Suga scoped out the new, Jablum Coffee House located on the grounds of NCB Twin Towers, by the intersection of Oxford Road and Old Hope Road last week.
It is still a work in progress. At the moment they only offer Coffee, Snacks and Pastries. I was informed Sandwiches are coming soon.
Based on its central location, the Cafe has a lot of potential and should strive to live up to it. It is quite small, but still has seating available. Plasma screens display clearly what they have to offer along with costs. Prices were relatable to other Cafes. For instance, Iced Coffee costs about $600JMD.
Stay tuned to Suga Lifestyle to see what happens with Jablum Coffee House!
Overlooking the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival’s Marketplace in Newcastle last Saturday, March 24, 2018. (Instagram Photo: Blue Ridge Restaurant and Cottages)
Coffee producers and baristas were out in their numbers last Saturday at the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival Marketplace in Newcastle, St. Andrew.
Many booths had hot coffee to keep patrons warm in the fog, such as Cafe Blue, Stoneleigh (Mavis Bank 100% Blue Mountain Coffee), Toyota Coffee House, Starbucks, Perk Up and Country Traders Limited (Coffee Roasters Blue Mountain Coffee).
Cafe Blue also had their Milk and White Chocolate covered Coffee beans that I enjoy.
Cafe Blue’s Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate covered Coffee beans (Photo: Suga Bear, Stephen Greig)
My husband enjoyed the smooth, hot brew offered by Perk up, from Flamstead Estate. Perk Up had a soft launch at the Coffee Festival, as they are planning to enter the market more competitively. They are currently at a few cafe outlets, including Shelly’s Cafe at U.T.E.C.H.
Deaf Can Coffee Baristas were there, brewing at 3 different tents including Cannonball Cafe and Jamaica Toyota Coffee House.
Deaf Can Baristas at the Country Traders Ltd. booth (Instagram Photo: @deafcancoffee)
I was impressed with Cannonball Cafe that uses Jablum Coffee. They were the only ones I saw that offered Frappes and Coffee Martinis. I had the Caramel Crunch Cafe Frappe for just $300JMD. They had Paint and Sip for $1500JMD along with a free Espresso Martini overseeing a picturesque view too! There were cold brews from Cafe Blue and Stoneleigh, but I prefer Frappes. Even though it was a cool atmosphere being up so high, the sun was still fully out and I warmed up after walking around the venue.
Cannonball’s coffee infused desserts were a treat too! My nieces and I enjoyed their Coffee and Chocolate Brownies for a steal of $100JMD, Mini Eclairs with Coffee infused cream ($300JMD) and Coffee Bread Pudding with Coffee glaze ($300JMD).
Cannonball Cafe can be found in Barbican (Loshusan Centre), New Kingston (Barbados Ave.), Manor Park (Lower Manor Park Plaza) and Sovereign North Plaza.
Restaurants other than Cafe Blue that are on the Blue Mountain Culinary trail were out, such as Belcour Lodge with their line of Preserves and Blue Ridge Restaurant and Cottages. Blue Ridge had a tasty Coffee Cake for $300JMD.
The experienced and poised hostess, Emprezz kept the patrons well-informed throughout the day and presented prizes and surprises, hosted short interviews and more.
The suits of Tourism came out, shook hands and spoke to the patrons. Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlet along with his entourage, as well as Adam Stewart, Chairman of The Tourism Linkages Council were there. The council has been making great strides, developing projects to increase our influx of visitors to Jamaica via the Gastronomy network, Shopping, Health and Wellness, Sports and Entertainment and Knowledge. The Jamaica Coffee Festival Marketplace branched out across all these networks, with major focus on the Gastronomic Network. Key initiatives and Projects such as development of a Blue Mountain Coffee experience, strategic partnerships with other networks and the promotion of food festivals were all achieved. Kudos to them and the great turn out of patrons to support such an important initiative. Tickets were sold out!
If the endless amount of coffee wasn’t enough, Tarrus Riley entertained the crowd for over an hour!
CB Chicken, Copperwood Pork and Best Dressed Chicken were out to feed the masses. The Best Dressed Booth was quite popular with their Gourmet Hot dogs, loaded fries and more. I enjoyed their Jerked Chicken.
Island Blue, which you normally see in our hotels, displayed and sold their Jamaica Coffee Liqueurs from Baronhall Estate, Coffee Beans, Branded mugs and more.
Farm to table Coffee Beans from Island Blue!
Kande’s Delights had long lines for ice cream including coffee flavours of course.
Various Arts & Crafts exhibitors were about, but one of the Skin Care exhibitors, I Love Sweetness Coffee Scrubs grabbed my attention with their body scrubs, scented soaps and skin tonics. Their representatives were quite knowledgeable about their products and marketed them well.
