A MUST Stop on your way to or from Negril!

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A stop by Smoked Marlin is a must on your way to or from Negril! I enjoyed my Hummingbird and check out my customized Smoked Marlin with Baked Irish Potato, which was just an appetizer believe it or not, but great pick me up.

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Smoked Marlin and Baked Irish Potato.

Commendable service and a scenic view as usual. #SugaEndorsed

Smoked Marlin Restaurant

Location: Main Street. Hopewell, Hanover

Ph: 876-609-4181

By: Gabrielle Burgess a.k.a Suga (Founder/Owner, Suga Lifestyle)

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

The Chilly Witch from Montego Bay Casts Spells on Diets with Ice Cream and Sorbet!

Gabrielle Burgess a.k.a Suga is now contributing articles to www.buzz-caribbean.com !

I am so enthusiastic to finally share the joy I feel each time I have Chilly Witch Ice Cream and Sorbet, notably after I earn my carbs.

Gabrielle Burgess a.k.a Suga of Suga Lifestyle
Gabrielle Burgess a.k.a Suga of Suga Lifestyle about to enjoy the toop size, Strawberry Ice Cream from Chilly Witch after her workout.

So far, the 00-Heaven, a luxury chocolate blend made with One One Cacao’s delicious, rich, Jamaican
dark chocolate is my favourite.

Chilly Witch will be at my Christmas Trade Show, Suga Lifestyle’s Christmas Connection at The Jamaica Pegasus on Sunday, December 15th! So SAVE THE DATE!

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Check out more from my latest article, ‘The Chilly Witch from Montego Bay Casts Spells on Diets with Ice Cream and Sorbet’ by clicking on the link here:

https://buzz-caribbean.com/article/the-chilly-witch-from-montego-bay-casts-spells-on-diets-with-ice-cream-and-sorbet/

Enjoy! Chilly Witch is #SugaEndorsed 

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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

TGIF from Smoked Marlin Restaurant!

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Suga a.k.a Gabby Burgess with husband, Randy Burgess at Smoked Marlin Restaurant 2 years ago.

Flashback Friday to lunch at Smoked Marlin Restaurant two years ago.

Smoked Marlin is still up and running on the western end of the island, Hanover and is a fantastic spot for Seaside dining while indulging in authentic Jamaican cuisine.

Smoked Marlin Restaurant

Location: Main Street. Hopewell, Hanover

Ph: 876-609-4181

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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

Suga’s recommendations for Restaurant Week!

Many of you may be seasoned Restaurant Week (RW) attendees by now. Since Suga is in the same boat, I have selected restaurants whose menus have stood out and are different from what they usually have for RW. They also have a reputation for good service, good quality food and value for money.

For those who still have a lot to experience with Restaurant Week, take a gamble if you do not see your choice on my list. You never know, you may end up with a winner for dinner.

Let’s get to it!

***The Price of each category includes a choice of appetizer, main course and dessert. Beverages, G.C.T and gratuity additional***

EPICUREAN ($4300JMD***)

Fromage Brasserie in Kingston! Best menu on the Epicurean list.

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Fromage Brasserie’s Signature Dish of Lobster, Shrimp & scallop tossed in white wine mornay sauce & stuffed in lobster tails.

DELECTABLE ($3800JMD***)

Nirvanna Indian Restaurant in Kingston! Best Ethnic Restaurant in Kingston. Great choice for an authentic, Indian feast.

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Flingback Friday to Suga and husband, Randy Burgess’s dinner at Nirvanna Indian Cuisine

SAVOURY ($2800JMD***)

KINGSTON

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• Chive Eatery in Village Plaza, Kingston – New kids on the block with a killer menu of Pork buns, Oxtail Alfredo, their Signature dish of Crispy, glazed Pork Belly stuffed in a steamed bao bun with hoisin sauce, ginger and pickled cucumbers and more! They may be the dark horse of RW!

• Jamaica Liquor Warehouse in Kingston – One of my favourites. I would eat anything on their menu. Great variety, taste, good service and value for money.

• Tamarind Indian Cuisine in Kingston – Never usually disappoints. Savoury, authentic Indian food with good service.

MONTEGO BAY

• Pelican Grill has served well for many years. I would go with them if choosing this category in the second city.

