Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer
Songstress Patti Labelle will be performing at this year's Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues festival. She has so far requested lots of shrimp cocktails. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
FILM STARS and musicians are notorious for making unusual and sometimes extreme requests when they check into hotels. Those performing at this year's jazz festival will be no exception.
We have heard about Mariah Carey's demands for Cristol Champagne, low fat cheese, low fat bread and a host of other demands.
The late Luther Vandross whose melodious voice churned out hit after hit, made his fair share here in 2001 for the 'Power Of Love' concert at the Constant Spring Golf Club. Promoters scrambled to change the white Lexus SUV provided for him for a cream-coloured model after Mr. Vandross showed his displeasure. Food wise, Mr. Vandross' request included:
* several cases of Evian spring water;
* fruit baskets;
* food that was not on his diet sheet was banned from his room.
The Hilton Kingston hotel, where he stayed, reportedly had arranged for its executive chef to prepare all the singer's meals, as he required a diet for diabetic and hypertensive persons.
Rappers Snoop Doggy Dog and Ja Rule are said to have requested champagne, cognac, juice and cigars among other things while they were in Jamaica for Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest in 2001.
Not surprising then that when more than 15 stars gather this Thursday through to Saturday for the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival at the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club in Montego Bay, St. James that special food requests will be made.
DEMANDS OF A DIVA
Songstress Patti Labelle, also a diabetic, has so far this week has ordered a platter of 12 shrimp cocktails.
At the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club, venue of the festival, there are certainly lovers of milk. For the artistes' tent, comes a special request for a specific kind of milk - soy or skimmed.
Local entertainers are also making special requests. Many of the bands booked for the festival have requested for only home-made Jamaican foods with lots of spice, said one chef.
Not every artiste is said to have elaborate food requests. Alicia Keys, who was here for Reggae Sumfest 2001, had a standard request that did not require anything more than the ordinary.
Still, for all these demands workload has definitely increased for the chefs at the hotels in Montego Bay. For one chef, he has added a graveyard shift and hired 10 additional cooks. This makes it three shifts for the kitchen, and is specifically for the preparation of hot meals for the stars, organisers and guests of the festival.
"The work load has increased but we are pretty good. We have doubled what we do normally but have implemented proper organisation; bringing in more persons, such as culinary trainees and students. This is not something that is not achievable," said the chef.
