Gabby’s journey to Marguerites during RW was phenomenal!
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!
When the Entrées arrived, I was even more impressed and instantly ready to ‘Dig In’! My gosh, the Lobster Flambè with black truffle risotto looked divine! Then as I was looking at the dish all mesmerized, Cecil the Executive Chef visited the table, greeted us pleasantly and told me that he was adding his sauce consisting of Rum beurre blanc and more, as well as edible sprouts. I could hardly find the words to describe the lobster. Juicy lobster accompanied by an absolutely delicious sauce and risotto. My other half had the Flambé Steak complemented by oxtail ragout. Perfection. Cooked exact to order, medium rare.
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
Ph: 876-952-4777
How was Restaurant Week Jamaica?!
Restaurants in the 3 cities were certainly buzzing with diners throughout Restaurant Week (RW) that was held November 13 – 21. Persons were excited to ‘Dig in’, the slogan used for this year’s RW.
Suga was happy to report that all, if not, most of her recommendations were excellent choices based on feedback from Suga bears a.k.a. Suga Lifestyle readers and friends.
Just to highlight a few,
One Love Cafe at Bob Marley’s Museum and Susie’s Bakery & Coffee Bar really satisfied diners for the Nyam and Scram category.
For the Tasty Category, the UTECH students from Lillian’s Restaurant who seemed to put a lot of effort into their menu, offering unique dishes at a low cost showed that there is a bright future ahead for Jamaica in the Culinary industry.
Lillian’s was delightful. They had a pleasant and attentive waitress, yet not overbearing, as well as helpful staff. Decor was simple yet appropriate and clean, with soft classical music. The Jerked Chicken Chowder and Salt Fish Tostones they served as Appetizers had lovely flavours and the Salad was fresh with a decent serving. Their Main course was enjoyed by all at the table. Generous servings as well. Their Peppercorn Crusted Beef was cooked exactly as ordered, the Cinnamon Braised Pineapple Pork was succulent and not overdone, the Seared Trout and Creamy Chicken Sauté dishes were tasty. Desserts were also very good. Their Rum and Raisin cake, Passion Trifle and Chocolate and Banana Bread Pudding were yummy. Well done Lillian’s!
Sea Deck had nice, big, tasty servings as usual with decent service.
C & C South Beach Restaurant in the Savoury category got two thumbs up. Their service, food and atmosphere were impressive. Kudos to them for a 10 minute waiting time during RW!
Christopher’s at Hermosa Cove, Ocho Rios was a winner for the Delectable category. No surprise there. Props to Executive Chef Conroy Arnold for sustaining a high standard of food quality and service. The ambience there is just an added plus.
Then of course, with a full review coming soon, Marguerites Seafood by the Sea in Montego Bay took the Epicurean category hands down. Excellent ambience, service and food topped off by a premium selection of wines.
Well done Restaurants, looking forward to next year!
We say Goodbye to a Legend of Jamaica and West Indies Cricket, Basil ‘Shotgun’ Williams today
My father, Alvadow Basil Williams, more familiarly known as Basil ‘Shotgun’ Williams was born on November 21, 1949 of Caymanas, St. Catherine. He was the 2nd oldest of 9.
Basil attended St. Catherine High School and was quite a proud person from a young age. So he started to look into his future from very early in order to seek better opportunities for himself, especially because he had to stop high school in 4th form.
He played cricket for Jamaica Youths and Senior Cup Cricket for St. Catherine Cricket Club as a Middle-order Right-hand Batsman. He then became a member of Jamaica’s Under-19 Cricket team and quickly moved on to the Jamaica Cricket team in 1970. His debut performance in the middle order was disappointing, but he never gave up on his dream. He ensured he was on point for his 2nd chance in 1977 in a more adaptable spot to him, as an opener.
Basil continued to play well, taking a good look at the situation then pulling the trigger, using his wrist to generate powerful shots that would echo around the park, hence the name SHOTGUN. He later earned his spot to play with the West Indies in 1978 with a solid regional first class season. At this time, all International cricket was affected by the Packer intervention, meaning the defection of many leading players to Kerry Packers’ World Series Cricket. The Shell Shield was affected as well. So players like my father, Richard Austin, Desmond Haynes, Gordon Greenidge and Sylvester Clarke capitalised on the opportunity to make their marks in International Cricket by excelling in the Shell Shield matches. I can say proudly that my father, Shotgun was the biggest scorer, firing 399 runs at an average of 79.8!
