Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor 
Fashion parade featuring clothing from House of Slim and Uzuri International.
HE USED to be a social fixture in the nation's capital, as, when international hotelier Ron Droegmyer, first arrived in Jamaica, it was to head the then Hilton Kingston Hotel. Now, mind you, what made Droegmyer stand out at the time, was his stated intentions of making the hotel premier property.
At the time, the suggestion was almost laughable, as the neighbouring Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, had the distinction of being Kingston's premier property the place to be seen, as the property was regarded a the very bastion of civilised life in the metropolis of Kingston. We are talking an oasis of fine living and regal style that made the property the preferred place of leisure for the social elite, the powerbrokers and the political nomenclature, as indeed, to be seen at the Jamaica Pegasus, was to be identified with good-taste and the acme of Kingston society.
RE-ORDERING THE
SOCIAL PECKING ORDER
That Ron Droegmyer, a rank outsider who came along with a view of re-ordering the social pecking order in Kingston, was not only laughable, his attitude was thought to be typical of 'those brash Americans' who thought they know what's best for everyone else, and so people thought his assertions somewhat comical.
Well, truth be told, it took Ron Droegmyer and his team just about three years to socially eclipse the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, dethroning the once exalted property to that of a social bystander, as the Hilton Kingston became the capital's pre-eminent property and new haunt of the socially well-heeled and the all-powerful, and the Pegasus became a shadow of its former self.
This achievement was really no easy feat, as such was the allure of the Pegasus, such was its all-important status symbol, that there was at least one businessman whose business went belly-up, due to his 'power lunches' and or lengthy dinners.
Anyways, with the Hilton established as the city's premier property, the man who managed the transformation was transferred elsewhere to work his magic, of transforming another sluggish resort into a high-end, top-performer on the U.S. mainland. The allure of Jamaica, however, always remained a beckoning, and so it was, that when an opportunity arose for this very talented hotelier to return to Jamaica, there was no hesitation on his part, and so today, Ron Droegmyer, is the current General Manager of the fabulously laid-back SuperClubs Grand Lido Braco Resort, in Trelawny.
Well, its been pretty close to two years now since he joined the SuperClubs family of fine and exciting resorts and since his return to Jamaica, has immersed himself, in the international promotion of the beauty and joys to be found in the Lido experience for the discriminating vacationer. And dears, we are talking fine living here, and faultlessly so.
Pumpkins, done-up to reflect the beauty of living in a Caribbean Village, Grand Lido Braco, represents the very best of island living, its themed celebrations so designed to accentuate the subtle nuances and flavours of the islands, at the very top of the game.
Well, in their continuing quest to present on offer a slice of authentic Jamaican life, lifestyle and culinary bounties, to the Jamaican vacationer as well as to offer the very finest of Jamaica, two Saturdays ago, Ron Droegmyer and his team served up what was truly an art exposition, the subject here being Jamaican food. It was a lesson in the intercontinental appeal and timeless allure of all things Jamaican. Dears, we are talking about a three-day, two-night festival here of the finest culinary order, culminating in a display of all things fabulous about Jamaica in food, fashion, style, rum, cigars, dance, and its people that made even the most jaded do a double-take in abject appreciation.
THE BEST OF JAMAICA
Oh, my word, dears, when they said it was The Best of Jamaica, children, they weren't kidding for one bit, as here was the very best of all the dishes, libations, and all ever presented for the palate of the initiated, by some of the best chefs, ever to prepare these dishes anywhere in the world.
Pumpkins, from your traditional 'Run-dung' through to an array of Lobster dishes. From Bussu to blue-draws, lemonade to the finest of Appleton's 250-year-old reserve, it reigned fabulousness here like a style mantra feast of such fabulous proportions, you name it, it was on offer and in its finest form, and at the kind of feast of even the gods Bacchus and Dionysus would have been fabulously proud; and Hollywood would have presented an Oscar.
But what a celebration of all things Jamaican! Pumpkins, it does not get any better than this!
Those out, included: SuperClubs VP Sue McManus; Lennie Little-White, of Mediamix; the oh so fabulous Cecile Levee; David Hall of Digicel; the fabulous Kerry-Ann Clarke; the très elegant Norma Foreman-Davidson; Guy Britton of Caribbean Travel and Life Magazine; the charming Rose Richards; Mr. and Mrs. Clarke Lobban; Harry Smith; the lovely Heather Sheilds; Hotel Manager Anne-Marie Goffe; PR Manager Denise Tait; Carol Walters-Davis; Jackie Norman; Angelie Overtani; Michael and Isabel Moulton; Clem and Cherita Bierhoff; plus a number of others.
