Mike’s Supper Club at The Trident Hotel had spectacular service and ambience enhanced by rhythmic live jazz, where the band used Trident’s one of a kind Ferrari red 1917 Steinway baby grand piano. Some of the best voices in world, jazz and bop music have left their nightly signature on it.
Beverages were grand, but I can’t say the same about their dishes.
We started things off with Pumpkin Soup and a Goat Cheese Salad. The Pumpkin Soup was probably the largest dish of the night.
Pumpkin Soup with coconut, lemongrass and spiced chicken (US$12 +G.C.T +Serv. charge)Fresh Greens and Goat Cheese Salad – Fried Cheese, Pickled Onion, Red Grapes, charred Pepper and Red Radish (US$15 +G.C.T +Serv. charge)
The Goat Cheese Salad was quite tasty and flavourful, but our entrees followed and disappointed in that aspect and more. We had the Rack of Lamb and Surf n Turf. Both dishes were extremely small servings. In addition to an already exorbitant cost of US$50 for the Surf and Turf, sides of Vegetables and Starches were additional for US$3 and $US6 respectively before tax and service charge.
Rack of Lamb – Pistachio crust, Wine Tamarind Jus, roasted Vegetable and Butternut Puree (US$32 +G.C.T +Serv. charge)Surf n Turf – Angus Beef Fillet, seared Shrimps, roasted Seaweed and smoked Pepper Coulis (US$50 +G.CT +Serv. charge)
To add to the disappointment of small servings, even though our meats were medium rare as requested, the Lamb and Beef lacked proper seasoning and flavour.
The food may not have been value for money, but it was certainly a pleasurable experience.
Mike’s Supper Club at The Trident Hotel
Location: Port Antonio
Ph: 876-633-7100; 1(800) 300-6220
Website (Menu available): www.thetridenthotel.com
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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From the hillside to the sea, diners can experience the best of both worlds, while seated at Cliff Hanger’s rustic and comfortable Restaurant and Lounge.
My husband and I received hospitable service and our food arrived in a timely manner. Afterall, we ordered the Drunken Lion Fish and would not want that process to be rushed. What made it drunken? The sauce consisted of Red Stripe Beer, White Rum and Red Wine.
Drunken Lion Fish ($27USD + G.C.T + 15% Serv. Charge)
All three spirits were evident in the Drunken Lion Fish sauce and the dish was quite tasty. I am afraid it was not value for money though. For the Lion Fish dish ($27USD) and a Cocktail ($7.50USD), the damage ended up being a little over $6000JMD per person, i.e. $12,157.82 for the both of us after G.C.T and Service charge were added, which is far too expensive. Suga suggests they provide a local rate for their menu.
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The view from the restaurant at Kanopi House, Portland
Two Saturdays ago I had lunch at Kanopi House, Portland that is nestled in 100ft banyan trees with a breathtaking view of the Blue Lagoon.
There weren’t many options on the menu, so my husband and I went with Chicken and Fish sliders with a side of freshly made potato chips.
Chicken sliders with Potato chips ($27USD) from Kanopi House, Portland
Service was quick and the staff was courteous. The food was pricey, so thankfully it was tasty too. With that view and comfort, why complain though?
A small bar was available to get spirits from as well.
Of course, nothing is too predictable in the relaxed parish of Portland. The menu varies from day-to-day and I was told by one of their Chefs, Cecile Watt that items on their dinner menu have an Asian twist. Perhaps we will try them for dinner when we go back to that side of our beautiful island.
Suga a.k.a Gabby Burgess (L) and husband, Randy Burgess with Chef Cecile Watt from Kanopi House on Saturday, February 16, 2019.
Kanopi House
Location: Blue Lagoon, San San, Port Antonio (7-10mins away from Blue Lagoon) Ph: 876.632.3213 US:  800.790.7971 UK (London): 0203.318.1191 Canada: 416.800.9157 Email: [email protected] Website: www.kanopihouse.com
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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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 garlicLinguini 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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One of Suga’s favourite Chefs, Christina Simonitsch, has opened her new Pop-up Restaurant, Simo’s. Last weekend was her first Simo’s Pop-Up staging and Suga endorsed Restaurateurs in the Montego Bay and St. Ann community such as Kareena Mahbubani of Mystic Thai and Chris and Lisa Binns of Stush in the Bush, were a few of the lucky guests in attendance. They had a grand time and their pictures of the gourmet affair are to die for.