Now with the West Indies, how did his debut go this time? With an aggressive and attacking approach, he is in the history books as one of the elite few players to score a century on his debut versus Australia. He ended that series with 257 runs!
I keep hearing and seeing that he played against a depleted Australian side in Guyana for that debut, probably giving reason to such an impressive performance. But his talent, brilliant batting style and subsequent performances, prove such assumptions invalid. He was consistent and rarely misfired. Furthermore, he scored 111 versus the best of India in 1979 at Eden Gardens, Calcutta, matching skills with some of the very best in the game.
Basil played 7 tests for the West Indies between 1978 and 1979, that included two entertaining centuries. He had an impressive test average of 39.08 and an average of 36.02 in the regional first class game. They said he was then discarded. Though it was the reality I am sure he would prefer the choice of a better word. In those times, the competition was stiff, with a better, more talented pool of players. So whether the outcome of the new selection was good or bad, talented players like my father were left behind, but he made such an impact during his short tenure, I am sure many wondered, WHAT IF. What if he continued to play with the West Indies.
Either way, his passion for the sport continued with his career in local cricket, including his Captaincy of the Jamaica Cricket team.
I was happy to hear the West Indies Cricket Board President, Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron express in his Press release after Dad passed, that ‘Basil was a tough, but fair captain and a no-nonsense guy’. That is indeed very true. Daddy would always say persons loved to call him ‘BOASY’. To him, he had reason to be. You could be the best player on the squad, but if you failed to have a certain level of discipline that he knew might affect the quality of your game and if he had the power to, sometimes he did, he would let you know that you would not be playing in the upcoming match. He knew his consistency and success not only came with natural talent but discipline, practice and hard work and he wanted to see players under his tutelage acquire similar results doing just that. He was a winner and taught me and my two brothers to be winners as well, with the same fiery, competitive spirit. He was a role model and teacher to many and genuinely wanted to see persons be the best they could be.
Shotgun retired from the Jamaica team in 1986 on a high note and remained involved in the sport as a Selector, Board member, Team manager and of course had a few knocks in Club Cricket before he migrated to the US.
The Jamaica Cricket Association and Kensington Cricket Club of which he played such a big part of, will miss him. I know some persons may miss that random phone call with him cursing about a disappointing West Indies innings or giving his opinions on what persons in various positions of power should be doing. He would have made an entertaining, humorous, yet controversial commentator.
He always went out to bat with NO FEAR, whether it was a fast or spin bowler. One of the times he was ill this year, he said to me, ‘Don’t worry Gabby, whenever the pitch gets slippery, I always have to go out and bat’. He walked out to the ambulance October 25, 2015, the day he died of a cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital.
Rest in Peace CAP!
By: Gabrielle Williams
Marguerites Seafood by the Sea was Perfection!
Review coming soon! If in Kingston, it is worth the drive! If you are in Montego Bay or close by, what are you waiting for?! Make reservations ASAP and don’t miss your chance to Dig In at Marguerites this RW 2015.
Marguerites Seafood by the Sea
Location: Gloucester Ave. (The Hip Strip), Montego Bay
Ph: 876-952-4777
Mmmmm Savoury! Where to go for RW?!
The Savoury Category costs $2800JMD (Includes choice of Appetizer, Main course and Dessert. Beverages, G.C.T and Gratuity additional).Â
*Reservations recommended
Caffé Da Vince, which was a success for last year’s RW even with a full house, had delicious food and good service. This year they will have a Caprese salad with fresh mozzarella and tomato in a balance reduction. Oxtail Ravioli, Beef and Pork Tenderloin are on the main, then White chocolate strawberry cheese cake to finish. Imagine, there are lots more dishes on that menu too!
Fromage, always a fave of mine, will be offering Korean BBq Pulled Pork with Asian slaw and fries that should be delightful, as well as their other menu items.
C & C South Beach have really revamped themself this year. They have great choices from Appetizers to Desserts. See their recent review and RW recommendations by clicking on the link below:
C&C South Beach, one of many in the Savoury Category for RWJ!
Beirut Mediterranean Cuisine don’t look too bad this year. Their Chickpea purée with sesame paste lemon juice and olive oil, served with fresh pita bread and their Beirut Mixed Grill with 3 skewers of Beef, Chicken and minced Lamb looks decent.
Gimbilyn Restaurant at Alhambra Inn seems to always be off the radar, but has proven to be a lovely experience, especially last year. Their Fish pocket appetizer looks interesting and they have a wide range of main dishes including Chicken, Pork, Mahi Mahi, Beef and a Vegan option. Their dessert options look fantastic as well, including Plain and Chocolate Cake Rum Lollipops, Cheesecake and a Warm Coffee Bread Pudding that is known to be good.
