Tara Nunes applies whipped cream to the topping of her favourite dish. - PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
CORPORATE JAMAICA'S business executives do find time to do a little something in the kitchen. Among them are Tara Nunes, assistant vice-president for sales and distribution at of Pan Caribbean Merchant Bank and Lorna Gooden, assistant vice-president group finance at Supreme Ventures Limited. These companies are two of the sponsors of this year's Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, that kicks off in Montego Bay today. Food caught them cooking up their favourite treats in their kitchens.
The demands that are inherent in Mrs. Tara Nunes' job leave her very little time to spend in the kitchen. Nonetheless, Mrs. Nunes occasionally shares with friends and family the culinary skills that she has honed since she first baked a batch of brownies at age nine.
"Now my cooking is limited to the weekends and for dinner parties," she says. However, when she does cook, she applies an important concept that she learnt while in high school: "Presentation is key." "No matter how good the food tastes, if the presentation is poor it will not be appealing," she explains.
Mrs. Nunes learnt how to cook by following recipes that were passed down through her family. Her love for food spans an array of cultures and nationalities. "I am part Lebanese, so I cook Lebanese food sometimes," she says. "I also love Italian, Syrian and Thai cuisine," she added. Mrs. Nunes also has an appreciation for fine wines. "When entertaining it is nice to have a glass and it also comes in handy when cooking," she explains.
A part of her culinary experience includes dining out. Among her favourite eateries are Mac's Chophouse and Norma's on the Terrace.
White Chocolate Strawberry Swirl Cheese Cake
Crust:
1/2 cup butter (melted)
1/2 cup sugar
1 2/3 cup Graham crackers
Filling:
4 (8oz.) packages cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 eggs
6 oz white chocolate (melted)
4 tbs. strawberry preserve
Topping:
Fresh strawberry and kiwi fruit
Guava jam
METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 325ºF.
2. Combine ingredients for crust and press into pan.
3. In mixing bowl combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract. Blend at medium speed.
4. Add eggs one at a time at low speed until each is blended.
5. Blend in melted chocolate.
6. Pour mixture into pie crust.
7. Dot the top of the mixture with strawberry preserve, and cut through with a knife several times for marble effect.
8. Bake for 60 minutes.
9. Allow cooling.
10. Slice fruit and arrange on top in circular pattern and melt guava jam and glaze fruit.
Serves 6.
