img-20161214-wa0014

GW Art will be at The Hub Coworking’s Christmas Pop Up Shop Tomorrow!

img-20161214-wa0014

GW Art will be at The Hub Coworking’s Christmas Pop Up Shop tomorrow from 10am – 6pm and there will be some deals!

Remember to come and collect your Orders during that time as well and browse the New Items.

The New GW Art Collection that was launched at the end of October is SOLD OUT! Thanks so much to all my Loyal Customers. But not to worry, I will be bringing back replicas of some of the favourites if you missed out or want more.

Get the ‘It’s Always Wine O’Clock’ Table/Desktop for your Wine Cooler, Bar top, Liquor trolley or any surface you desire like this happy customer here!

20161128_184720-2.jpg

Other favourites such as ‘Martini Madness’, ‘Petals 2’ and variations of others will be there too!

20161027_141258-1.jpg
Martini Madness

If you didn’t get to order your ‘Joy’ Bottle for Christmas that sold like hot bread, there will be more!

PhotoGrid_1481889920308.png

Get your Vintage-Rustic décor going too with the new designs for your home. Mason jars will also be on SALE.

PhotoGrid_1481889769787.png

PhotoGrid_1481889845838.png

Please make some time in your busy holiday schedules and stop by The Hub Coworking on Lady Musgrave Road tomorrow. You won’t regret it.

Support GW Art and other Jamaican Entrepreneurs!

***The GW Art Gallery is also on the http://www.sugalifestyle.com website! New pieces shown above will be added soon.

GW Art Contact Information:

screenshot_2016-11-16-15-27-15-1

Looking forward to seeing you soon!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
If you liked this blog, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

 

 

 

 

20161027_184835-1.jpg

Get your GW Art Orders in by Monday, December 12!

20161027_184835-1.jpg
The GW Art Booth was successful at The Hub Coworking’s TSO Pop-Up Shop a month ago.
GW Art has some new Decorative Bottles that would fit in beautifully with your Home/Office Décor and that would also make unique, thoughtful Gifts.
Please check out the Images below available for Ordering with new designs as well as designs for Table/Desktops (Acrylic on Canvas Panel) that you may have missed out on last month.
Decorative Bottles:
photogrid_1480965709836
(L) Joy; (R) Peace Love Joy
photogrid_1480965602558
Top Left: Live Laugh Love with Burlap flower; Top right: Live Laugh Love; Centre: Burlap flower
photogrid_1480517105131_wm
Left: Blue with Burlap Flower; Right: Gold with Ivory rose
Table/Desktop pieces:
photogrid_1477599876193_wm_wm
PhotoGrid_1480955465340_wm.jpg
Petals 2
 photogrid_1477600381390_wm_wm
Prices:
Decorative Bottles – $2500.00
Table/Desktops (9*12)” – $3500.00
Table/Desktops (8*10)” – $3000.00
Bulk items – *Discounted prices Available
To Order:
1. Email ([email protected]) with your order by Monday, December 12.
2. You can Pick up your Order at The Hub Coworking’s Christmas Pop-Up Shop (34 Lady Musgrave Road, Unit #18) on Saturday, December 17, 2016 from 10am to 6pm.

***The GW Art Gallery is also on the http://www.sugalifestyle.com website!

GW Art Contact Information:

screenshot_2016-11-16-15-27-15-1

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
If you liked this blog, 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!

20161112_211138

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

Screenshot_2016-11-10-08-50-53-1.png

Top Picks for the Tasty Category for RW!

Suga’s Top 7 picks for the Tasty ($1850) Category (excluding Beverages, Service & G.C.T) are:

KINGSTON

● Crystal Edge Restaurant

Crystal Edge (876-944-8053; 355-3673) is located beside Cafe Blue in Irish Town where it is nice and cool with a view. It’s homey and comfortable. They have a simple but decent menu where the star dish is their Braised Oxtail that slides off the bone!

● Dragon Court Restaurant

Dragon Court Restaurant by 6 South Avenue is an oldie but goodie. Consistently good food for years. Check them out.

