Suga had a fabulous date with husband, Randy Burgess last Saturday night. Reservations were for 7pm at Fromage Gourmet Market & Bistro on Hillcrest Avenue and we were on time.
This Fromage was listed under the Delectable Category ($3800JMD) for Restaurant Week (RW). So dinner with a beverage including 5% service charge and tax can run you up to $5500JMD for one person.
We chose an early time for dinner, when the newly refurbished and slightly more spacious Fromage would not have been filled to capacity as yet. It reached full capacity midway through dinner though.
The Staff were courteous and extremely attentive without being overwhelming. All members of Staff were on the floor, paying attention to the tables whether they were serving that table or not. A sign of well-trained staff. Our server was Dimel, who I am familiar with. Always a pleasure.
Food came out like clockwork and water glasses were topped up when necessary. Great service.
The Appetizers were flavourful.
Bacon wrapped maple smoked Prawns
I had the Bacon wrapped maple smoked Prawns and Randy had the Marlin Corn Fritter Stack. I always enjoy Fromage’s house-made Pepper Jelly that has that divine mix of spicy and sweet as the name suggests.
Marlin Corn Fritter Stack – Sweet Corn Fritter stack topped with Marlin and Pepper Jelly
As we wrapped up with the Appetizers, JPS had a promotion going on throughout the night for RW diners to download their JPS App and drop their card with contact information into a bag. They came during dinner service to do the first raffle draw for the night.
Suga a.k.a Gabby from Suga Lifestyle was the first lucky winner at Fromage Gourmet Market & Bistro for downloading the ‘My JPS’ App!
Our Main dishes came out shortly after the excitement of shaving $5000JMD off of our next Light bill.
Guinness BBQ Ribs with Sweet Potato Mash and Steamed Market Fresh Vegetables
My BBQ Ribs pleased my taste buds as described. They were lean, juicy, well seasoned and slow-cooked to a tender perfection.
Randy’s Steak Au Poivre was cooked to order. It was so succulent. Bravo Chef!
Medium rare Steak cooked to order!Caramel Bread Pudding
Without a doubt, dinner came to a close for me with their popular Caramel Bread Pudding. It was warm and scrumptious as usual with their salivating caramel crumble on top.
Bailey’s Ice Cream Sundae
Randy thoroughly enjoyed his Bailey’s Ice Cream Sundae.
Fromage Gourmet Market & Bistro is Suga Endorsed for Restaurant Week. Pay them a visit if you can and continue to enjoy.
Stay tuned for Terra Nova’s review for the Epicurean Category!
Remember that the Menus with Restaurant Locations and Contact numbers are online at:
***Prices for the Nyam & Scram and Morning Bites Categories do not include Beverages and G.C.T***
Here are my recommendations for Breakfast and quick Grab & Go Bites:
Morning Bites – Kingston
> Cannonball Cafe is the only establishment listed this year although Breakfast can be sourced at a discounted price from Brew’d Awakenings as well.
Cannonball has decent Breakfast deals for less than $600JMD at all locations – Loshusan (Barbican), Manor Park, New Kingston and Sovereign North.
Nyam & Scram (30% off) – Kingston
100Â at 100 Hope Road would be my primary choice for this Category. Nothing is new on their menu but they have tasty items that are well-known at a discounted price.
100’s Jerk Chicken Cocowich
The Jerk Chicken Cocowich is consistently good and you get their signature Jackpot Dessert to go with it for $1670JMD!
You could also get their delicious, cheesy Flatbread and Soup for $1169JMD or two other options for less than $2000JMD.
4U Vietnamese Restaurant in Manor Center should be a decent spot, but I would go during the week to avoid the crowd on the weekend.
I recommend their Sizzling Plate of Beef, with which you get Soup and Dessert for $1200JMD. Ask for the Chili Sauce if you want more spice!
Ali’s Jamaican Cuisine on Annette Crescent has some Spicy Curried dishes with Roti for less than $900JMD.
I love Kushites Vegetable Cuisine at Eden Gardens on Lady Musgrave Road, but I believe they are more for fine dining and are too pricey for the Nyam & Scram Category. The same goes for Fromage Brasserie in Marketplace.
