Marguerite's for dinner, Blue Beat for cocktails. Rosemary Parkinson, Gleaner Writer
Yes! It has been great travelling around the islands looking for great places to eat for cricket. But it has been expensive. Jamaicans are very lucky. And right now, I am missing the land of the Blue Mountains so much, it's unreal. I want a breakfast at Dragon Lounge at Whitehouse, Montego Bay, so bad I can smell the aroma of the greatest liver with 'nuff' food smothered in the thickest gravy ever.
I dream of going to Kingston and hittingMarket Place at least three days in a row - Habibi Latino, Jewel of India and East. As I write this, I could cry thinking of Sunday brunch at the Contemporary Art Gallery on Old Hope Road and a delightful evening meal at Norma's On The Terrace, Devon House. The pumpkin soup, escargot (both with her magnificent bread), oxtail taken up a notch. To top it all, my mouth waters for the crme caramel as dessert.
I long for a weekend at Hedonism III with 'spoiling' from chef Mark Cole that would allow me the required rest. Oh! Yes! Aaaahhhh, a trip to Port Antonio for an organic weekend with the girls at Mocking Bird Hotel would not be a bad idea with servings of that divine goat cheese. Oh! and how can I forget home cooking at Blue Marlin Villa, the sea breeze just knocking me out every evening after a day on the beach and in the sea.
Little Pushpa's at the back of Northside Plaza, St. Andrew, where Indian food and great prices take on a new meaning. Marguerite's twinkling lights and gourmet fare on the Hip Strip. Little David at Boston and goose-pimple-delicious jerked chicken sausage. A cup of hot Blue Mountain coffee; a piece of cake at Caf Blue. Gari Ferguson's Ribs at Rib Kage; high tea at Terra Nova. Shopping downtown. Lord have mercy, my mind is roaming wild from every Jamaica corner to corner.
THE REAL TING AT LAST
Left: Barbados fish cutters will be shared in the stands. Right: Dian Watson's Hominy Corn beckons me.
You know how dem say Baje smart. Well let me tell you, I believe it now. Barbados has had the chance to watch the mess that has been ICC World Cricket up to now. Some serious rethinking over the last few weeks will allow this island to get the best of a worst case scenario so far. Guyana just got a touch, and Grenada in preparation too. But nutting going to touch the action in Bim.
With air travel at its worst in terms of costs- anywhere from US$400 up from one little island to another - with the added injury of being branded as visitor or local on paper bracelets but still facing immigration lines like before (in fact worse), overbookings, security, lost luggage; suddenly airlines are offering 'package deals'. With hotels batting prices up; Bajans now offering very at the stump specials. With overpriced tickets at all stadiums, security that had conk shell, drums and general 'getting on' outlawed, long lines for expensive food and drink with both running out before game end; double-page advertisements in today's Barbadian papers announce, "Cricket and food go together, like pudding and souse! So bring your baked pork, steak fish and fried chicken in your plastic food containers. Your sandwiches and fish cakes. Your water in plastic bottles and your juices in tetra packs. It's cricket Caribbean style. Make sure your cooler bag fits under your seat! (up to 12 inches high)." And "to know whether it's a six or a four, bring your conch shell and whistles and blow!"
Well hello! At last! The game the Caribbean reinvented has come home. We didn't require advertising to tell us what real cricket is all about. We done know this for ever and many days. Who obviously did not were the ICC and their local advisers. But we cricket lovers have taught them a lesson they will never forget. What a shame, it's a little late for some of the other islands. I say when you're greedy, you get fat. When you fat, you get sick. When you sick, doctors have to fix your health. And Doctor Barbados get it fix!
Apart from cricket, there are serious after-cricket venues such as 'de Oval Cricket Village', Pelican Arts & Craft Village (with Cou Cou Village for the best in Baje food), The Boatyard, Reggae on de Hill - all with local artistes and 'nuff Jamaican ones (Gregory Isaacs, Anthony B, Beenie Man, Elephant Man, Beres, Sean Paul, Buju, Richie Spice just to name a few) strutting their stuff right to the end of the month. Lawd, dis rock going be hot. The invitation is out in print, "Let's show the world cricket - Caribbean Style - at Kensington Oval! Come out and make this the best Cricket World Cup ever!"
TIME FI ME
Left: Micking Bird Hotel goat cheese tortilla breakfast. Right: Fish cakes will be in everyone food basket as per usual!
Although this island/restaurant food-hopping 'assignment' has not been as easy as it seems on paper, I can at last breathe better. Ah tired asking what de score is, or catching a quick half-a-game on the small screen. Ah tired being vexed with all the complaints me hear. Ah tired seeing our cricket made a mockery of. But now, I can now afford a ticket into de real ting. Me hear even little Prince Harry of Buckingham Palace fame gine be in de crowd, so your girl buying big hat, binoculars to spot de stars and Tanty Merle will have nothing on me with my cooler filled with Tetra Pack Bloody Mary's, Pelau and Fried Chicken galore, body paint, conk, Jamaica flag, horn maybe even a wig in case dem carry me out for bad behaviour!
Rosemary Parkinson, big smile on face, was last seen cooking frantically and packing basket for De Oval.
