Image: The Jamaica Gleaner White Chocolate Cheesecake from The Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel

Restaurant Week Jamaica Begins Today! Where to dress up and go to!

Image: The Jamaica Gleaner White Chocolate Cheesecake from The Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel
Image: The Jamaica Gleaner
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!

Image: The Jamaica Gleaner FLAIR Magazine (Mikey Wilson) - 9.11.15
Image: The Jamaica Gleaner FLAIR Magazine (Mikey Wilson) – 9.11.15

***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 !!!

Gabby goes to Founding Farmers for Breakfast, just 3 blocks away from the White House!

After a late night in the DC streets 2 weekends ago, I was ready for some grub in the morning. My brother picked the perfect place, Founding Farmers, just 3 blocks from the White House where we would go sight-seeing afterwards. The place was filled with people, like The Cheesecake Factory lines to get a table. But apparently they have just started giving the option of making reservations. We didn’t know that, so just decided to wait until spots by the bar were vacant, since that would be quicker. Sitting by the bar didn’t look much less comfortable than booths or tables. It seemed cozy nonetheless. The two-story restaurant had old, wooden, farm table decor mixed with modern crafted elements throughout. It was a beautiful day with the sunlight flooding through the glass windows, highlighting various features and finishes of the designs by award-winning CORE architecture and design.

I ordered a Hot Chocolate immediately, which was divine. Then I ordered the Farmer’s Fare that consisted of Breakfast Chicken & Waffles with a side of Eggs anyway you liked it, white gravy and syrup. Despite the more than ‘full house’, my breakfast arrived quickly in less than 10 minutes and at a glance, I was salivating. Then the taste, mmmm. The Waffle was so big and thick, but light and fresh. The Scrambled Eggs were fluffy topped off with that Farm Fresh Fried Chicken. The Breakfast Fare was just $12USD, which was more than worth it. My stomach was full and satisfied. I mean, it was just typical ‘Breakfast food’ right? But it was so delicious. IHOP and Waffle House what?!

It was also a delight to experience such great service in a busy atmosphere. Heading to DC or the US Capitol anytime soon? Founding Farmers is a MUST STOP for Breakfast. Can you imagine they are practically open all day for lunch and dinner too?! Can’t wait to revisit and try those menus.

The award-winning Founding Farmers is also located in Montgomery County, Maryland and will soon be adding a new location in Tysons Corner, Virginia this fall. They have various Certifications showing that they are dedicated to environmentally friendly practices, including being a Certified Green Restaurant. Their products are sourced from local farmers with seasonal menu changes to always contain local produce.

For more information, visit http://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com.

Founding Farmers True Food and Drink, Washington D.C.

Ph#: 202.822.TRUE (8783)

Address: 1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20006

Date of visit: 19/10/14

NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum

Parking: ★★★★☆

Ambience: ★★★☆☆

Decor: ★★★★★

Comfort: ★★★★☆

Service: ★★★★☆

Speed: ★★★★★

Food quality: ★★★★★

Serving amount: ★★★★★

Plating: ★★★★☆

Value for $: ★★★★★

SuGa Endorsement: ★★★★★