swims are mild or spicy packages of shrimps available on Tuesdays and Fridays at a cost of $280JMD each. But don’t worry, the spicy one will not leave you choking. It is tastefully done with the right level of spice so you enjoy it but you are comfortable at the same time. As deliveries are done mainly in New Kingston, they are currently a big hit with corporate offices such as JMMB, Sagicor, Barita and more. So you don’t need to travel to St. Elizabeth for ‘swims’, you can get them delivered to you or pick up at 31-33 Trafalgar Road (BNS with no sign), opposite the NCB atrium, anytime between 8am and 5pm.
Filling serving!
For both Jabba’s Smoked Grill and Jabba’s Peppa Swims, it is best to order the night before or on the day before 12 noon, by calling 876-296-7304.
Ok so now you know what is offered and the cost, but who does the cooking? Jabba!
Who or what is Jabba?
Jabba is young, Jonathan Simpson, who just has a love for cooking and was thus inspired to start this endeavour. I have actually tasted Jabba’s chicken from as far back as 2008 at a friend’s baby shower. Yes! Jabba does catering too and used to even have a small restaurant back in the day that offered Jamaican lunches such as Curried Goat, Oxtail, Cow foot, Jerked Chicken and more.
Where has Jabba been all these years?
A few years ago, the restaurant business alone was not enough for Jabba and he felt that a ‘9-5’ would be better for the finances so started working with Scotiabank. But when something is just a part of you, it always finds its way back. So recently, he found a way to still work with the bank but to branch out into what he loves to do even more as well, cook.
Who taught him how to cook?
Well the Chicken and other things came naturally to him for the most part but a young lady who he used to buy shrimp from taught him how to prepare the shrimps aka ‘swims’ when he developed an interest to do it himself.
How did the rave about Jabba’s Swims begin?
About 4 or 5 years ago, Jabba prepared his shrimps for a fundraiser at the office and the people wanted more. The interest and liking for it spread by word of mouth to different offices within the area.
What makes Jabba’s Chicken and Shrimps different?
It’s all about the freshness, the sauce and the general taste of the food.
Freshness is important folks, so it is unlikely that the Peppa Swims ‘goi run u belly!’. Pepper shrimps are a local favourite but a lot of the shrimps sold on the street side are not fresh. Jabba’s shrimps are usually prepared on the morning of or the night before they are sold. They are a hot commodity so they sell off in one day. If you are brave, I have been told that you can refrigerate and have the shrimp up to 5 days after purchase or a day after if you do not refrigerate.
With regards to the sauce, I remember licking the sauce off my fingers from that Chicken from 2008! Yes, literally ‘finger-lickin’ good’.
Then of course, the taste is unique as a result of the preparation with freshness, seasoning and the added sauce or peppers.
Where is the Chicken and Shrimp sourced from?
Chicken is sourced from Best Dressed Chicken and the Shrimps from Rainforest Seafoods.
What has Jabba done catering for before?
His ‘Eat All You Want Buffet Seafood’ years ago and most recently, Weddings and parties such as Haunted and Afloat Soca Cruse. BBQ Pigstail, BBQ Chicken, Pasta and Garlic bread were a hit at Haunted!
Can you order this week?
Sorry Suga bears, Jabba’s Smoked Grill and Peppa Swims is currently closed for the holidays and will reopen for business by Saturday, January 9, 2016.
The near future of Jabba’s Peppa Swims?
By the 2nd week in January, Jabba’s popular Peppa Swims will be at Bickles in Sovereign Centre Food Court on Wednesdays and Saturdays for $300JMD per bag.
So as we think about food of all kinds for the festive season and wonder how we will afford lunch in January, look out for Jabba’s Smoked Grill and Peppa Swims next year!
My other half visited Cafe Africa about a month ago and enjoyed his Cameroon Beef lunch in a simple, comfortable setting.
Cafe Afica is located between Trafalgar and Lady Musgrave Road, where Toss and Roll used to be.
Nothing is extravagant or over the top. The service is mediocre, but the relaxed, laid back, feel-good vibe of the outdoor ‘side-walk’ cafe reaches every diner.
Photo: Cafe Africa’s Instagram page
The menu changes from time to time and is written on an African-shaped blackboard. Dishes from over 25 countries have been put on that menu, for instance, Congo’s original Saltfish and Okra Stew, Mozambique style Pan Grilled Chicken and more.
They also deliver!
The Cafe could serve as a cool watering hole or coffee fix and tea stop, as they serve South African wines, Organic coffee and African teas.
Cafe Africa
Location: 2 Trafalgar Road,SBAJ.Kgn. 5 (Centre of Trafalgar and Lady Musgrave)
We arrived on time for our reservation at 8:30pm. We were offered a seat by the bar until our table was available close to 9pm. It did not feel like a long wait, as the hostess had a lovely personality, chatted us up a little and we got more than enough time to browse the menu. I usually need more time choosing from an Indian menu. The atmosphere was nice with light Indian music and the decor was modern with a slight, sidewalk-terrace vibe with the arched columns.
