Creative Jamaican experience at Restaurant Week launch
IT WAS a tantalising, palatepleasing experience for five lucky patrons and their five guests, as they were treated to dinner, courtesy of JN Bank, at the Kingston launch of Restaurant Week 2018.
The event, which was attended by hundreds of Jamaicans, was held on the lawns of Devon House in St Andrew on Sunday, November 4.
The five winners responded to the JN Bank’s Refer and Win Promotion and were able to enjoy a four-course menu, prepared on the spot, by Chef Andre ‘Cooks’ Sewell.
Chef Sewell, who is known to improvise with his dishes, served up a Jamaican-inspired menu “with a twist,” which left his diners giddy with delight.
“Because I am doing this for JN Bank, I decided to go with Jamaican flavours and Jamaican elements, but turned them up a notch,” he explained .
The menu started off with a “surf and turf,” consisting of a “pimento crusted pork belly pave’,” topped with garlic butter pouched shrimp, which was served on top of scotch bonnet pickled pineapples.
The guests’ taste buds were further stimulated with a coconut curried carrot soup,
served with an okra and salt fish crostini. That course was followed up by a palate cleanser, consisting of compressed watermelon, infused with mint and topped with passion fruit pearls and lime zest.
The main course was a savoury sweet potato pudding, served with an ackee chicken paillard, topped with sautéed vegetables including sweet corn, broccoli and cranberries.
The dessert, which was described as a “sensation” by all the diners, was Blue mountain coffee brownie. This was topped with a sorrel gelee, in an almond gianduja enrobage. It was served with jerked French vanilla ice cream and drunken sorrel caramel.
“The dessert made my day, my night and probably my week,” exclaimed Ruth-Ann Grindley, facilities administrator at JN Bank, who was among the winners.
“The meal was well prepared; and it was obvious that, a lot of thought went into putting the menu together. I think Chef Sewell really outdid himself today. All the elements of the meal were beautifully balanced; and it was tasty and mouthwatering,” Miss Grindley declared.
For Shawna-Kay Burton “The experience was awesome”.
“The food was delicious and Andre was a very gracious chef. The company was also delightful. I didn’t know everyone around the table; however, we all made an effort to get to know each other; and the conversation was good, which made the entire experience even better,” she said.
“Dessert was the best part of the meal, as I’m a ‘dessert-a-holic’. I’m not a fan of brownies, but this was the best one I’ve ever had. It had sorrel jelly inside, the crust was crispy, and the centre was moist and tasty,” said Miss Burton.
To qualify for the prize, patrons were asked to show, sign up or refer a friend for a JN VISA credit card.
The 14th staging of Restaurant Week will be held November 9 to 17 across six parishes, with a record-breaking 100 restaurants participating.