M-10 should have dishes with a burst of Jamaican flavour. Ackee or Callaloo Quiche to start and Smoked Pork chops or their Fish fillet in coconut sauce to follow? Yum!
What’s sizzling on the North Coast?
Evita’s in Ocho Rios was a winner last year. This year they look like they will please diners with their Jamaican Viagra Conch Fritters. Yes I did say Viagra. Looks like the magic will be in the Chef’s special ‘Jerk’ sauce that it is served with.
Mystic India in Montego Bay seems to be the choice for Indian cuisine this year. They always have sizzling options on a regular basis and their menu will include just that, for instance, Chilli Shrimp, Mutton Sheekh Kebab and Tandoori Chicken. That is just an appetizer!
MoBay is also home to the well known, Pelican Grill and Seahorse Grill. Pelican Grill has good service, tasty food and is always a pleasure to visit. Their Surf and Turf as well as their Grilled Fillet of Steak and Lobster look like excellent options. Seahorse Grill will have Smoked Blue Marlin on toast with herbed cream cheese, Hummus Dip with roasted peppers, kalamata olives and pita points as two of the choices for appetizers. Their Shrimp Saint James with savoury shrimp, simmered in a New Orleans style Creole sauce, with red onion, tomato, red and green peppers, okra and jerk sausage looks like all kinds of goodness. Then there is much more!
Remember you can give your feedback here or go to the Restaurant Week Jamaica 2015 index page, choose the Restaurants and rate them.
Dig In!
Contact information and locations for Restaurants mentioned:
Caffé Da Vinci
Location: Market Place. 67 Constant Spring Rd.
Ph: 876-906-9051
Fromage Gourmet Market
Address: 8 Hillcrest Ave., Kingston 6
Ph#: 876-622-9856
C & C South Beach Restaurant, Sports Bar and Event Venue
Location: 2 Brompton Road. Kingston 5
Ph: 876-630-4571 or 876-630-4163
Beirut Mediterranean Cuisine
Location: Market Place. 67 Constant Spring Road.
Ph: 876-395-7577
Gimbilyn Restaurant at Alhambra Inn
1 Tucker Avenue Kingston, Jamaica
Ph: 876-978-9072
M-10 Bar & Grill
6 Vineyard Road, Kingston 3, Vineyard Town, Kingston.
Ph: 876-930-2112 or 876-815-5644
Evita’s Italian Restaurant
Location: Eden Bower Road (Just up the hill opposite Taj Mahal Shopping Center). Ocho Rios
Ph.: 876-974-233
Mystic India
Location: Whitter Village, Ironshore Montego Bay
Ph: 876-953-9460 / 876-953-0659
Pelican Grill
Location: Gloucester Avenue Strip Montego Bay
Ph: 876-952-3171
Seahorse Grill
Location: MoBay Yacht Club. Freeport. Sunset Drive, Montego Bay
Ph: 876-684-9133
Where else to Dig In for RW’s Nyam & Scram Category!
Considering value for money, hunger satisfaction and quick service, Suga endorses the following:
Other than One Love Cafe with their delicious, filling Sandwiches/Wraps and freshly made juices for $1000JMD, there are many other good deals for RW’s Nyam and Scram category.
Asia’s Cafe by York Pharmacy that is open 24 hrs has a Soup, Burger and Dessert combo for $695JMD.
Cafe Blue will be serving a delicious looking Bread pudding combined with a Sandwich/Panini and coffee for $550JMD!
Chilitos Jamexican Food will be serving delicious, filling Quesadillas, Burritos and Tacos that are all served with chips and salsa or cheese and a drink, ranging from $750 to $900JMD.
The popular and affordable lunch spot, Fish Pot will serve Curry Fish and mixed Vegetable rice with a sorbet and Sweet Chili Shrimp and Mixed Vegetables with a sorbet, both for $399JMD. Yum!
The salivating, authentic Jamaican Cuisine spot, M-10 (Barbican) will serve two-dish combos from $875-$980JMD. Curry Goat, Stewed Pork, Peppered steak and more. Bellyfull!
Susie’s Bakery and Coffee Bar will be offering their usual steal of a deal. Chicken Alfredo, Coconut Fish Fillet and Rolled Roast Pork for $995JMD tax included from 11am everyday and you can call 876-968-5030 for pick up!
