Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
SSCOC's Stephanie Scott at Habibi Latino, one of the participating restaurants.
Luvs, it's that time of the year again, Heroes weekend, and, as is customary, the leading citizens of Kingston will pack kit and caboodle and head out of town for the long weekend for some rest and relaxation, and then some!
Well, my dears, if y'all have not yet secured your reservations for those preferred resorts and/or villas, then y'all might just be a tad late. Port Antonio has very limited capacity, and with Merritone slated to rock Hedonism III in Runaway Bay, and executive chef Mark Cole promising a feast with their annual jerk fest this weekend, luvs, there will be partying hell to pay, and then some.
The same is true of Hedonism II in Negril, as it's all about the chic crowd, all set to rock the famed resort with its happening road party, and so luvs, y'all know the island's two foremost party resorts will be kicking with the heat of 10 coal stoves, and then some!
And so it is, my dears, the choice is to party or not to party!
Partying Librans
And speaking of partying, my dears, it's the age of Libra and, my dears, the Librans are celebrating like everybody's business! Businessman, the debonair Tanny Shirley, celebrated his birthday on the 2nd, and it was a case of dinner and friends at his Jacks Hills home where wife, the charming Madge Shirley, was the gracious hostess to guests for Sunday dinner and lyme.
Joel Ellison had his special day and celebrations on the 4th. Marcia McKenzie, wife of His Worship The Mayor of Kingston, Senator Desmond McKenzie, turned 50 on Saturday the 6th, and there was an appropriate shindig held atop the Jamaica Pegasus hotel later that day.
On Sunday the 7th, however, esteemed attorney, premier socialite and former JLP senator/treasurer, Christopher Bovell, marked his birthday with a special family dinner and outing. His doting wife Michelle Bovell making sure it was memorable. Also celebrating on Sunday was adult modelling sensation Miguel Bernard, who made his day all about the beaches of Hellshire and the goodies they serve up over there.
Now, businessman Steve Ashley celebrated his birthday on the 4th, with a fabulous brunch on Sunday, and amid the rain and the hustle and bustle, guests did turn out in fine numbers and excellent spirits.
Sweet-things, it made for a fabulous do and then some, as guests danced up a glow in between the raindrops, to some retro tunes being spun by the in-house DJ, and for my word, how!
Those in attendance included: Hopeton Caven; Kenny Benjamin; plastic surgeon Dr. Guyann Arscott; Yvon and Cynthia Desulme; businessman Tanny Shirley; Maureen Webber; businessman Ian Garbutt and the beautiful Sonia Kahn; Lance Johnson; attorney Harold Brady; Dr. Andre and Gina Foote; Raymond Reece and wife Mary-Helen; Winston and Audrey Kong; Dr. Lennox and Katie Francis; Yuval and Verid Moaz; Rajiv Bakshi and his companion Dorothea Gordon-Smith, just back from their North African holidays.
Also out were: Freddy Dumetz and wife Sonja Sutherland Dumetz; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Thomas; Robbie and Odette Epstein; Robert Haughton; Neville Henry and Alice Hogarth; Shelly-Ann Daley; June Matthews; Sybil Harvey; JB and Lola Gordon; Liz Levy; and the singing and TV star, Sanjay.
Well, that was on Sunday. On Wednesday, the focus shifted to PNP MP and Shadow Spokesman on Tourism, Dr. Wykeham McNeill, time to celebrate his birthday, and this he did in two parts with wife, the gorgeous Sheila Benjamin McNeill, hosting a rather intimate dinner at their home. On Thursday night, part two was at the home of his brother-in-law, Kenny Benjamin. More to come on this one.
Kingston Restaurant Week
Director general in the Ministry of Tourism, Carrole Guntley (second row, second left), at the launch of Kingston Restaurant Week (KRW), with sponsors of this year's KRW, at Mac's Chop House on October 4. - photos by Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
Now, it's a gourmand's dream and the gourmet's absolute delight as it's that time of the year again when Kingston's finest restaurants get together under the banner of the annual Gleaner-sponsored Kingston Restaurant Week (KRW), brainchild of Stephanie Scott. The week promotes a greater culinary awareness of and appreciation for the fabulous cuisine on offer in this fine city.
And so it was my dears, that last Thursday morning, it was all about Mac's Chop House and the launch of this year's staging of the annual KRW. Mac's is a très chic and oh so fine eatery on Trinidad Terrace, in the heart of the city's business, banking, commercial and entertainment centre - New Kingston. It proved a fabulous outing, and then some, as we are talking a morning of mimosas and delectables here, that made for a fabulous introduction to this year's event.
With Mario and Fiona Machado and son David Machado being fab hosts; officialdom represented by the director general in the Ministry of Tourism, Carrole Guntley, and the principal organisers of KRW, it all made for one very easy Thursday morning. And my dears, with just over 30 participating restaurants offering a range of delectables, savoury, tasty and high-rollers on offer, plus the city's most happening clubs to close out a night of fine dining. November 10-17 will be all about KRW!
Among those spotted were: Derrick and Joan Mahfood; Richard and Diana Stewart; Marjorie Burrows; Zein Issa Nakash; Xavier and Roma Chin; Odette Epstein; Judith Forth-Blake; François St. Juste; Tamara Scott Williams; Gerry McDaniel; Andrew Pryce; Sharon Carvallho Murray; Maya Chung and her mom; plus a number of other notables.
And our warmest and heartfelt wishes to our dear friend and media colleague, R. Christene King, and her family as we wish them speedy recovery.
