If you made it before the powercut at the National Arena last night, B&D Trawling was definitely the Best booth at Jamaica Expo 2016 with it’s eye-catching, detailed and creative look. Their product showcase and samples were on point.
B&D Trawling sells high quality Jamaican Seafood. Their retail brand is Sea Best, which is available in supermarkets, for instance Hi-Lo. They also have a Pop-Up Kitchen lunch on every last Friday of the month at their offices on the Waterfront, Port Royal Street and Downtown Kingston. Lunch is from 11am to 3pm and you have the option of purchasing a small or large lunch for $500JMD and $1000JMD respectively.
Sea Best Pop-Up Kitchen
Ph: 876-579-6905; 876-922-4150
*** Pre-order ENDS April 28th at 5pm for the next Pop-Up Kitchen
Goddard Catering Group also known as GCG Events are THE Caterers to watch! Up to last week Thursday, many did not know who or what was Goddard. How did that change? GCG hosted what I considered as a launch titled, ‘Destination: Delicious!’ last Thursday night at the Ruins, Mona that was Simply Outstanding, fully representing their brand.
Fidelity Motors Ltd. is a part of the Goddard Enterprises Group of Companies and GCG often works together with Tai Flora Luxe. So on the outskirts of the event, a car was on display followed by a beautiful table arrangement and lounge area decorated by Tai Flora.
GCG and Tai Flora pair beautifully together, as GCG not only caters for Corporate and Social events but for Weddings as well. They describe themselves as expensive but based on Suga’s experience with them, I absolutely disagree. For the complete package that they offer, for instance if you also require their Bar Services, they provide all the necessary glassware, ice, flatware, cutlery, disposables and service staff for an unbeatable price. Not to mention that they come fully equipped with their cooling trucks, electricity and more. To add icing to the cake, they are partners with Pop Up Gourmet Jamaica, which means that once you have your Pop Up Gourmet Advantage Card you get a 10% discount. Depending on the size of your event, that could turn out to be up to $30,000 to $50,000 or more off of your bill! My Gosh, where have they been all along? They have been around for many years Suga Bears. After successfully catering for the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007, they saw the need to raise the bar on catering services throughout the region, leading to the birth of GCG Events in 2008, an affiliated company of Goddard Catering Group and a member of the Goddard Enterprises Group of Companies. Some persons who know of them may also familiarise them with the airport or airport/airplane food. But when you taste their food, you would have no idea. They are thus familiar with the importance of punctuality as well.
They do a lot of Overseas Weddings and Funerals. Funerals?! Yes, because when persons land at the airport where their office is located, all they have to do is ask for GCG to take care of everything for them and work with their budget stating how much a head they can afford. The headache they thought they would have is usually gone once it reaches into GCG’s hands as they seem to be an excellent team. It is likely that you would communicate with Jasmin Ramsay or Cheridah Douglas who are the epitome of quick, efficient communication, quality service and the ability to deduce the needs of their customers, often without even having to ask.
To the general public, GCG probably started to visually creep into the Events market since the 1st Epicurean Escape in 2012 held at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove, close to Ocho Rios, Discovery Bay and Runaway Bay. The Festival featured some of Jamaica’s finest including Chef Ravi Anne, Chef Dennis McIntosh, Chef Theo Smith, Chef Christopher Evans, many others and most importantly, GCG’s current head Chef, Daniel Schwietzer. Since then they have been taking their time filtering into the Events market even more.
Executive Chef Daniel Schwietzer is Swiss and discovered his love for cooking from his Uncle who had a restaurant in Geneva, Switzerland. He knew very quickly from then that he wanted to be a Chef. He traveled across Switzerland where he learnt French and Italian cuisines, Los Angeles, California and then finally to Jamaica 25 years ago! He has served in the capacity of Executive Chef at Morgan’s Harbor Hotel, Temple Hall Estate, Plantation Inn and for the past 19 years, Goddard Catering Group Jamaica Ltd.