Oasis on the Oxford on the other hand is too expensive for mediocre food and poor service.
Jo Jo’s Jerk Pit and More on Waterloo Road is a good food spot, but their service is slow on a regular basis. So imagine Restaurant Week! I tried them once for RW but would avoid doing so again in the future.
I went to Nirvanna Restaurant and Lounge last year for this category. The menu is similar so the dishes should be tasty and filling. You should get value for your money. They usually have good service with a full house, but to be on the safe side, I had called in my order ahead of arrival last year. It worked out well, so you could do that too if you have a tight lunch hour.
Brew’d Awakenings as mentioned earlier, is simple but has decent Breakfast bites and other choices such as a Salad or Panini for $800JMD.
Triple T’z Eatery on Annette Crescent has a good reputation amongst my Suga Bears, so I would give them a try where value for money is concerned. You can get two Meats and sides with Soup and Dessert for $1200-$1300JMD.
Enjoy and be sure to give Suga your Feedback!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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GW Art will be doing NEW pieces for Christmas and bringing back old faves!
Stay tuned for what’s to come, Browse the GW Art Gallery and Contact Gabby for what you would like to order for the Season. Christmas is just around the corner!
Support Brand Jamaica and Make it a GW Art Christmas !!!
The Launch of the New Restaurant at Devon House, Steak House on the Verandah owned by Marilyn Burrowes was held almost a month ago on Sunday, October 15th.
The Steak House resides at the exquisite location once held by late Culinary icon, Norma Shirley who owned Norma’s on the Terrace.
The Restaurant is managed by Michael Fulford and the man responsible in the kitchen is Chef Alex D-Great.
Premium local, Dry-Aged Steaks are their specialty and they offer other delectable delights and desserts accompanied by a substantial selection of wines.
I visited the Steak House for a Lunch date with my other half, Randy last Saturday at 2pm. We were greeted pleasantly by the staff and our waitress was Princess, who we were familiar with from another establishment.
She took us through the menu and after giving us a few minutes, she took our orders and was quite attentive throughout our stay.
Challah Bread served to start off our Lunch!
Appetizers
Randy had the Jamdung Onion Soup, which was different from others out there. The cheese was on the bread instead of in the soup and the soup was more like a beef broth, richly flavoured with onion. For something that had a scotch bonnet label, it was not spicy though.
Jamdung Onion Soup ($900JMD) РVery rich scotch bonnet beef stock, loaded onion and served with a Gruy̬re cheese corn bread.
There were other choices that I wasn’t interested in, such as Salads, Wings, Pumpkin Shrimp Bisque and Tempura Shrimp ranging from $900-$1200JMD. I knew they offered Bone Marrow, however Princess told us that was on their Dinner menu. She quickly offered to speak with the Chef and he agreed to fulfil my desired preference. Thank you Chef!
Spicy Bone Marrow ($1150JMD)
That Spicy Bone Marrow was divine. It was so seductive, sweeting me up with the sauce, then hitting me up with a fiery, zesty flavour.
Entrees
Steak House on the Verandah sources their Steak locally from The Meat Experts Ltd. Meat Experts operates out of St. Ann and they have been making quite a name for themselves with their high quality, hormone-free meats.
I had my mind set on having the Ribeye Steak ($5750JMD), but they were all out.
We had the Filet Mignon and Dry-Aged New York Steak with our choice of two sides and a sauce. We both requested our Steaks to be cooked medium rare. Mine arrived overcooked, but I decided not to reorder. It was still tender in some areas. The Steaks were delish, especially with the Coffee Demi Glaze.
If you are a Steak Eater, especially a lover of premium cuts, your bill may turn out to be quite high. A couple going for 3 Courses over two glasses of wine and sharing Dessert can rack up a $20,000JMD bill. However, there are more affordable options excluding the premium cuts. The menu also satisfies persons who aren’t Steak lovers with plates of Chargrilled Salmon ($4050JMD), Rosemary Herbed Chicken Breast ($2150JMD) and Fettucine Fungi Alfredo ($1250JMD) with the options to add Chicken ($600JMD) and Shrimp ($1000JMD).