The Brick Oven will have Sandwich/Patty and Cinnamon Bun/Coconut Rum Cake for $550JMD and $400JMD respectively.
Feeling fancy? The Regency Bar and Lounge will offer between 11am and 5pm for $1100JMD per person plus 10% G.C.T and 10% Service charge, a lunch option and a dessert shot such as their famous Lobster Mac as well as Salmon cakes, Oxtail Tart and Meat Sliders.
Remember you can give your feedback here or go the Restaurant Week Jamaica 2015 index page, choose the Restaurants and rate them.
Dig In!
Contact information and locations for Restaurants mentioned:
One Love Cafe
56 Hope Road. Kingston 6
Ph: (876) 630-1588
Asia’s Cafe
(located inside York Pharmacy), Kingston, Jamaica
Ph: (876) 754-3707
Cafe Blue
1A Sovereign Centre Kingston, Jamaica
106 Hope Road. Kgn. 6
Ph: (876) 901-3477
OR
Fontana Pharmacy, Fairview Montego Bay
Ph: (876) 622-9849
Chilitos Jamexican Food
64 Hope Road Kingston, Jamaica
Ph: (876) 978-0537
Fish Pot
39a Half-Way-Tree Road Kingston, Jamaica
Ph: (876) 908-2193
M-10 Bar and Grill (Barbican)
28 Barbican Road, Kingston 6, St Andrew
Ph: (876)336-6969 or (876)408-5819
Susie’s Bakery and Coffee Bar
2 South Avenue | Southdale Plaza Kingston, Jamaica
Ph: (876) 968-6878
The Brick Oven
49A Hope Road (Beside T.G.I.F.) Kingston, Jamaica
PHONE: (876) 946-2153
The Regency Bar and Lounge
Located at the Terra Nova Hotel – 7 Waterloo Road, Kingston 10
Ph: (876) 926-2211
RW Ambassador Gabby enjoyed One Love Cafe for Nyam and Scram!
Last Saturday, I visited One Love Cafe inside of Bob Marley Museum at about 3:30pm for the Nyam and Scram Category of Restaurant week.
One Love Cafe is offering Sandwiches/Wraps and a Freshly made drink for $1000JMD.
There were only a few people dining including tourists, so I was excited to know I should get through quickly. Not sure if much people know about this spot yet but you should. Easy, accessible parking in the middle of the day on a Saturday and quick service in a comfortable, safe environment.
The dynamic duo of Mood Sky a.k.a. Maurice and Steve greeted me pleasantly and had lovely, rootsy personalities. It was my first visit there and I felt like a regular.
They were out of Fish so I ordered the Jerked Chicken Wrap that was ready within 5 minutes! I had the choice of adding Mozzarella, Pepperjack or Cheddar cheese and I chose the Pepperjack. I chose my veggies as well and was asked if I wanted Pineapple in my Wrap. I am not a fan of Pineapple if I am not eating it just as a fruit, i.e. by itself so said no thanks, but Mood Sky encouraged me to try it because it brings out the taste. He was right! The pineapple complemented the Jerked Chicken in a tasty way, adding even more flavour to the well seasoned Jerked Chicken with the perfect amount of spice. The sauce was nice and quelled the spicy flavour a bit. The Wrap was also a decent size and filling.
They had the Ginger Lion, Carrot and Tamarind juices available. I asked for the Ginger Lion and to ensure I was happy with my choice, Steve offered me a sample that made me even more happy with my decision. He told me it was the better version of a Ginger Beer and it was indeed.
What else does One Love Cafe have to offer on a regular basis?
They have a Plasma screen that displays their menu clearly. They do Melts, Wraps, Burgers and Sandwiches such as Mozzarella and Mushroom Melts, Veggie/Fish/Turkey/Chicken Burgers, Egg Sandwiches, Garden and Chicken salads and more, all for $800JMD or less. Freshly made Juices cost $400JMD and they also make Smoothies for the Fitness Junkies.
It was a refreshing, interactive experience and I look forward to returning. One Love!
One Love CafeÂ
(Inside Bob Marley Museum)
56 Hope Road. Kingston 6
Ph: 876-630-1588
Restaurant Week Jamaica Begins Today! Where to dress up and go to!
White Chocolate Cheesecake from The Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel
The Cost of Restaurants in the Epicurean category is $4300JMD and includes an appetizer, salad, main course and dessert. Beverage, GCT and gratuity are additional, so it works out to about $6000JMD per person.