Here’s a sneak peek!
Christina cooks with perfection and passion for the love of food. Stay tuned to her instagram page, @simosbreadandcatering to see when reservations are open for the next Simo’s Pop-Up!
S HOTEL JAMAICA
The New Spanish Court Hotel has finally opened its doors in Montego Bay! The official opening was just last weekend and booking is now live for the brand new, modern hotel overlooking Doctor’s Cave Beach.
They are now taking walk-ins at special rates during their soft opening weeks and offering special Intro opening rates.
Take a look at the exquisite modern decor and fixtures in place!
S Hotel’s very own Singer Roadster convertible greets you by the entrance of the hotel. This model was made popular in Jamaica in 1953 when the late American actress, Katharine Hepburn visited Jamaica with it and used it to tour our island.A touch of some of the woodwork designs by tree salvager, Tamara Morin-Harding of Mara Made Designs, which is Brand Jamaican.
The Restaurant is also now open!
It’s clear Suga has to make a trip to Montego Bay soon! Stay tuned.
Location: 7 Gloucester Ave., Montego Bay, St. James, Jamaica
Ph: 876-979-0000
Website:ÂÂ
http://www.shoteljamaica.com
Instagram: @shoteljamaica
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Thatched roofs, bamboo, wooden tables and stools along with courteous staff, nestled in the lush greenery of the Serengeti Zoo, Chillin’ provided a comfortable setting to have dinner with my husband, Randy last Saturday night.
Chillin’ Restaurant emerged as a hot spot over the holidays and seems suitable for teens and up.
When I saw Murray’s Curry Goat on the menu, I instantly knew the owners of Murray’s Fish and Jerk Hut, Clarendon have come to town! It kicked my senses into high gear.
Appetizers
I instantly ordered the Murray’s Curry Goat and Roti Waffle bites.
Murray’s Curry Goat and Roti Waffle bites ($1000JMD) – Jamaican curried goat and mixed leaves on a bed of roti waffles.
The Curry Goat was deboned, tender, juicy and spicy complemented by veggies and a soft Roti Waffle to cool things down.
Salads, Chicken Strips, Wings, Wontons, and Corn-on-the-Cob are other Appetizers on the menu ranging from $900JMD to $1600JMD.
There are also attractive group platters ranging from $2500-$3600JMD with options of healthy servings of Jerked meat, Wontons, Corn and Wings with a variety of sauces.
Our mains were presented attractively in healthy portions, both well cooked and quite savoury. That Chillin’s sticky House Barbeque Sauce is one for the recipe books.
Murray’s popular, seasoned to perfection Curried Goat, Smoked Pork Chop, Peppa Shrimp and Braised Oxtail are other succulent main items on the menu.
Chillin’ Restaurant and Bar seems like the perfect place to have a bite and pregame before a night out or the place to have a savoury, well cooked and seasoned meal accompanied by the sound of good music.
Chillin’ Restaurant is #SugaEndorsed.
Gabrielle Burgess a.k.a Suga at Chillin’ Restaurant last Saturday, January 19, 2019.
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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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Tamarind Continental, Saffron and Tamarind Indian all fall under the same umbrella, however Tamarind Continental’s menu offers cuisines other than Indian as its name suggests.
If you are dining at Tamarind Indian, you have the luxury of ordering from Tamarand Continental that is 2 doors away and vice versa. I wanted a healthy dish with a light sauce, so I ordered from the Tamarand Continental menu, while my husband ordered from the Tamarind Indian menu.
The Staff were courteous and attentive. Service was within reasonable time and we enjoyed our meals. I had the Cilantro lime Chicken, which was quite tasty.