Dessert
Flourless Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Ice cream ($1200)
They did not have Vanilla Ice Cream. How come?! Not disappointing though, because I like Strawberry Ice cream. The Cake was warm and tasty.
Coffee/Tea ($350) was the other option for Dessert, but there was no need for a range of options. Persons can walk around afterwards and choose from many other shops to satisfy the sweet tooth while enjoying the historic grounds as well.
I enjoyed the succulent food served amidst the ambience and attentive service by the staff on my Lunch date at the new Steak House. I will return not only for the Ribeye, but to try their Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich for $1400JMD, which consists of Julienne Steak cuts, mushrooms, bell peppers and caramalized onion with a side of seasoned fries.
Great start Steak House on the Verandah! Keep it up. #SugaEndorsed
Gabby a.k.a Suga from Suga Lifestyle and husband, Randy Burgess enjoying Lunch at Steak House on the Verandah last Saturday, November 4, 2017.
Steak House on the Verandah
***Reservations Recommended***
Location: Devon House
Ph: 876-616-8833
Facebook: @steakhouseja
Opening Hours:
Mon. to Thurs. @ 12noon – 9:30pm
Fri. & Sat. @ 12noon – 10:30pm
***Closed on Sundays***Â
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Yoga is the gift of India to the world, thought to be the union of the Soul with God. Yoga equips one with a sound mind, peaceful spirit, healthy body and cures diseases. It does all of this in various ways.
October was Lupus Awareness month and I handed off some information to my Lupus Warriors that they could use for the months and years ahead.
The main areas that Yoga benefits everyone including persons with Lupus, are improved Flexibility and Mobility, Physical Energy, Pain Management, Stress Management, Mood and Coping, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Efficiency, Circulation, Strength and Stamina.
Other than relieving symptoms of Lupus, Yoga also helps with Insomnia, Strengthens the Immune system, Improves the Digestive process and Calms Anxiety.
Therefore Yoga helps to achieve and maintain an overall Healthy Lifestyle.
Lupus Awareness should go beyond the month of October and I would like my Readers to achieve and maintain a Healthy Lifestyle, so I found Yoga Practices in Jamaica that I recommend near you.
Recommended list with Contact Information for some Yoga Studios/Groups in Kingston, Ja:
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.
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.
Smoked Marlin’s Oxtail Ragu enjoyed by Suga in April 2017.
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Suga brought you the low down for Crisp at The Gardens, Jamaica Pegasus ($5000 All Inclusive) and Picante ($7500 All Inclusive) at The Ruins, UWI Mona’s Visitor’s Lodge, so how were the other JFDF events? Suga Bears and Suga Daddies reported!
Most persons like to get bad news out of the way first. The events with the highest price tags were not that impressive for some patrons. That is, Vintage for $12000JMD all-inclusive and Brunch at the Gallery for $20000JMD/$150USD all-inclusive.
VintageÂ
Meals at Vintage at the Manor in Jack’s Hill were described as basic and a low standard for Ortanique on the Mile, one of the restaurants in Florida that was represented by Owner Cynthia Hutson. Suga Bears enjoyed the view and Dessert though.
Brunch at the Gallery
Brunch at the National Gallery, Downtown Kingston presented by Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau was decorated beautifully by Tai Flora and had a sufficient selection of Wines by Select Brands, but the service of food was slow and it arrived to tables cold. The Brunch was from 11am to 4pm and after a long day, patrons were leaving at 4pm and Dessert was just being served. Should the blame go on the Event Planner, the Chefs or both? It was stated that the execution was poor.
The Menu
The Menu for Brunch at the Gallery (Photo Contributed)
The Presentation of some of the meals were also quite sloppy to say the least.
Vegetables and Greens served at Brunch at the Gallery last Sunday (Photo Contributed)
Did the Incredible Hulk have an accident here?! I was in disbelief and gathered that this was the consensus amongst most tables. This looked nothing like the neatly displayed dish on the Event’s social media page. Cold food, slow service and poor, unappetizing presentation is unacceptable for $20,000JMD. I believe things can be shaken up next year. There are so many other talented, efficient Chefs around and I understand the ambience of The National Gallery, but a change in venue could be considered as well.