There were representatives and Informative pamphlets from Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) and Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) on the story of Jamaican Coffee. Jamaican Coffee Recipes were available too.
Hollywell provided information on tours and events, signing persons up to receive information on events in the future too. They also had persons chatting up a storm about their Coffee Rice and Peas cooked by ‘Natural by Nature’ in their community.
Congratulations to the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival Team. Great initiative, efficient use of space and well executed event. #SugaEndorsed
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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For just $1000JMD, please support St. Matthew’s Annual Easter Fair that will be held on Easter Monday at the Jack’s Hill Community Centre.
There will be music, live entertainment, food, prizes and surprises for the family to enjoy. You can also continue to support Brand Jamaica and buy local farm produce and other items at the variety stall.
Get your tickets today for a good cause!
Call: 876-702-0339; 876-783-9566
By: Gabrielle Burgess
If you liked this Promo, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
Another absolutely sensational Issa/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships have come to an end. Calabar was expected to come out on top, ahead of KC, but not by so many points. Their dominance was exceptional for their 7th straight title.
Final Standings for the Boys:
Edwin Allen executed their races well for the Girls to come away on top for the 6th straight time ahead of Holmwood Technical.
Final Standings for the Girls:
There were so many great Champs Moments, but here are Suga’s Highlights:
â— Sportsmanship
Great Sportsmanship was shown between Great rivals, Tyreke Wilson of Calabar and KC’s Jhevaughn Matherson as they crossed the line in the Class 1 Boys 100m Semi-Final. This is what Champs is all about!
â— Class 3 Boys 100m Sweet 16 Victory by KCÂ
KC’s Bouwahjgie Nkrumie(1st) and Adrian Kerr (2nd) both smashed the record of Jhevaughn Matherson in 10.79s and 10.81s respectively.
Everyone has been asking if Nkrumie is also an import, but word has it that he has been going to school in Jamaica since Prep School. He speaks like a Jamaican as well.
â— Class 2 Girls 100m and 200m shines spotlight on our future Star in the Sprints
Suga’s Championship Girl, Kevona Davis of Edwin Allen High
The young lady called the Princess of sprinting amongst High schoolers, Kevona Davis of Edwin Allen, broke her own record that was set in the semifinals in 11.16s! Last year she false started and she has certainly come back with a vengeance. She is only hundredths of a second off from VCB’s Junior record time of 11.12s. I observed that she comes out of her drive phase quite quickly, so can you imagine when her form is improved?!
Her compatriot, Kasheika Cameron clocked 11.29 to win the 100m for the Class 1 Girls. This was a clear indication of the powerhouse, Kevona is.
The following day, she broke her own 200m semifinal record as well, to win in 22.72s.
â— Class 2 Boys 100m
Sachin Dennis of STETHS had a magnificent run, breaking the record in 10.20s!
â— Drama for the Class 1 Boys 100m
Calabar’s Michael Stephens, Defending Champ of the event started to feel cramps before the start of the race. He received a bit of Physio treatment before the race and was even on the phone. He was seen crying with his teammate and one of the favourites to win, Tyreke Wilson, but surprisingly still headed to the start line for the race.
Everyone was at that point thinking that KC’s Jhevaughn Matherson, the other favourite would have been undisturbed by the drama and thus have the advantage. He would be seeking redemption after false starting last year, allegedly because he was injured. But not only did Michael Stephens run out fast and pull up mid-race, so did Matherson of KC! This left Calabar’s Tyreke Wilson with a clear victory and PB of 10.21s ahead of JC’s Ryiem Robertson who finished in 10.28s.
A post Champs interview with the Assistant Coach of Calabar confirmed that Stephens was told to jog the race, which he did not do in such a competitive atmosphere.
â— Upset in the Class 1 Boys 400m Hurdles!
Favourites, Malik James-King of Calabar and STETHS’ Jauavney James were beaten convincingly by a young man from Rhodes Hall High School, Rovane Williams in a record time of 49.94s.
◠Petersfield comes out on top in the Class 2 Boys 400m and Boys 4×400m Open Relay!
Petersfield’s Antonio Watson seized victory in the Boys Class 2 400m and lived up to his reputation of World Under-18 Champion. He then anchored his 4×400m Relay team to victory in the last race of Champs, since Calabar’s record win was later declared null and void due to disqualification. One of the athletes on Calabar’s 4×400m team was over his race limit according to the rules. It is sad that the fault in Calabar’s line-up was apparently not picked up by the organizers before the race, but after the fact by Petersfield, who launched the appeal. A bit of a sour taste in the mouth at the end of Champs.