I would also take a gamble with:

• Bubble & Spice, Coral Cliff

• Pier 1

• Uncorked West

OCHO RIOS

• Anglers – A family pleaser with a mouth-watering seafood menu.

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Fling Back Friday to my Steamaz from Anglers!

• Evita’s Italian Restaurant – They practically have the same menu each year, but it is so extensive that you can keep trying new savoury dishes in a delightful ambience with good service.

• Seaside Dutchie – Great seafood by the sea with unique presentation. This visit could be a fun family day or evening out. Their seafood is usually served in reasonable time compared to others.

TASTY ($1850JMD***)

• Sharkies Bar Grill & Tours in Runaway Bay – You may run the risk of a long wait, but it’s usually worth it. Great seafood by the sea.

• Smoked Marin Restaurant in Hanover – Delicious food by the sea with big portions. Their Signature Jerked Calamari dish looks interesting.

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Smoked Marlin’s Jerked calamari with brown butter remoulade and glazed carrots.

NYAM & SCRAM (30% off/Discounted Lunch Specials)

•  Devon House Bakery for sweeting up the palate after a reduced size main.

• Fish Pot for serving up value for money for the people. They have a healthy salmon dish and a creamy coconut lobster pasta!

• Kushites Vegetable Cuisine -Take advantage of their deals! Best vegetarian restaurant in Jamaica.

● Super’s Spicy Doubles – I’ve never been, but I would take a gamble with those curry dish deals for $600JMD or less.

MORNING BITES (Discounted Breakfast Specials)

Mr. Breakfast looks like a deal!

Reservations are recommended for all categories except for Nyam and Scram and Morning Bites. I suggest you still call ahead or just before you make your way for the restaurants that aren’t fast food ones in the Nyam and Scram category.

Check out Restaurant Week’s Website,  http://go-jamaica.com/rw/ to see full menus and to find contact information and locations for the Restaurants.

Enjoy!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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

Dental Fair this week in Hanover!

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Representatives of the Rotary Club of Lucea, Great Shape Organization, Sandals Group and Rotaract Club of Hanover at their Dental Fair last Friday, August 31, 2018.

Last Friday, August 31, 2018 was Day 5 of the Dental Fair put on by the Rotary Club of Lucea in partnership with The Great Shape Organization, Sandals Group and Rotaract Club of Hanover.

They will be at the Lucea Church Hall Centre until Friday this week from 9am-6pm.

Bring your kids, family and friends to get dental checks and to sign up for dental procedures if needed by a competent orthodontics team on site.

Rotaract Club of Hanover

Meeting Days and Time: Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday

Meeting Place: Lucea Fire Station

Instagram: @rotaractclubofhanover 

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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

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Restaurant Week Starts this Friday! Suga’s Choices for Savoury and Tasty!

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Evita’s Italian Lobster Fettuccine Contessa! A RW Winner for Suga in November 2014

Restaurant Week (RW) is just a few days away. Last Friday, I gave you my Epicurean and Delectable picks. I hope you made your Reservations!

Remember that the Menus with Restaurant Locations and Contact numbers are online at:

http://go-jamaica.com/rw/

***Prices for each category include choice of Appetizer, Main Course and Dessert. Beverages, GCT and Gratuity additional.***

Savoury ($2800JMD)

There are many options, but just a few stand out for Suga based on reputation, service, previous experiences including RW experiences, their RW Menu, usual serving sizes and value for money.

> Kingston

The Palms at C&C South Beach and Tamarind Indian Cuisine.

Menu stand outs for C&C South Beach are their Smoked Salmon Salad Appetizer, Washington Palms Pork Chop and Seafood Thermidor main courses. Their options for Dessert should please everyone. Keep in mind that South Beach usually has large serving sizes.

Menu stand outs for Tamarind Indian Cuisine include the Non Veg Platter, which is a combination of assorted chicken tikka, sweet chilli shrimps and sliced Szechuan fried fish, as well as the Green Thai Curry with your choice of chicken, fish or shrimp accompanied by Naan bread/rice and Tiramisu for dessert.

I still haven’t made it out to Rib Kage at The Serengeti Bistro, Hope Zoo, but I have gotten good reviews. It could be safe to take a chance on them.

