After a great day of Labour Day Shopping in Montego Bay last Saturday with Suga Lifestyle, it was all about Lucca Italian Restaurant (Ig: @luccaitalianrestaurant) for the win!
So happy we finally got to visit.
Lucca Italian Restaurant is in The Annex Plaza Fairview, MoBay which is fairly modern, but inside the Restaurant gives you Old Tavern.
Our Server, Lawry was a breath of fresh air after a long day. She knew the menu and her wine cellar inside out, mixed great Cocktails and managed to be professional, but gave us a few laughs at the same time.
Their Focaccia starter with sautéed Mushroom (US$10.50) was one of the best Focaccia I’ve ever had. Focaccia doesn’t need to be drowned in Rosemary folks.
Hubby had the Rosse Pasta (US$12.60), which was an interesting, but tasty mix of a tomato sauce and a cream sauce with Shrimp and I thoroughly enjoyed the Chef’s Special Risotto with shrimp (US$20.60).
Authentic Italian with excellent service and affordable prices. We would definitely revisit Lucca Italian Restaurant. #SugaEndorsed
By: Gabrielle Burgess (CEO, Suga Lifestyle)
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We visited Ciao Bella Art Cafe(Ig: @ciaobellaartcafe) on Easter Sunday in Taj Mahal Plaza, Ocho Rios, where my beloved Mama Marley’s used to be.
The service was up to par, the staff were pleasant and we enjoyed our Italian staples of choice, Bruschetta, Pizza & Pasta in their cosy ambience.
Puttanesca from Ciao Bella Art Cafe
The Pizza lacked a bit of authenticity for me though. I prefer Pizza from a Wood Fire oven and the use of more fresh garlic and herbs for flavour.
Delightful experience with more than satisfactory servings nonetheless. Value for money.
🇮🇹Fresh Mushroom & Goat Cheese Bruschetta + 24 Karat Global Beer 🇮🇹Proscuitto Pizza (medium) with cured Italian Ham, Arugula, Mozzarella & Marinara sauce + Da Luca Prosecco 🇮🇹Puttanesca with house made Marinara sauce, anchovies, olives, capers and parsley
Did you know?! 👀
Puttanesca is an easy sauce, briefly cooked, very fragrant & spicy. Puttanesca translates as “in the style of the whore.â€Â The name derives from the Italian word ‘puttana’, which means whore. Google this odd sauce history!
Ciao Bella Art Cafe
Location: Taj Mahal Plaza, Ocho Rios. Jamaica
Ph: 876.974.3733; 876.463.9998
Instagram: @ciaobellaartcafe
By: Gabrielle Burgess (Founder/Owner, Suga Lifestyle)
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Do you remember all the spicy and cheesy goodness from Jabba’s Peppa Swims at Kingston Kitchen?! Well, he’s back with a Seafood River All-You-Can-Eat Pop-up by Ensfield, Gordon Town for $3500/$4000JMDÂ depending on your choices on Sunday, August 25th!
There will be Live Music, Guest DJs and Drink Specials, all from 2pm – 6pm.
Save the Date!
For More Information and where to get Tickets:
Ph: 876-296-7304
Ig: @jabbaspeppaswims
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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B & D Trawling’s Pop-Up Kitchen has returned! You can go to 3B Port Royal Street by the Caribbean Queen boat this Friday from 11am – 10pm.
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Last Friday, Food Trucks of Jamaica made their way behind NCB Twin Towers at 2 1/2 Kensington Crescent off Oxford Road. They served lunch from 11:30am to 3:30pm.
This was their menu!
Suga Taster, Stephen Greig visited the Food Truck last Friday at 1:45pm and reported that there was no line to my surprise. He said customer service was average, but quick.
He had the Chicken and Jerked Sausage Basil Pesto Alfredo Penne ($1300JMD) and thought that there was more Sausage than Chicken and it lacked spice. However, the Pasta was well cooked, the sauce was creamy and cheesy with just the right amount of parsley and portions were more than sufficient, so the meal was value for money.
Chicken and Jerked Sausage Basil Pesto Alfredo Penne ($1300JMD) from Food Trucks of Jamaica last Friday, March 29, 2019. (Photo: Stephen Greig)
Kudos to Food Trucks of Jamaica for serving their food in a biodegradable box.
*** Their Suga Taster rating is a 3.8/5 ***
Follow @foodtrucksofjamaica on Instagram to see where they are headed to next!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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It’s been a long time coming, but I finally made the trek to Street Food Saturdays. Was it worth it? Not really, but I went for the experience nonetheless.
The Menu
Persons like myself and my husband who go with the intention to try different dishes may be disappointed. We were not given the option to mix meats even when requested and the plates were small, especially for the prices. I hardly eat Pork, but wanted to taste their Smoked Pork Belly. That taste cost me $2,000JMD. It was succulent and crackling, but a bit too salty.
Smoked Pork Belly ($2000JMD) from Street Food Saturdays last Saturday, February 23, 2019.
The event was filled with patrons. Thankfully they had good crowd control. The wait for food wasn’t long and even though you couldn’t get all your food options at one station, they seemed to have a good system going. ‘Chefs Dwight and Celine’ were on Meats, and Chef Simone Walker-Barrett with her assistants were on Seafood, with her added special of Jerked Lamb Chops.
The Meat Station at Street Food Saturdays
It was a hot day. They had seating under tents, but my husband and I scoped out a table down by the river that was much cooler with more scenic surroundings.
Rosemary Pan Chicken ($1000JMD)
The Rosemary Pan Chicken was nothing to write home about, but the Tangerine and Guava sauces provided were tasty and complemented the meats well.