So what did Chef Schwietzer and the other Chefs as well as Bartenders have to offer at Destination: Delicious held last Thursday? It was quite a spread. Suga arrived at about 7:45pm. The event was slated to be from 6:30pm to 10pm so I arrived when things were about to be in full swing. Invited Guests were greeted with Sangria and I was just in time to hear Chef Schwietzer be introduced and have him take us through all the stations where he was sure to display his passion of fusing Caribbean and European cuisines.
The Cocktail station had Roasted Tuna with balsamic glaze drizzled over micro greens, Bruschetta with jerked cream cheese, escellion and wine, Rice noodles with Salmon, usually paired well with white wine and Ceviche drizzled with lime juice and some country pepper. The Ceviche and Tuna Appetizers impressed Suga.
The Soup station had Red peas, Manish water and Pumpkin soup with Spicy Banana Bread croutons that enhanced the flavour. All were tasty, but the Manish water was the hit for the night.
There was a Salad station to top off wetting the appetite. I loved the general use of fresh micro greens as I am in total support of the local farm to table concept.
Then for the meat lovers, the Beef and Pork station were kicking where the mango salsa complemented the Beef Tenderloin well and the coffee rubbed and chocolate infused methods were a delightful enhancement in flavour.
The Flat Bread station had THE most toppings including pesto, smoked marlin, fresh mozzarella and mushrooms, basil, micro greens, you name it!
There was a live cooking, Pasta station with Seafood pasta and a Dessert station where for Suga, the highlight was the Apple crumble. It was delicious.
Wines, Cocktails and Premium Spirits galore were offered.
The most outstanding for Suga was the tender, fresh, succulent cut of Beef! Perfection.
The Chefs were personable and pleasant, especially the men who had a charming flair to their service. Well done Goddard. Well done.
Executive Chef Daniel Schwietzer and Gabrielle Williams from Suga Lifestyle
I thoroughly enjoyed the night and expected nothing less. It was evident that persons were pleasantly surprised, impressed and pleased with the high standard and quality of service, food and drinks that GCG presented. A lot of power players in the Events industry were present and I am sure they will be key to future events and persons that GCG will cater to.
There is currently a breakdown across the service industry, Wedding vendors in particular, with regards to efficient communication such as getting quotes to customers in a timely fashion, following up with customers etc., but GCG is coming full force now and they will be at Dîner en Blanc this Saturday and other events to come. You won’t have to look out for them too hard because they will be Simply Outstanding!
Rotary and partners in Rotary, Rotaract, serve their communities wherever they see a void and opportunity for improvement. They also help with developing young minds and develop their own members personally and professionally as well.
Every Mikkle Jamaica is another non-profit organization that creates positive memories for Jamaica’s Orphaned and at-risk children.
The Rotaract Club of Kingston partnered with Every Mikkle Jamaica and visited the National Children’s Home in Papine during World Rotaract Week in March of this year.
They interacted with the kids, assisted with repairs to their Chicken coop, donated 100 baby chicks and stationery.
President of the Rotaract Club of Kingston, Pierce Ramsay (Left) looks on with the kids of National Children’s Home as baby chicks get settled into a new home
Pure awesomeness from Rotaract Club of Kingston and Every Mikkle Jamaica, helping to Build a Better Jamaica.
For more information on these non-profit organizations and how you can join, participate or contribute, check out the following:
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!
The Reggae Boyz will face Costa Rica in Costa Rica tonight at 9pm Jamaican time for the return round of the 4th round of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying series for FIFA World Cup in Russia 2018. Last Friday they drew 1-1 in Jamaica.
Costa Rica heads the group, 3 points ahead of Jamaica and Panama. Panama will face Haiti, who is at the bottom of the group with just 1 point.
Suga is proud to announce that after ‘3 Little Birds’ was sold a few weeks ago, there is only 1 GW ART piece left in stock – ‘Mind Blown’.
It is an original 24×18″ acrylic piece on canvas currently on Sale for $8000JMD at Cafe Fusion on 12 Ruthven Road. They do a healthy Turkey subsandwich too!
Gabby from Suga Lifestyle would love your support as a local Jamaican artist.
The GW Art Gallery is on the Right sidebar of this website, https://sugalifestyle.com. You can email [email protected] for more information.