● Pizza Hut Dine-In Restaurant

Screenshot_2016-11-10-08-50-53-1.png

Great value for money. Complimentary serving of Breadsticks with every meal! Go get your carb binge on.

*Suga usually promotes Sea Deck with their tasty food and large serving size but their service and quality have fallen off drastically. Hopefully they pick it up back soon.

MONTEGO BAY

● Pizza Hut Dine-In Restaurant

Great to have a double up on locations for this category.

● MVP Smokehouse

Screenshot_2016-11-10-08-47-51-1.png

MVP Smokehouse on Bogue Road in Montego Bay (1st of 3 gambles for my top picks) looks like a decent option with Shrimp in Cilantro Garlic Sauce, BBQ Ribs and more. Their dessert options look lovely too.

● Debut Fine Wine & Grill (Brick Oven Pizza)

Debut Fine Wine & Grill (Dry Harbour Place, 1-3 Gloucester Avenue – 2nd of 3 gambles for my top picks) looks like it has yummy Appetizers and a good variety of options for the Main, more than just Pizza.

OCHO RIOS

● Boardwalk Bistro

Boardwalk Bistro (3rd of 3 gambles for my top picks) in Island Village Plaza has spicy Tuna and cream cheese dip with Plantain chips, Roast Snapper with Callaloo, Okra and more as well as Rum Fire Ice Cream, all of which I am looking forward to this weekend.

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

 

img-20161109-wa0002

Suga is adding CPJ Deli to the Nyam & Scram Category

img-20161109-wa0002

CPJ Deli’s Discounted Lunch Special menu looks like Value for Money in RW’s Nyam and Scram Category. With a glass of vino included, you can’t really lose.

Check them out as well as the others from a previous post. Click on link below:

Suga’s 5 Nyam & Scram Picks

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

 

Suga’s Visit to Sora Japanese and Savoury Picks for RW 2016!

Suga visited the newest Japanese Restaurant to date in Jamaica, Sora Japanese Sky Cuisine almost 3 weeks ago on a Saturday afternoon at about 4:30pm.

It took a few flights of stairs to get to the top floor where it is located and I don’t remember seeing any options for persons with wheelchairs. I really did feel like I reached the sky. Nice, new, modern décor awaited and pleasant faces. I prefer the outside seating and loved that they had a Bar out there.

Their menus were extensive for Food, Drinks/Cocktails and Wine. They had a special on Hardy’s wine (Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Moscato) from Select Brands for $450/glass and $1850/bottle which is probably much less compared to other Restaurants and Bars for decent enough Wine.

The name of our waiter slipped my memory but he offered excellent service. They have a buzzer for each table as well.

I would have preferred for Food to arrive quicker but it was still within a reasonable time.

Our waiter was very knowledgeable of the menu and I was happy with his suggested Appetizer of Seafood Sumiso ($820JMD) -Boiled Shrimp & Scallops in a nice homemade Vinegar Miso Sauce that complemented it well.

Seafood Sumiso

My husband and I also had Miso Soup ($280JMD), Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura ($1750JMD), the Philly Roll ($1050JMD), California Roll ($730JMD) and another roll.

We didn’t expect the Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura to be all fried into one, meaning you couldn’t see the vegetables. So that was a bit disappointing but the Rolls were good as expected.

We topped dinner off with the Oreo rare Cheesecake ($780JMD) that was lovely and actually tasted homemade.

In terms of prices, they are comparable to the other Japanese Restaurants with regards to food. So basically, high metabolism folks like myself would have to order multiple dishes to feel satisfied because 1 Japanese dish/entrée in general is not filling enough, which racks up your bill.

Suga had a pleasant visit and will return.

***Note that Sora will be participating in Restaurant Week (RW) in the Savoury ($2800JMD) category (excluding Bar, Service and G.C T) and is recommended by Suga.

Sora Japanese Sky Cuisine

(Reservations Recommended)

Location: 9-11 Phoenix Avenue. Kingston

Ph: 876-649-0131; 876-649-0132

Opening Hours: Mon-Sat, 11:30am-11pm

*Closed on Sundays*

Some more Savoury Picks from Suga for RW! :

Other than Sora Japanese, in Kingston, Suga selected Fromage Gourmet Bistro and The Palms Restaurant at C&C South Beach.