The greatly anticipated Lobster Pasta was not visually appealing. A small serving of lobster on some cheesy elbow macaroni was served to others, so we passed on that.
This finally brings me to the good stuff. The Jerked Fish was seasoned to perfection and accompanied by tasty Parmesan Polenta.
Jerked Fish with Parmesan Polenta ($2000JMD)
Chef Simone Walker-Barrett’s Special was indeed special. The Jerked Lamb Chops were savoury.
Jerked Lamb Chops with Parmesan Polenta ($3000JMD)
Suga a.k.a Gabby Burgess at Street Food Saturdays last Saturday, February 23, 2018.
After we finished our lunch, there was nothing that kept us interested to stay, so we made it back home in time to watch the Gibson Relays. I think the event has the potential to be better; maybe some entertainment or a farmer’s market. We enjoyed our meals, but it was an underwhelming experience based on the marketing of the event and it was not value for money. It was marketed as wood fire gourmet, but although the quality of some of the dishes was good, there was nothing signature about them, with regard to presentation or taste. After a long drive we spent $8,400JMD for street food, with walk up service, in an outdoor setting. Sorry Suga Bears, this event is not #SugaEndorsed.
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Last weekend was filled with sun, sea, food and rum for Suga and husband, Randy in the scenic parish of Portland.
Our first stop last Friday night was The Italian Job owned by Chef Gianmaria Pedroli who calls himself, The Pizza Man.
It’s a quaint restaurant on the side of the road on Harbour street that seemed to attract a lot of Europeans visiting the island. The Pizza Man was hospitable and made us feel quite comfortable. He seemed to have two local Chefs working for him that night, who he checked on from time to time after he took our order.
Randy started things off with a classic Italian Minestrone soup and I had Bruschetta, where the bread was toasted just right. The tomato was fresh complemented well with herbs and a light touch of vinegar.
Bruschetta – Toasted Bread topped with garlic, olive oil, freshly diced tomato, vinegar and herbs
Our mains arrived theatrically with steam still coming off the plates. We thoroughly enjoyed our flavourful pastas, mine a little less loaded with seafood than Randy’s. Lobster was still abundant throughout my dish and the shells served with the dishes weren’t just for presentation, but contained meat as well. The sauce was not heavy, so despite the size of the dishes, we did not feel gluttonous at the end, but fully satisfied with its lightness, freshness, flavour and authenticity.
Linguini con Aragosta ($3000JMD incl. tx) – Pasta with Lobster, white wine, tomato, parsley and garlic
Linguini The Italian Job ($3000JMD incl. tx) – Pasta with Lobster, Clams, Shrimps, Mussels, Calamari, freshly diced tomato
Prices were beyond reasonable and Dessert was available too.
The Italian Job is definitely #SugaEndorsed. We returned the next day to pick up our Pizza order!
Stay tuned to see other foodie stops we made for the rest of the weekend!
Chef Gianmaria Pedroli a.k.a The Pizza Man and Randy Burgess after Randy was served his Linguini Italian Job with steam abound.
The Italian Job Pizzeria and Restaurant
Location: 29 Harbour Street. Port Antonio.
Ph: 876-573-8603
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm; Closed on Sundays and Mondays
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Suga’s Seafood Cheese Tortellini (Cheese filled Pasta with Lobster, Shrimp, Calamari, Mussels, Conch and Octopus tossed in a creamy seafood sauce from Ribbiz Ocean Lounge last Saturday, January 5, 2018.
TGIF to this Seafood Cheese Tortellini! Last Saturday I indulged in a creamy, cheesy Seafood Pasta from Ribbiz Ocean Lounge. The Lobster that topped it all off was a bit cold, but other than that, it was quite scrumptious and enjoyable. I wish I could say the same about the limited parking options and intolerable service. My experience was unreviewable. I will not be returning to that location, but the Seafood Cheese Tortellini is on the menu at Ribbiz Ultra Lounge in Loshusan Centre, Barbican! Go get it there!
Have a great weekend!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Comments: Cellar 8 has not only made changes to their space with a Deck, but their staff and management as well. Courteous, enthusiastic staff and delicious food. Service time could have been quicker and quality of drinks could have been better. Cellar 8 has always been a bit overpriced, but is no longer the new ‘it’ bar and has lost a superb mixologist. They should probably consider reducing their prices so customers can feel they are getting value for money.
Suga’s Breakdown
I thought Cellar 8 would have been busier 3 Friday nights ago, but with the opening of new Bars such as the Sky Lounge, they seemed to have lost their Friday night buzz. However, members of their new staff were courteous and the presence and supervision of the new management was felt. Since it wasn’t a full night, I thought service could have been a bit quicker, but our server, Davion was quite attentive and kept us up to date. Drinks were decent, but the gifted hands of their mixologust, Milton Wisdom who is no longer there, were missed. The quality of food was good, but the wrong Pasta dish was served to my husband, Randy. We wondered if the Chef was trying to sneak in the wrong dish, since it was similar to what was ordered and we were not told that the desired dish was finished. Anyhow, it was replaced soon after with my husband’s secondary dish of choice that he still enjoyed.
My Glazed Snapper Fillet with cous cous and veggies – $2600JMD+tx + 5% serv. charge
Randy’s Pasta Marinara and Basil with added Shrimp – $1400 + $800JMD+tx + 5% serv. charge
We were about to call it a night, but we were smartly interrupted by a purposeful temptation of a trolley full of Dessert wheeled to us to choose from.
We couldn’t pass that up. So I had the Strawberry Cheesecake and Randy had the Chocolate cheesecake. Sumptuous!