â— KC beats Calabar in the 400m Class 1 Boys
KC’s Captain, Dashawn Morris gave it his all and won the 400m Class 1 Boys in an impressive 45.09s, ahead of Calabar’s Anthony Carpenter, who registered a PB of 45.47.
â— STETHS’ Jauavney James showed great perseverance to win the Class 1 Boys 800m
Jauavney James of STETHS got his redemption from losing the 1500m and 400m hurdles. He won from behind in the Class 1 Boys 800m. He got his strategy right to finish his last Champs race in fine style.
â— Winner from Lane 8 in Class 3 200m Girls
Gabrielle Matthews of Hydel won the Girls Class 3 200m out of lane 8 in 23.60s to beat Edwin Allen’s Tina Clayton.
â— Sweet 16 KC rivalry continued in the Class 3 Boys 200m!
This time around KC’s Adrian Kerr beat his teammate, Bouwahjgie Nkrumie in record time. Nkrumie was still in good spirits, unlike Kerr who could not speak in his interview the night before after placing 2nd in the 100m. But with true determination, he ran from behind with lots of grit for the 200m win.
â— Calabar gets their Sweet 16 in the Class 1 Boys 200m
Suga’s Championship Boy, Christopher Taylor, Team Captain of Calabar High
Calabar’s Christopher Taylor won the Class 1 Boys 200m impressively in 20.32s ahead of his compatriot, Anthony Carpenter. Carpenter had an obvious limp towards the end of the race, but still managed to finish 2nd.
So many spectacular #ChampsMoments. I hope you shared these as some of your faves too.
Kudos also to the After-Show! Although some spectators may have dislocated their shoulders, it was superb quality for Jamaica’s version of the greatest show on earth.
See you next year!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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TGIF! Remember that the Jamaica Blue Mountain Festival starts today!
Today
The Coffee Industry Players in association with JACRA and RADA will be busy hosting workshops.
Tomorrow
Do not miss The Festival Marketplace! It should be a cultural experience showcasing not only our local coffee and coffee-induced products, but our talented crafty artisans, dancers, singers and more, headlined by Tarrus Riley!
The shuttle departs hourly from UTECH starting at 9am and Tickets cost $1000JMD for Adults and $500JMD for Children under 12 and Students with ID. The Festival ends at 6pm.
Ticket Outlets:
> Cafe Blue (Sovereign & Irish Town)
> Cannonball Cafe (New Kgn, Sovereign North, Manor Park)
> Toyota Coffee House: 93 Hope Road
Sunday
Take a drive along the Blue Mountain Culinary trail. It has some cosy spots with spectacular views and food. See the list with numbers on the flyer below, call and make your reservations today!
They are all quite a treat, but if you like local cuisine, Crystal Edge is the place. If you have a sweet tooth, Cafe Blue is just next door with exquisite desserts by award-winning baker, Nadine Burie.
Blue Ridge is far up, but worth the trek. Savoury food and good service. Their presentation is also one of a kind.
Support Brand Jamaica and our flagship Blue Mountain Coffee this weekend in Newcastle, St. Andrew!
It’s Endometriosis Month and we should all be aware that Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus, called the endometrium, migrates and grows outside of the uterus.
Cause
There is no known cause of Endometriosis, but it is highly likely that certain genes predispose women to develop the disease.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
Women may experience various pains, especially during menstruation, where it may be severe, but there are a variety of methods and treatments that can help to reduce the pain.
Excessive bleeding and infertility are other known symptoms.
How is Endometriosis Diagnosed?
The test to definitively diagnose Endometriosis is Laparoscopy. Laparoscopy is an operation performed in the abdomen or pelvis through small incisions with the aid of a camera. The laparoscope aids diagnosis or therapeutic interventions.
Diagnosis can also be made based on one’s clinical history.
Consult your Gynaecologist if you think you may have Endometriosis.
There are so many things happening this weekend! Not to worry though, if you schedule your time well, you can make it to all of the events.
Non-profit organization, New Kingston Rotaract Club (Youth arm of Rotary) is having their annual Wing Sauce Competition this Saturday, March 24th by the Mona Dam. However, this time they are also having a Farmer’s Market encouraging us to eat healthy and buy our local produce, while contributing to charity at the same time. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Judging and sampling usually takes place at about 2:30/3:00pm. Suga will be judging too!
So, after returning from the Jamaica Coffee Festival in Newcastle, you can make your way over to the Mona Dam. You can enjoy watching non-profit organizations battle to become the Wing Sauce Champs, probably sample a few tasty wings, buy some fresh, local produce and then head over to the National Stadium to see our Boys and Girls Champs. After all, the hot races are usually run in the late afternoon and evening.
