Andrea Downer, Gleaner Writer
From left, Janice Allen of the JTB, Harold Cooper and his wife Karin Cooper, corporate affairs manager of the Gleaner Company with Gayle Walker Prosecutor DPP office and Tamara Scott-Williams of SSCO Events Management at the chefs' day off and brunch held at at the Soverign Centre on Sunday, as part of the Kingston Restaurant week activities. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER.
IT WAS not quite dinner and a movie, but it was pretty close! There was good food, refreshing drinks, a movie and chefs, but they weren't cooking.
It was 'Cook's Day Off', and, on Sunday, the organisers of Kingston Restaurant Week fêted and entertained chefs from the participating restaurants. The tables were turned and for a change, the chefs were fed, given bags of buttered popcorn, and ordered to unwind by watching a movie. Not a very tall order, and one that the chefs, food and beverage managers and other restauranteurs who were on hand, had no trouble filling.
On a Sunday, the pace inside the usually busy Sovereign Centre slows down considerably, but shortly before10 o'clock, Sunday morning, the balcony outside the Palace Cineplex had the most activity.
SPONSORS DELIGHTED
Peals of laughter greeted those hurrying up the stairs to join in the fun and Stephanie Scott and Tamara Williams of SSCO Events Planning, the organisers of Kingston Restaurant Week, were busy making sure the real and imagined needs of their guests were taken care of.
Wisynco is one of the sponsors of Kingston Restaurant Week and its cranberry-raspberry juice flowed freely from two punch bowls, one containing an interesting concoction of cranberry-raspberry juice, floating lemon slices and Appleton Rum, from another sponsor, Wray and Nephew.
Best Dressed Chicken salad, one of the latest additions to Jamaica Broilers' 'ready to eat' meals, was the perfect companion for biscuits. And, cookies, topped with blushing pink spaghetti - the signature KRW logo - appeased those with a yen for something sweet.
Mario Machado, of Mac's Chop House, with his beautiful wife Fiona snuggled under his arm, was beaming from ear to ear. He was enjoying himself and looking forward to the movie.
Everyone seemed to be in good spirits and predicted great things for the week ahead. Janet White, food and beverage manager at Ambrosia, expects that her staff will be kept busy.
"Based on the phone calls that we've been getting, it will be a very busy week. I hope it will be an annual event as it gives people the opportunity to explore and experiment with food," she said
Betsy Williams, of Red Bones, was just as excited. She said her restaurant was jam-packed the night before which was unusual, because Saturday nights were usually quiet nights.
