By Rosemary Parkinson, Contributor
English Pub appetisers, onion rings and more. - Photo By Rosemary Parkinson
Rating based on the quality of service, food, ambience and price (value for money)
The Royal Stocks
Half Moon Village, Montego Bay; Phone: 953-9770
Prices: US$2.50 to US$16.95
Open daily 10:00 a.m. till de lass' leave.; Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner - Kitchen closes 10:00 p.m
"No, Sir, there is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern."
- Boswell's quote of
Samuel Johnson
YEP, AIN'T that the truth.
The term pub was invented by the Victorians as an abbreviation for public house, but it was not the English who started the pub-ball rolling -- 'twas de Italians. Mama Mia! Some 2,000 years ago dem Romans came rolling into England and set up 'tarbenae' for food and wine at every stop -- it was necessary for their survival. As history would have it, they became, alas, extinct when their owners were sent packing back to Roma. Subsequent invaders of England had one thing in common -- a fondness for alcohol. (Must be the weather. On my first trip to London the weather drove me to drink, and that's a fact). Therefore, it was all just a matter of time before Ale, a concoction of malted barley, water and yeast, hit the road.
By the Middle Ages with the population and industry reaching huge proportions and water pollution at its max, Ale became the 'safe drink' and Alehouses appeared every which where. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, they became taverns -- again, places of leisure not necessity -- places for comfort and food. Then, as we mentioned, Madame La Queen Victoria's reign produced the public house, now commonly known as the pub.
Today pubs are without a doubt an English institution, and they have found their way to other parts of the most parts of the English-speaking world -- following de people dem as they now roam to countries beyond their boundaries. By taking pubs out of England and receiving foreigners into English pubs, methinks the pub has changed for the better. Certainly, my experience during the '60s was of a smelly-beer-laden-sawdust-floored gathering place where the food seemed quite gross -- jellied pork pies and pickled eggs -- yuk! The beer was warm and alcoholic drinks allowed one block of ice (if you were lucky and vociferous enough).
Praise be, the 'new' English pub serves 'up-a-notch' traditional and sometimes, very gourmet grub. Chilled beers from all over and glorious, glorious ice in your gin & orange are now the norm. The local pub is the in place for friends to meet; business people to negotiate; colleagues to hold discussions; a place for celebration; games; good music; and, even more important, relaxation.
OLD ENGLISH PUB WITH A BIT OF THE CARIBBEAN
Hidden within Half Moon Village, Montego Bay, and living up to its name is, The Royal Stocks Pub, which has to be more 'pubbie' than any other pub I have seen outside of Great Britain. The decor is absolutely spot on, the menu is Old English and it mixes in Caribbean with good-old pub 'fayre'. The splendid bar is solid in more ways than one. Highly polished, it is bordered with a shining brass rail which is broken intermittently by gorgeous elephant heads (also in brass), adding a slight Indian colonial touch. The rest of the very British interior includes a traditional fireplace, old paintings and pub paraphernalia. With beer sold by the bottle or from tap, an excellent selection of alcoholic choices, a barman on the ball and staff giving ye a merry welcome, it's no wonder that The Royal Stocks is always buzzing.
The choice of foods begin with soups, hearty snacks and appetisers, salads, sandwiches, fisherman's fayre, Stocks Burgers, Stocks Pub Grub and there's a chef's menu board with the specials of the day. Variety, there is much.
I began (after a few glasses of the plonk -- a fine Italian Montepulciano Merlot) with The Stocks Classic Combo, an assortment of Herb & Garlic Bread with Cheese, Loaded Potato Skins, Coconut Breaded Chicken Fingers, Deep fried Mozzarella Sticks (my favourite) and Beer Battered Onion Rings. Sounds enormous eh? But it's for two -- do you know me to go out eating alone? No Sah.
Everything was finger-licking good and the Colonel was, thank God, in a bucket somewhere else. With tantalising dipping sauces to complement each of these delicious morsels, I was away. My dinner partner took heed of my euphoria and remained quietly at my side, savouring the moment.
RED STRIPE, APPLETON AND KIDNEYS MARINATED IN GUINNESS
Several players from the Bell Caribbean Jamaica Futures Tennis walked in followed by golf representatives from various parts of the world -- the most boisterous and wild being the Channel Islands lot (in for the Amateur World Championships at Half Moon). All hell broke loose. With Red Stripe, Appleton & Coke the order of the night, and music blazing dong de place, the total pub atmosphere came to the fore. Several rounds of drinks ordered by a rather amorous Jersey islander caused me to imbibe extra glasses of el vino, so the arrival of my main dish was most welcomed.
I had decided to go for the Steak & Kidney Pie. Must have been drunk 'cause I am not a lover of kidney but hey, when in Rome ... and any how it was supercalifragilisticexpealidoushly rather super. What Ho. Those chunks of tasty beef and kidney (okay okay, 'twas good) marinated in Guinness, cooked in a fabulously rich brown gravy and topped with flaky puff pastry had indeed a touch of Caribbean spice, making the flavour all the better for it.
Also, dipped my fork into 'his' Cottage Pie. That brought back memories of student days in 'Jubilee' town. Jolly Good. By the time Sue Callahan (owner) and Jennifer Williams (manager) said goodbye to us rowdies, we were all in fine form and a dip (not skinny) in Half Moon Royal Villa's pool was the order of the a.m., much to the amusement of George, the butler, and Hilda, the cook.
All rather spiffing.
Had her Channel Islands' suitor not fallen asleep at The Royal Stocks, Rosemary Parkinson would, as we speak, be living the life of Riley in Jersey - millionaires' row - green gold.
