Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
Roshelle (left) and Chantelle Beersingh in performance at the 'Taste of Asia Food Festival'. - Winston Sill / Freelance Photographer
It was ironic that the Asian Food Festival culminated with Emancipation Day because guests got to emancipate their taste buds from bland slavery.
For two days, July 31 and August 1, the Jamaica Pegasus hotel was transformed into a panorama of Asian culinary creations as the hotel hosted 'A Taste Of Asia'. Dishes from India, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia and China were served.
Asian culture
In the lobby, guests marvelled at the artefacts and photos showing major Asian cities and identifying other aspects of Asian culture. But undoubtedly, this was about the food! For an event like this one, coming with an empty stomach was ideal because even though guests had their favourites, most still wanted to try a little of everything! And how could you not, with the attractively displayed dishes inviting you with their colour and aroma?
All courses of a filling meal were catered. So maybe you wanted to start with some Egg Soup from Thailand. Then some Chinese Spring Rolls as appetiser, with an assortment of entrees before ending with some Pisang Goreng (fried plantains) from Indonesia. But that was just one possible scenario of the gastronomic affair. There were plenty of plates and utensils to aid your experience and guests made use of them. For the more adept at using chopsticks, those too, were provided to enhance the dining experience.
Apart from the food, guests were also treated to music and dance from the participating countries. The members of the Wing Lung Kung Fu team produced their ever-popular Lion Dance, while Indian youngsters provided their own choreographed genius to delight the audience. Musical Credits disco gave diners an endless flow of music from the Orient. Guests were also treated to nine different flavours of complimentary tea.