Chargrilled Rack of Lamb Presented to a table at Brunch at the Gallery last Sunday (Photo Contributed)
Kudus to award-winning baker, Nadine Burie that probably saved both events. Her desserts are offered at Cafe Blue.
Fresh Fruit Pavlova by Nadine Burie (Photo Credit: @jafoodanddrink)
Setting bad news aside, persons fully enjoyed Meet Street and the Market in Downtown, Kingston ($500JMD entry) last Saturday. A patron said she did not know that Downtown could be so nice. The set up and atmosphere was phenomenal and the vendors outdid themselves.
Vendors that pleased at Meet Street and the Market Last Saturday in Downtown, Kingston
Pork Palooza ($6500JMD All Inclusive) at Palm Drive, Hope Gardens that kicked things off for the festival on the Saturday the week before was a hit. The event is usually the favourite for Patrons. Jamaicans love their Pork! It wasn’t the unanimous favourite this year though.
Which event took JFDF 2017?!
Close call! It has been narrowed down to the new event, Chop Stix ($5000JMD All Inclusive) held at Zen Lawn, Hope Zoo last Wednesday that featured fare from the far East and the zesty, Picante!
Based on Food, Weather and Vibe, Chop Stix gets the edge. Picante had the on and off rain, which was uncontrollable with provisions put in place, but Jamaicans love a new event.
The Chefs, Caterers and Restaurants delivered at Chop Stix! Here was the Menu if you missed it. Chop Stix can’t be missed next year!
So what’s next for my Foodies? Restaurant Week!
Yes, I know Restaurant Week has lost its steam. Marketing has been ongoing but should be revised, including the selection of Ambassadors. JFDF being so close to Restaurant Week definitely overshadowed it.
Menus for Restaurants are more of the same, but it makes your choices that much easier. The good ones will pop out at you. So that means you may need to make reservations quickly or maybe not, because places I called yesterday that are normally booked out weeks in advance seemed to have quite a bit of space left.
For now, I am leaving you with my recommendations for the Epicurean and Delectable Categories. Here you go!
Epicurean ($4300 +tax +gratuity +beverages)
> The Terra Nova All Suite Hotel in Kingston.
Despite inconsistencies in service and quality throughout the year, they have managed to keep a good reputation for Restaurant Week so far.
Sidenote: I do not think any Restaurant in Market Place should be placed in the Epicurean Category. The venue is far too casual and a long wait is usually expected.
Out of town? Marguerites by the Sea, Montego Bay. You should expect a spectacular dinner and service with a seaside or picturesque garden view.
There are some other reputable Restaurants listed, but the lack of creativity with their Menus were the deal breakers.
Delectable ($3800JMD +GCT +gratuity +beverages)
> Fromage Bistro on Hillcrest Avenue in Kingston.
Nirvanna Indian Cuisine, Centro-Courtyard by the Marriott and Black Orchid Restaurant at Eden Gardens would be secondary choices.
In the other city? Both options from Mobay are primary choices – Mystic Thai and The Houseboat Grill. So persons can choose between the two based on the Cuisine desired.
***Stay tuned for more Restaurant Week choices from Suga Lifestyle.***
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Jamaica Food and Drink Festival’s Crisp last Thursday night was a soggy but tasty, well decorated affair. Rain was continuous throughout the entire day right up to the scheduled start time of 7pm. I kept checking the event’s Instagram page to see if it was still on and saw no update even after 6pm. So I got ready after 7pm as planned and arrived at 8pm.
I was surprised to see so many persons already in the venue with their umbrellas and some equipped for the drenched Gardens of the Pegasus in rain boots! There were already lines by the different Chefs. I hate lines. Especially since I had less than an hour to circle the event to get to another engagement afterwards.
Tickets were almost sold out and the event was still on despite the continuous rain, so it was clear that Patrons came out early to get their money’s worth. This event proves Food surely brings out Jamaican people, rain or shine and early too.
Patrons out early in numbers, equipped with umbrellas during the rain at JFDF’s Crisp.
