Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Horace Clarke and wife Norma.
My dears, it's been one of Jamaica's finest secrets since its opening, and little wonder as the Cecile Leeve-inspired, owned and operated Wine With Me, Wine Bar and Restaurant in the Altamont Court West Hotel, Montego Bay, is now the talk of the international wine crowd.
The place is a fab mix of contemporary allure as evidenced by its almost spartan retro café décor; it's impressive wine list and a menu that is not merely a toast to the esoteric senses, but also represents a feast of which any deity can partake!
A fine establishment
And now international critics are raving about this toast to the civilised palate in the travel section of the Miami Herald of Sunday, May 4. Travel writer Melanie Reffes says Wine With Me could easily have been like stepping into a fine establishment in Miami, New York or any hip European city (as she and party indulge their "perfectly grilled peppered shrimp in a mango and jerk rum sauce".
And honeys, she got it right and then some, as the place with its very impressive wine list, numbering more than 100 offerings, is one fine spot to shoot the breeze and indulge the senses.
And this, my dears, is only the latest in a long list of international travel and tourism writers who have been extolling the restaurant's virtues.
And speaking of fabulously hot spots on the north coast, my dears, there is another one coming, but this one is not a wine bar or restaurant, but a fab new tourism attraction, just west of Ocho Rios (actually just before one gets to the famed Dunn's River Falls) and it promises to be stellar one.
Luvs, the brainchild of Horace and Norma Clarke, Misty Mountain (name of the new attraction), has been the cause of many enquiries from discerning motorists travelling the Ocho Rios highway and noticing what certainly appeared to be major construction operations just up the road, a bit from the Ocho Rios pier.
Well, the word is out and the story is that slated for a July opening, Mystic Mountain will be an eco-friendly attraction, marrying some of Jamaica's natural and elemental beauty with the prowess, skills and determination of its people. The attraction will offer sky-explorer, bobsled rides and tranopy (chair-lifts and all) to provide the total rainforest exploratory experience for the traveller tired of taking the path well taken.
Dears, if anything, Misty Mountain promises to be a revolutionary new attraction, with its over 3,000-foot bobsled coaster run, the ultimate thrill, for thrill seekers. And located as it is atop Ocho Rios, its view of the bay and expected restaurant and gift shops, as well as eco-trails, promises to make this one an experience above and beyond the ordinary, so wait for it.
And speaking of the beautiful people:
Belated birthday wishes to the charmingly elegant Carole Fullerton, who celebrated her birthday last Monday, madedoubly special as she was guest of her daughter, the lovely Nicole Fullerton, the day before at Diane Watson's Café Gallery on Sunday for Mother's Day.
Milverton Reynolds celebrated his birthday on Sunday.
Byron Balfour will celebrate tomorrow.
Lloyd B. Smith will celebrate on Tuesday.
The charming Carmen Patterson celebrates on Labour Day.
And on the 29th it will be all about Barbara Ellington, as this doyenne of media will be blowing out the candles on her birthday cake away from the glare of the paparazzi.
Congrats to the trailblazing Nadine Willis who gave birth to a bubbly baby girl early Wednesday morning. And mother and daughter are doing just fine.
And speaking of the hot Nadine Willis, dears it's all roads to this year's staging of the Pulse-inspired Caribbean Fashion Week. Luvs, wait for this one as young, hot international designers such as Romanian Catalin Bothezatu, New York-based Trinidadian, Francis Hendy, Nigerian Deola Sagoe and British young star (who first showed at CFW last June) are all set to return to Kingston with their fab designs come June.
And wait for it as it promises to be a celebrity-packed, week-long do and nothing but!
It's all systems go for the next Busha Clarke's annual crab-fest in Savanna-la-Mar on the 31st and dears, this one promises to be one fine outing.
The fabulous TV reality star, Christie Morgan, is in Runaway Bay, at Hedonism III for what promises to be one red-hot photo shoot, so hold on to your Tequila and lime (hold the salt).
Moya Baston is in Dubai and literally taking the place by storm.
International gadabouts Jackie and Susanne Issa are all set to return at the end of May.
Peter Bovell has taken up residence in St Bart's as he ponders his next move. Meanwhile, his mom, Michelle Bovell, is back from her skiing trip to Aspen.
And the word is, expect a major new infrastructural development announcement soon. As well as, some new high-profile appointments.
( L - R ) Carole Fullerton, Lloyd B. Smith, Carmen Patterson - File photos
Milverton Reynolds
Michelle Bovell and her son, Peter - file photos
