Andrea Downer, Gleaner Writer

For one glorious week, Kingston was caught up in a frenzy of food, fun and entertainment. Restaurateurs were kept busy serving up mouth-watering recipes, and the various after hour-spots were buzzing with activity. It was Kingston Restaurant Week (KRW), which was celebrated from November 11-18. Now an annual celebration of food, KRW, a SSCO event management and Gleaner initiative, attracted 28 restaurants and six nightclubs, was hailed a success by all participants.

"Last week we had a brief respite from all the challenges that we have, and the question on everyone's lip was, 'Where are we going to dine'?" Stephanie Scott, the creative force behind the pre-Christmas week-long event, stated.

And Mac's Chop House, the Grog Shoppe, Red Bones Blues Café, The Regency at Terra Nova, Velisa's and Acropolis are just a few of the restaurants where cravings for fine food, good company and great entertainment were satisfied.

Jeneive Hew, manager at Grog Shoppe says for them, this year was much better than last year.

"This year was good, expect next year to be even better. Only two nights did not have full house."

According to Ms. Scott, KRW epitomises the art of the possible.

"Many persons who could not otherwise afford to, were able to dine at some of Kingston's finest restaurants during KRW. Even children were out having a good time," she stated.

Participating restaurants were packed to capacity almost every night, but, arguably, it was on Friday, the penultimate night that saw the most activity.

A great house setting

While Richard Azan, his son Richard Azan Jr. and their female dinner companion dined by candlelight in the opulent Regency Room at the Terra Nova, the staff at Velisa's was busy serving their guests in dining rooms and alcoves reminiscent of a great house setting. A few streets away on Braemar Avenue, Pluto Shervington had a captive audience as he weaved his magic under twinkling stars at the Red Bones Blues Café.

And on Saturday night as the curtains descended on another successful KRW, Ms. Scott and her indispensable assistant, Tamara Scott-Williams, hosted a select group of persons at the Acropolis, where the group Ebony evoked laughter and emotion from diners at the Ambrosia restaurant, one of two gaming lounges of the Supreme Ventures Group and one of the several nightclubs that added a new dimension to this year's KRW.