It was after the fact that I saw updates on JFDF’s Instagram page that the event was still on and the new start time was 8pm. I am sure many persons would not have seen those notices if they already started getting ready to battle the traffic.
With regards to the lines, some moved faster than others. I am happy I got to sample from almost everyone since I had to leave early.
The Menu!
My biggest regret was that I missed out on Chef Mark Cole‘s Crispy Pigs’ Ears and Plantain crusted Beef Tenderloin. I heard they were amazing.
Chef Mark Cole’s Plantain crusted Beef Tenderloin (Photo Credit: Jamaica Pegasus)
Chef Cole was the main person I was looking out for but didn’t spot him at all. Apparently the rain got the best of his tent and he was moved to the tent by Jamaica Pegasus’ Desserts that wasn’t as visible as the others close to me. I didn’t plan on sampling Desserts, but those Cinnamon Churros looked divine! I definitely have some catching up to do and will make up for what I missed with a visit soon!
The Winner for Suga!
The 6 other Chef stations that I visited did a great job. Kudos to all of them for still producing great culinary work in such unfavourable conditions. However, the winner for Suga was Dionne Reid from Smoked Marlin!
The Smoked Marlin Team speedily prepping to serve Patrons in line.
That outcome was totally unexpected for me given my visit to their Restaurant earlier this year and their presentation compared to the others.
Suga’s dish received from Dionne Reid with Smoked Marlin Tostaditas
When I was by their station about 8:30pm, Patrons including myself did not receive the Beignets. Perhaps they were not ready as yet.
Regardless, they made it work and still plated quickly for persons lining up to see what they had to offer.
The taste of their Smoked Marlin Tostaditas had three stages for me. The experience started with a mild introduction of veggies, followed by a hit of spiciness, which gave a complete ‘woah effect’, topped off by burst of flavour. Bravo to Dionne Reid and her Smoked Marlin team all the way from Hanover.
Dionne Reid from Smoked Marlin’s presentation with all items listed on her menu after she got things going later in the night – Smoked Marlin Tostaditas and Sweet Corn Beignets
Special mention goes to one of my faves, Christina Simonitsch and Andre Sewell. I finally got to try his food! Looking forward to one of his pop-ups since he is no longer at 218 Gourmet by Mountain View Avenue fulltime. Even though Sewell was not producing samples as fast, I refused to leave the line. The wait was worth it. I heard his line was continuous for the night and got many return patrons like Smoked Marlin, Christina Simonitsch and Mark Cole.
Christina’s Pork Belly was succulent with a tasty Crisp on top. Quite appropriate for the event. The Sorrel and Red Stripe Gel complemented it well too. I’m upset that I missed her Crispy Pigs’ Ears too! They looked like a part of her display like other Chefs, but I should have known better with Christina that anything on her table is up for grabs.
I thought Andre Sewell’s Jerk Fried Chicken Crispers with Scotch Bonnet Sriracha could have been a bit spicier, but it was delightful nonetheless. Afterall, spicy is my personal preference and it was Crisp not Picante.
The Popcorn Shrimp and seasoned Popcorn was a bit disappointing from Sarah Willers of Blue Ridge. I thought they would have been more creative, given their reputation of extravagant presentations and delicious food from the cosy restaurant nestled in the scenic Blue Mountains.
Sarah Willers’ Blue Ridge Popcorn Shrimp with Beer infused Barbecue Sauce and Korean style seasoned Popcorn
I enjoyed Dwayne Smalling aka Bearded Chef’s Beggar’s Purse though. The tropical flavours were truly brought out. Mission accomplished. Well done Chef.
Lastly, I cannot forget to mention one of the People’s favourites for the night, National’s station featuring Chef Christian Sweeney. The Cheesy Hardough Fries with Pulled Pork and Shrimp were a hit and I enjoyed it.
Crisp had high expectations so the quality of the event was definitely compromised by the rain. The Chefs had a late start and the surfaces to walk around were drenched, topped off by balancing an umbrella, food and a drink, but you can’t control mother nature. At the end of the night Patrons still left satisfied.
I am thankful and give a lot of praise to the Chefs, the Jamaica Pegasus and the JFDF team for managing to still pull off a great event. #SugaEndorsed
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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