> Montego Bay

The new Hard Rock Cafe and the oldie but goodie, Pelican Grill are the best choices hands down.

> Ocho Rios

Evita’s Italian Restaurant is usually good and fairly new kids on the block, Great Escape Restaurant at Runaway Bay have been doing well. I had a good time at Great Escape for RW last year and their menu has not really changed  Definitely value for money.

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Appleton-Guava Glazed Salmon from Great Escape Restaurant at Runaway Bay for RW last Year, November 2016

> Old Harbour

Kaluga Cafe should please RW diners.

Tasty ($1850JMD)

> Kingston

Dragon Court Restaurant has been consistently good over the years.

> Montego Bay

MVP Smokehouse has a decent menu to explore.

> Hanover

Smoked Marlin has delicious food and an inviting menu with value for money, but I question their ability to provide good service with a RW crowd. Good risk to take though. I suggest you go with fun company.

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Smoked Marlin’s Oxtail Ragu enjoyed by Suga in April 2017.

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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Lunch on the Seaside in Hopewell, Hanover

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Randy Burgess (L) and wife, Gabrielle Burgess from Suga Lifestyle celebrating their 1 year anniversary

Sunday before last, I visited Smoked Marlin Restaurant in Hopewell, Hanover for lunch with my husband.

Apart from our traditional Sweet Potato Pudding stop in Priory, St. Ann, Smoked Marlin was our last stop after a relaxed, food-filled weekend in Negril before heading back to Kingston.

Our waitress was pleasant but could have been more attentive. The wait for food including the Appetizer of Fish soup was too long. The diners that ordered just after us complained as well.

The food was tasty but did not blow us away. Servings were sizeable and made up for the delay. We had a little space left for Dessert, but they did not have all the items listed on the menu including the Tropical Crêpe that I desired.

I thought it would be a more impressive visit, but it was still a delightful experience with a picturesque seaside view to up the ante.

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Marlin Salad – $900JMD +tx (Top); Oxtail Ragu – $1900JMD +tx (Bottom Left); Seafood Linguine with shrimp & fish – $1900JMD +tx (Bottom right)

Date of visit: 30/4/17

Time: 3:45pm

NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum

Parking: ★★★★★

Ambience: ★★★★★

Décor: ★★★★☆

Comfort: ★★★★★

Service: ★★★☆☆

Speed: ★★☆☆☆

Food quality: ★★★★☆

Serving amount: ★★★★★

Plating: ★★★★☆

Value for $: ★★★★☆

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Smoked Marlin Restaurant

Location: Main Street. Hopewell, Hanover

Ph: 876-609-4181

Opening Hours: 12pm-9pm

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this article, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

Suga’s Restaurant Week Round-up!

How was Restaurant Week for Suga and her Suga Bears? Not so exciting. The majority of Suga Bears’ responses were ‘meh’, ‘It wasn’t all that’ and ‘I didn’t participate this year or feel the urge to’. I totally agree. Marketing was probably at its lowest this year. It seemed as if the Ambassadors were practically invisible until the week had almost passed by. The Nyam & Jam Food and Drink Festival had a lot more buzz going on. Did the US elections and the victory of Donald Trump kill advertising? It’s partially the media’s event so they should have had control over that.

The lack of creativity and variety in Menus were also disappointing for many this year, causing some not to participate at all.

Though in agreement, I still tried to find and suggest the best Restaurants and got a few to change their mind. One was pleasantly surprised with Nirvanna Indian Fusion Cuisine’s Nyam and Scram. It was not only affordable but filling and delicious with the right amount of spice.

Nirvanna Indian Fusion Cuisine ($1300 +GCT)

 

Suga can’t say the same for CPJ Deli’s Nyam & Scram though. Thankfully I made the right choice with the Pan Seared Snapper Fillet. It was the best of the worse at the table with its bones and all. The Grilled Garlic and Ginger Pork Chop was lacking seasoning and a salivating sauce and the Crispy Parmesan Shrimp Salad was a disaster. The best thing on that plate was the taco shell that the Salad came in. The Salad arrived at the table with no vinaigrette as advertised and the Shrimps were burnt. When my friend was already trying her best to get halfway through, the waitress realised she forgot to serve it with the vinaigrette and Parmesan cheese for the Shrimp. The Parmesan cheese could not help that dry, burnt Shrimp though. Most of the staff were unpleasant and seemed overwhelmed by the Deli full of diners. They usually have good service but last Saturday was horrible. Even getting an extra fork was a production. Their Restaurant Week menu did not include a Soup or even a Muffin but only a glass of wine or a Vodka mix along with the meal. Thankfully we digressed from the Restaurant Week menu and ordered the Chocolate Endulgence. Go to CPJ Deli if you are in need of a proper Chocolate fix! Let it soften from the fridge for a bit and then allow it take your breath away. Endulge!

