Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

Oysters anyone? - photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

The 13th annual Jamaica Pegasus hotel's Wine, Spirit and Food Festival featured a tantalising mix of desserts and wines from around the world. Held at the hotel on November 4-5, it featured delicious food, scrumptious desserts and wines from different countries, including China, Argentina, South Africa and Chile.

J.Wray & Nephew showcased the famous Jamaican Appleton.

Exhibitors such as Shang Hai Restaurant served up Mandarin Chinese cuisine, while Boone Hall Oasis offered mouth-watering Jamaican dishes. Jamaica Broilers gave patrons a chance to taste its new product, Turkey Delight, and Karen Gibson, Sage Delights, and Chas E. Ramson, handed out sweet treats.

Despite the wide array of tasty dishes, the wines were the main order of the day, as patrons indulged in a glass or two while they enjoyed the offerings of each exhibitor.

Ambassador Gail Mathurin, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, was the guest speaker at the opening ceremony on November 4. She said to The Jamaica Pegasus hotel's credit, the festival, which started with a Jamaican flavour, now embraces an international focus, bringing many cultures together in a welcome expression of cultural fusion. "The ministry supports the festival as it reflects on their objectives of strengthening overseas ties, including cultural, with traditional friends and building relations with new partners".

Ramon Corvera (left) hangs out with (from second left) Eugene Pelicie, Rosa Pena and Marilyn Mendez at the Argentine booth at the Wine, Spirit and Food Festival.

Wine anyone? Jie Ma (left) and Ling Chen, from the Chinese Embassy offer patrons a taste of Chinese wine.