We ordered at 9pm and our Tomato Basil soup ($495JMD) arrived quickly within minutes as it should. It was spicy but not hot and flavourful as the basil was fresh.
Our main dishes arrived shortly after our soup cleared. I was impressed that on a completely packed night, food arrived within reasonable time and the service was good. Our waiter could have been more attentive but he was pleasant.
We had the Paneer Tikka Masala ($1395JMD), Chicken with Spinach ($1595JMD) and Chicken with Fenugreek ($1595JMD). I think the dishes could have at least been served with the steamed basmati rice, but if desired, it would be at an additional cost. So we ordered the rice, Tandoori Roti and Tandoori Garlic Naan as our sides. Wine was reasonably priced by the glass and we had Chardonnay and Merlot.
When there is a debate about the winning dish, that is a good thing. I loved the Chicken with Spinach that was thick silky creamy sauce mildly spiced with garlic and masala tossed with boneless chicken tikka chunks versus the Chicken with Fenugreek that won by majority, which was thick silky creamy methi gravy mildly spiced with garlic and masala tossed with boneless chicken tikka chunks.
Something was a little different about the Tikka Masala so it lost out. Although Indian Cuisine is not native to our tongue, we have enjoyed others a bit more. My other half thought that it’s usually in a thicker sauce as well.
A mini Chocolate Mousse Cake ($850JMD) from the Montego Bay Chocolate Company that has other desserts in there, was a lovely end to the meal. It was very small but moist and delicious.
A pretty pricey menu but worth it. They normally say different strokes for different folks but I think it is safe to say Nirvanna pleases on every level.
Nirvanna Indian Fusion Cuisine
***Reservations recommended***
*All prices subject to G.C.T and 5% service charge
Location: 1A 80 Lady Musgrave Rd. Kgn. 10
Ph:Â 876-927-9077
Facebook (Menu posted): Nirvanna Indian Fusion Cuisine
I visited Bahama Breeze in Duluth, Georgia a month ago and was happy to see that as a franchise ‘food joint’, the food was delicious, the service was quick, waiters were pleasant and the place was clean. Thanks to the Chef for cooking my steak to order, i.e. medium rare! Yum.
Anna-Kay Tomlinson, is known as Miss T and for her famous Oxtail from her restaurant in Ocho Rios.
It is really an oasis in the jungle of ‘Ochi’ town with quite a rough road to get there. But once you reach, you will know your adventure on the unknown path was worth it.
Miss T’s Kitchen was visited a couple weeks ago by my other half at about 2:30 in the afternoon for lunch during the week. He found his waiter, Glenroy quite welcoming, attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. The environment was nice and the food came out in reasonable time.
Was it Oxtail? No. Sadly there was no Oxtail available at the time. He ordered Chickpea and Tomato soup and Curried Goat. The Curried Goat was apparently fantastic. He said it was the best ‘Curry Goat’ he has had for a while. So don’t just go there for Oxtail! He had natural Juneplum and Pineapple juice with his meal and appreciated the freshly made, delicious food and good service.
The bill was $1650JMD including a 10% service charge. Definitely value for money. Big up Miss T’s for keeping our Jamaican cuisine alive in tourist town!
After a 3-hour drive from Kingston on Sunday, November 15th, I arrived at Marguerites Seafood by the Sea, Montego Bay on time for my reservation at 8pm. Of course, I arrived not only hungry but with high expectations. Let me tell you from now that these high expectations were met!
My other half and I ordered by 8:05pm. The staff from the entrance to being seated were all very pleasant and professional. The ambience was lovely overlooking the sea where I sat on the balcony and the decor modern and decent. Sitting by the garden would have been nice as well.
Shelly Ann was our Maître d’ for the night. She worked hard to ensure everything was alright and checked in with our table now and then, but not to the point of being overwhelming. I noticed that the General Manager visited the table next to us as well, welcoming them and ensuring everything was satisfactory. I find that proper supervision and interaction with guests are very necessary when a restaurant wishes to provide and sustain a high level of service.
Appetizers were out within 10 minutes and the other dishes followed like clockwork. Our glasses were refilled with water when needed and our waiter, Ricardo offered us the Robert Mondavi wines that were on special for RW. We had the Zinfandel and Sauvignon blanc.
All of the dishes were delicious. Presentation was salivating and serving sizes were appropriate. For instance, I was a bit worried about where I was going to fit dessert, but thankfully I was not tempted too much and the Bread pudding and Cheesecake were small and compact, just the right size to fit in the space available in my tummy without feeling uncomfortable.
The Appetizers were excellent. The Jerked Chicken Breast was well seasoned and minced up for the Beggars Purse and the Shrimp Trucillio had a lovely flavour. A delicious Caribbean Spiny Lobster Salad followed as a bonus with fresh veggies and a tasty vinaigrette. Then all of a sudden, our attention was called by one of the waiters to see a Stingray in the ocean. Hardly a dull moment at Marguerites!
It was hard to leave. An extremely refreshing experience to have all-round excellent service and food. Epicurean to the core. It was definitely worth the drive and I cannot wait to return.
Marguerites Seafood by the Sea
Location: Gloucester Ave. (The Hip Strip), Montego Bay