For Kingston, both Rojo Restaurant at Spanish Court Hotel and The Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel are good choices. Rojo may be more suited for a date or party of 4. While Terra Nova may suit bigger parties such as a family affair or dinner/lunch with the coworkers.
Rojo is known to have excellent service and a lovely ambience. Their menu for Restaurant week has finally changed as well. The Pan Seared Shrimp and Lobster with a Herbed Scotch Bonnet Cocktail Sauce and Mixed Greens or Seafood Chowder Flavourful Soup with Calamari, Snapper, Shrimp and Mussels, garnished with Scallion looks great for the Appetizer and Soup.
For the main, the Chicken Rojo with Chicken Breast filled with Ham, Sweet Pepper, Mozzarella & Cheddar Cheese, covered with Seasoned Breadcrumbs then pan-fried, served with a Rose Sauce and Mashed Potatoes looks exciting as well as the Seafood Linguini with Shrimp, Calamari, Snapper & Mussels sautéed in Fresh Garlic, Herbs and a Squeeze of Lemon, all finished in a Basil Pesto Sauce, topped with Parmesan Cheese.
For dessert, their Crème Brulee is usually good.
Terra Nova’s menu seems to have a little more variety and if you are a Lamb or Pork Loin lover, they usually excel with those dishes. Spicily seasoned Salmon cakes served with a Jalapeno Slaw should be a good starter and their White Chocolate Cheesecake with fresh Berry Compote, a delicious conclusion.
Now, where to go out of town? Round Hill Hotel and Villas’ menu seems to lack variety. I doubt persons would be looking forward to Fried Chicken or Fish and Grits for an Epicurean experience. So Suga will be choosing Marguerites Seafood by the Sea in Montego Bay for Epicurean this year! It will be an out of town experience with a salivating menu. I am looking forward to the Boston Beggars Purse Appetizer with Crisp wontons filled with creamy cheese and Jerk chicken breast with Asian slaw followed by their Pan seared scallops for the entrée that will include Smoked bacon and more. Their menu on the website is different from the one published so that may need some clarification because the menu online looks like quite the gourmet affair!
Look forward to dressing up and going to these restaurants. That is part of the fun about this category. Gentlemen, button up shirts are a must and no sneakers. Ladies you can still show a little skin and be classy. Flash back Friday to my style in the FLAIR last Monday!
***If you haven’t made reservations already, that is a must. Available space goes fast, especially with Rojo.
Contact information and locations for Restaurants:
Rojo Restaurant at Spanish Court Hotel
ADDRESS: 1 St Lucia Avenue Kingston, Jamaica
PHONE: 876-926-0000
Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel
ADDRESS: 7 Waterloo Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica, Kingston
PHONE: 876- 926-2211
Marguerites Seafood by the Sea (Montego Bay)
ADDRESS: Gloucester Ave., Montego Bay, Montego Bay, Jamaica
PHONE: 876-952-4777
ENJOY !!!
Check out what Suga had to say about Whitebones in your Jamaica Gleaner today!
Check the link to the article from the Jamaica Gleaner here:
http://jamaicagleaner.com/article/food/20151112/whitebones
But all that glitters is not Gold right? Although the negatives were negligible, Whitebones Seafood has not really changed since my last visit over a year ago. Their decor needs a makeover for a Restaurant in the Delectable category and so does their flatware. It is about time for those plates with the fishes to go! They have uplifting placemats but they are not practical for drinks and small tables. The aquarium could use some lighting and I do not think the kitchen should be so open to the diner’s eye.
The Fish cakes were a meagre serving and the Steak Tenderloin my fiancé, Randy had was overcooked. It was to be medium rare. Our waiter Sean apologised respectfully. 
He also made us aware that Lobster is usually the most popular entrée choice for diners during Restaurant Week, as persons may not have it often and it is seasonal. So that is something to consider if Whitebones is your choice, but there is a large range of options on their menu.
The Black Forest Cake for dessert looked like a PriceSmart cake but the aroma of the rum from the Bread Pudding which seemed to be made in-house distracted me from the cake. Restaurants, especially those that do not usually offer dessert should avoid offering store-bought cake. I think it is better and safer to just offer ice cream!
Thankfully they have upheld their standard of good service and delicious food. So it was not perfect, but definitely Suga endorsed.
Menus for Restaurant Week Jamaica 2015 are also out today! So buy your Jamaica Gleaner NOW if you haven’t already. You know it’s Food Day. Get ready to Dig in starting tomorrow!
Also see what other ambassadors had to say about Restaurants they visited.
The clock is ticking!