CPJ Deli Pan Seared Snapper Fillet ($1200 +GCT)

Cannonball Café was a good Nyam & Scram pick as I had suggested. They really were all that and a bag of chips.

Cannonball Café’s Turkey Bacon Ranch Club Wrap with Chips, a Cookie and Medium French Press- $896 +GCT (Photo credit: Randy Burgess)

The Houseboat Grill (Delectable) in Montego Bay was average and the food was described as salty. Have they fallen off? That would be a shame. Suga will have to revisit and see for herself.

The Houseboat Grill (Photo credit: Nicole Goodin)

Mystic Thai (Delectable) in Montego Bay had good feedback. It was said that their ambiance and service were great as usual. They offered 1 of each Appetizer. My Suga Bear was not a fan of the Wings Appetizer and found the Salmon to be satisfactory, but enjoyed the Minced Chicken Entrée and Chocolate Mousse.

Mystic Thai (Photo credit: Nickalia Kinkead)

Marguerites Seafood by the Sea in Montego Bay (Epicurean) has kept up its sensational standards.

I was let down by the build up for L’Escargot (Epicurean). Thankfully the best thing was their Escargots. Long waits, tasty but not so delicious food, desserts that were not decadent and waiters that lacked charisma. Not value for money but will revisit as they have an extensive menu.

Escargots from L’Escargot

I was disapponted that I did not get to try Boardwalk Bistro, Ocho Rios (Tasty) for Restaurant Week. They took a while to greet me as a diner and did not start serving the RW menu until 5:30pm. Since it was literally on the Boardwalk close to the sea and given the casual look of the Restaurant & Bar, I think it would have been appropriate to offer their menu during lunch time was well. The tourists on their Cruise may have also enjoyed that option.

Boardwalk Bistro’s Rum Fire Ice Cream Cake (Photo credit: @jamaicagleaner Instagram Photo)

Sadly I will have wait to return some day to taste their Rum Fire Ice Cream Cake (if available) that I was looking forward to, as well as one of their best sellers, the Fisherman Seafood dish with scallops, shrimp, squid, mussels and fish.

Boardwalk Bistro’s Fisherman Seafood Dish (Photo credit: Jermaine Barnaby; @jamaicagleaner Instagram Photo)

Great Escape at Runaway Bay Golf Club (Savoury) was a pleasant surprise. New kids on the block with great service and food with a picturesque view.

Evita’s Italian (Delectable) also held it down in Ocho Rios. Kudos to them. They had another good year.

Evita’s Italian (Photo credit: Simone Green)

In Kingston, it was reported that Redbones (Delectable) was good but not great. I think they are consistently good but didn’t see based on their menu where they would be spectacular.

Saffron Indian Cuisine (Savoury) was not prepared for Restaurant week. A Suga Bear had an 8:00pm reservation with friends and got seated at 8:50pm at a two seater table for three people. What a shame.

The Regency Room at Terra Nova All Suite Hotel (Epicurean) lived up to its reputation of having the best Lamb Chops!

Many Restaurants may not have been mentioned but these are the highlights for Suga this year based on experiences and feedback given. If you did not choose to participate in Restaurant Week this year, still have a look at the Restaurants at www.go-jamaica.com/rw/ and see where looks interesting that you haven’t visited as yet. Let us remember Restaurants not only treat diners with special offers for Restaurant Week but participate for opportunities to expand their patronage and debut new items on their Menus.

I look forward to trying Bettino by Drax Hall Estate, Ocho Rios and Smoked Marlin in Hanover some day soon.

Well that’s it for this year folks. Until next year!

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By: Gabrielle Burgess
If you liked this article, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.