I was pleased to see that Tamarind Cuisine continues to serve dinner with a high standard and I look forward to returning. Tamarind cuisine is suited for family outings, dinner dates and business meetings. #SugaEndorsed
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The Restaurant to go to for privacy, excellent service and a savoury meal. Their sauces that complement the dishes are divine and serving amounts are beyond satisfactory. #SugaEndorsed
Pasta Carbonara with ShrimpSnapper Fillet served with mashed potatoes.
Black Orchid Restaurant
Location: Eden Gardens Wellness Resort & Spa @ 39 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston
Ph: 876-946-9977
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Jamaicans love a new restaurant that looks modern and is easy to get to and that explains why Chive Restaurant is booked out for Restaurant Week (RW). Chive is in the Savoury Category for $2800JMD, where G.C.T and Beverages are at an additional cost.
They definitely took the huge risk to open and participate in Restaurant Week to make a first impression on the public. But bravo! They did well.
The staff was polite, attentive and quite composed for the occasion.
The menu for Restaurant Week offered a good variety of options including Vegetarian, Seafood, Beef, Chicken and Pork dishes. Food came out in a reasonable amount of time and servings were sufficient. The taste of everything was on point and Chive was definitely value for money. Two thumbs up for Restaurant Week!
Appetizers
Crispy Glazed Pork Belly stuffed in a steamed bao bun with Hoisin sauce, ginger and pickled cucumbers.
Firstly, the RW menu said Pork Buns and not Pork Bun. However, we threw that critique out the window after we indulged in a healthy serving of succulent, well seasoned Pork Belly with a crisp that met you upon each bite.
Plump grape tomatoes, grilled garlic lobster and basil drizzled with a honey balsamic reduction on toasted baguette slices.
For the Grilled Lobster Bruschetta, we were wondering if we would get mostly tomatoes, but that was not the case. The Bruschettas were toasted just right and filled with Grilled Lobster. Delightful. Hopefully they can keep up this standard.
Main
Oxtail Alfredo – Traditional ‘fall off the bone’ Oxtail combined with penne pasta tossed in creamy Alfredo sauce.
I must admit that I was not in the mood to be disappointed with another Oxtail Pasta that didn’t really have Oxtail in it. So when ordering, I requested that I do not get ‘the essence’ of the Oxtail and I get my Pasta loaded with tender Oxtail. I can’t guarantee the same for you, but ask and you shall receive!
The Oxtail was tender, well seasoned and tasty. It was not overpowered by a heavy, creamy alfredo sauce. The taste and consistency of the sauce was just right to complement the Oxtail.
Beef Bourguignon – Tender chunks of Beef simmered in a rich red wine gravy served atop garlic, rosemary mashed potatoes and country roasted vegetables.
The Oxtail Pasta was impressive, but we thought the Beef Bourguignon was the winner of the night. The serving could have been bigger, but the flavour was outstanding. The Beef was well seasoned and enhanced by the red wine gravy that was rich indeed with a citrus flavour. #SugaSnaps.
Dessert
Warm Bread Pudding with Buttery Rum Sauce.
I was told when ordering that there was no Vanilla Bean Ice Cream to accompany the Bread Pudding as stated. This disturbed me since Sovereign supermarket is across the road and so is Devon House Ice Cream.
Nanda Dukharan, one of the owners who checked on our table from time to time to gather feedback and ensure everything was going smoothly, actually makes ice cream. When that was explained to us, I understood that they wished to keep the authenticity of their Ice Cream once they iron out a few kinks. So you cannot expect the Pineapple Ginger Ice Cream with Scotch Bonnet Brittle either, which was also on the menu.
I then thought my serving of Bread Pudding should have been larger to compensate. Thankfully it was warm and savoury.
Decadent Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheesecake.
The Cheesecake was definitely decadent and a great finale for our dinner.
Chive Restaurant still has a full dining and bar menu to finalize post Restaurant Week, so they are definitely on Suga’s radar. For now, Chive Restaurant is #SugaEndorsed.
I hope they keep it up because I am looking forward to a new spot to eat and drink for the holiday season! Aren’t you?
(L-R) Friends and Foodies, Jehan Knight, Randy Burgess and wife, Gabrielle a.k.a Suga feeling quite content after a fulfilling RW dinner at the new Chive Restaurant.
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