You can then pat yourselves on the back for supporting Brand Jamaica, contributing to Charity and supporting our future in Education and Athletics all in one day. Scouts from some of the best colleges around the world will be at the National Stadium to watch and recruit our athletes.
Keep up with the New Kingston Rotaract Club by following them on Instagram @nkrcjamaica and if you are between the ages of 18-30, see how you can join them!
Stay tuned for your update on the Jamaica Coffee Festival later this week!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
If you liked this Promo, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
Lamb Chops in Mint Gastrique from Steak House on the Verandah
Salivating Lamb Chops in Mint Gastrique from Steak House on the Verandah!
What’s Gastrique? A sweet-and-sour sauce, where sugar or sometimes honey is caramelized and combined with the same portion of vinegar, ultimately making a slightly thickened syrup after it’s reduced.
Go get those Lamb chops and have a great weekend!
Steak House on the Verandah
***Reservations Recommended***
Location: Devon House
Ph: 876-616-8833
Facebook: @steakhouseja
Instagram: @thesteakhouseja
Opening Hours:
Mon. to Thurs. @ 12 noon – 9:30 pm
Fri. & Sat. @ 12 noon – 10:30 pm
***Closed on Sundays***Â
By: Gabrielle Burgess
If you liked this Promo, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
Comments:Â Great Service and Authentic Thai Cuisine dishes infused with a well-balanced variety of herbs, spices and flavours in satisfactory portions for affordable prices. Ambience and lighting for a romantic dinner, but also a neat spot to meet for lunch or dinner with family and/or friends over drinks.
I challenged Mystic Thai in Montego Bay to cook me Pig Ears Thai style and they did not disappoint!
I visited Mystic Thai two weekends ago to not only try the Pig Ear dish prepared for me, but to also enjoy other dishes for dinner on Saturday night at about 8:45pm with my husband, Randy who does not eat pork.
Randy started off with a fiery Tom Yum Vegetable Soup ($4USD), which was a mixture of lemon grass, Thai herbs and chilli paste. It’s not for the light-hearted. It was a burst of flavour defining all herbs that later offered the taste buds some relief with the cool, minty effect of lemon grass.
He then enjoyed the Crispy Fried Okra Appetizer ($8USD) that I highly recommended.
In my last article on Pig Ears, I took my readers through several countries and how they usually prepare Pig Ears for their cuisines. So I wasn’t surprised when Chef Bansi Joshi came to our table presenting a Pig Ears Salad. The Pig Ears were boiled first, then cut longitudinally and deep-fried.
Pig Ears Salad with lemon juice, cilantro, scallion, tomato and onion.
I thought that was going to be it, but out came another Pig Ears dish!
Kapow style Pig Ears with Thai Chilli, garlic and other spices.
This time the Pig Ears arrived Kapow style, that is, based in soy sauce and cooked with garlic, chilli and other spices. I am not a fan of soy sauce, but appreciated the spicy flavour brought on by the Thai Chilli that accompanied it, along with other added spices. It was sweet, then immediately followed by a hit of spicy.
The Pig Ears had a bit of crisp and slightly rubbery texture as expected for both dishes and they were prepared the same way. I preferred the Salad that was lighter with a more highlighted taste and texture of the Pig Ears, along with the refreshing taste of lemon juice and cilantro.
I actually could not accommodate much more food. I had a few of my delish Shrimps in Panang curry, then sampled a bit of Randy’s Basil Naan and Lobster in Red Thai Curry. The Lobster was tasty, meaty and its sauce complemented it well.
A. Shrimp in Panang Curry based in Red Chillies and Peanuts topped off with coconut cream sauce ($14USD) B. Basil Naan ($3USD) C. Lobster in Red Thai Curry, a blend of Dried Red Chillies, Kaffir Lime rind, Coriander root and Cumin ($18USD)
We were both stuffed and satisfied, especially after the gastronomic day we had, but I ensured space was made for the Fruit and Nut Chocolate Naan that I missed out on the last time I visited. I am paying for that Nutella at the gym right now but it was worth it!
Fruit and Nut Chocolate Naan
Suga snaps to Owner, Kareena Mahbubani for taking on and facilitating my Pig Ears challenge, Chef Bansi for great execution and the staff for their usual great hospitality and attentiveness.
Hope to visit again soon! #SugaEndorsed
Mystic Thai (Asian & Thai Cuisine)
Location: B11 – Fairview Towne Centre Unit, Montego Bay
Favourites, Malik James-King of Calabar and STETHS’ Jauavney James were beaten convincingly by a young man from Rhodes Hall High School, Rovane Williams in a record time of 49.94s.