Suga did not select any Indian Restaurants in this Category because if you are going to go with Indian, why go halfway? Go all out in the Delectable Category.

Fromage Gourmet Bistro has consistently good food and service. Their menu of Steak, Crab stuffed Chicken, Lasagna Florentine is quite inviting.

The Palms Restaurant at C&C South Beach’s Smoked Pork Chops are delish! They do large servings that taste good. Great value for money.

For the 2nd city, Montego Bay, Suga’s pick is the good old Pelican Grill, where the Surf and Turf should be a pleaser.

For Ocho Rios, if Suga were to choose what looks like good gambles, I would go with Caffe da Vinci Ochi that suits Vegetarions, Meat lovers and Seafood lovers and the Great Escape Restaurant at Runaway Bay Golf Club.

***For Reservations***

● Fromage Gourmet Bistro

Location: 8 Hillcrest Avenue, Kingston

Ph: 876-622-9856; 876-927-7062

● The Palms Restaurant at C&C South Beach

Location: 2 Brompton Rd., Kingston 5

Ph: 876-630-4571; 876-630-4163

● Pelican Grill

Location: Gloucester Avenue Strip, Montego Bay

Ph: 876-952-3171

● Caffe da Vinci (Ocho Rios)

Location: 7/13 Turtle River Road. St. Ann, Ocho Rios

Ph: 876-630-7025

● Great Escape Restaurant, Runaway Bay Golf Club

Location: Main Street, Runaway Bay. St. Ann, Ocho Rios

Ph: 876-973-4239

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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

Where to Reserve your Tables for RW’s Delectable Category!

Suga could not select a clear #1 choice for RW’s Delectable Category ($3800JMD excl. Bar, GCT, Service charge) this year because of the difference in Cuisines.

So Suga’s Top 2 picks are the relatively new kid on the block, Nirvanna Indian Fusion Cuisine in Kingston and the always outstanding, Houseboat Grill in Montego Bay based on their menus and in turn value for money, ambience, décor and service.

The Surf and Turf from The Houseboat Grill should be to die for!

Remember that the Delectable and Epicurean categories are excellent considerations for Date nights or to dress up and go out with Friends and Family. Shampoo!

Dinner from Nirvanna last December 2015!

Chicken with Spinach, Chicken with Fenugreek and a RW 2016 Menu item, Tikka Masala

For Kingston, the runner-up choice for me is Redbones Blues Café. They do a lovely Lobster Pasta. I expect more of the same from Majestic and Whitebones so did not consider them. The Restaurants listed under Kingston should be revised for this Category.

The runner-up for Montego Bay is the new, Mystic Thai. I think they could do better with their menu based on what they are capable of offering though.

For Ocho Rios, I gave Evita’s Italian Restaurant the edge over Christopher’s at Hermosa Cove for those that haven’t visited Evita’s in years. Both have good service and food but Christopher’s has the better view if seated outside. So Christopher’s is known for delicious, authentic food with a seaside view but even though the menu for Evita’s seems more of the same, their Linguine ‘Contessa’ Fettuccine was one of my most memorable and favourite RW dishes to date. Whole Lobster in the shell tossed with Baby Shrimp and Lobster meat! The Salmon Risotto was lovely as well.

Evita’s RW 2014!

Linguine ‘Contessa’ Fettuccine

***For Reservations***

● The Houseboat Grill

Location: Montego Freeport, St. James. Montego Bay

Ph: 876-979-8845

● Nirvanna Indian Fusion Cuisine

Location: Unit 1, 80 Lady Musgrave, Kingston 10

Ph: 876-927-9077; 876-927-9634

● Evita’s Italian Restaurant

Location: Eden Bower Road. St. Ann. Ocho Rios

Ph: 876-974-1012;876-974-2333

● Redbones Blues Café

Location: 1 Argyle Road. Kingston 10

Ph: 876-978-6091

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