Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Janet Farrow, who celebrated her 50th birthday earlier this year, threw a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner for friends last week.

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

It is an American tradition that is celebrated the world over by Americans, their friends and allies, in tribute to the arrival of the European settlers who went on to dominate the North American continent and set trends in new governance, commerce and ideas of freedom.

In fact, today, while essentially remaining an American national holiday, Thanksgiving has crossed cultural barriers and is not only celebrated by Americans at home and the diaspora, but is embraced by other cultures and people within and outside of the Americas.

And so it is not unusual to find many Jamaican residents jetting off to the United States to spend time with family and friends and also to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Share their fare

Well, it used to be that while many Jamaicans and Americans resident here would jet off to the U.S. to celebrate Thanksgiving, Americans here would host their own Thanksgiving dinner parties and share their bountiful fare with their Jamaican friends, colleagues and/or fellow resident aliens.

In fact, there was once even a time when the U.S. Embassy Marines, stationed here, used the occasion to raise funds for some local charities by staging fashion-shows and/or parties at their then Tavistock residence in Jacks Hill.

And then there was former USIS Director Bill Davies, who was not only a fervent believer and promoter of all things American, but used Thanksgiving as a kind of outreach programme designed to promote a greater interaction between Americans resident here and their Jamaican hosts.

And there were a number of ambassadors and/or acting heads of missions, who also followed suit, either by hosting Peace Corp volunteers, and/or a number of Jamaicans, to mark the historical festive occasion.

Haute-style dinner

Well, for Thanksgiving, the American head of the Jamaican Redevelopment Foundation Incorporated, the charmingly lovely Janet Farrow, threw open the portals to her upper St. Andrew residence in the swanky Jacks Hills neighbourhood, and threw a faultless Thanksgiving dinner.

Luvs, style is always in, haute-style, even more so, and pumpkins, haute-style was what the lovely Ms. Farrow served up last Thursday evening.

Now y'all should know by now that the true hallmark of good entertaining and/or a good hostess, is not how well the food is catered, indeed, with money being the common denominator it is, every and anyone can and do have their doos catered.

For intimate dos, however, it's that personal touch that adds the intimacy, especially when that touch includes the host(ess), not only presiding but actually preparing the fare for guests, as this is the ultimate compliment to guests.

Dovecakes, all these ingredients and more were in ample supply at Ms. Farrow's Thanksgiving dinner party last Thursday evening, and it made for a spectacularly fine do!

The affair began with a cocktail prelude that saw arriving guests being served with their preferred cocktails by two of the city's finest waiters - David Gordon and Richard Douglas.

With their years of service on the cocktail and social circuits, they not only recognise Kingston's leading citizens on sight, but have the recall to present each with his or her favourite libation.

Fine service

Well, last Thursday evening for the duration of the cocktail prelude and throughout dinner both waiters excelled at their roles.

So, with fine service already the hallmark of the evening, the hostess' fare would definitely have to shine, since she had earlier made it known that she would be the one in the kitchen creating the fare for the occasion.

With turkey being the centrepiece of any Thanksgiving dinner, the question usually occupying the minds of guests is: 'Just how exciting can turkey be?'

Well, dearhearts, this one was a symphony of the flawless culinary kind that made it impossible to resist a second helping.

Dears, it was that kind of an evening when the fare was so fine that there were those who quietly sought the recipe. Suffice it to say, however, that while the hostess was not prepared to share her triumphant 'secret' recipe, it was an unqualified success.

The turkey, baked and fabulous proportions, and stuffed with water chestnuts; the sweet-potato souffle (prized family recipe handed down for generations); mashed potato in gravy; green-beans in white wine and tomato; and the Waldorf salad topped with sun-dried cranberries, and followed by a choice of Southern Bourbon pecan pie or a pumpkin pie and home made ice cream - all made for a memorable Thanksgiving!

Now, the beaming hostess was not giving away any of her favourite recipes, but there was no denying her radiance and glow of fabulousness. Guests were advised, that this was due to the man in her life - fashion designer extraordinaire, Bill Edwards, and honeys, little wonder here, because they do not come any hotter than this godling!

Host of guests

Those among the guests included Security Minister Hon. Peter Phillips and his wife, the elegant Sandra Phillips; Junior Tourism Minister, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill and his flawless wife, Sheila Benjamin-McNeill; Honorary Consul of the Ukraine Kenny Benjamin; Honorary Consul of Iceland Robert MacMillan; Capt. David McRae, squiring social empress and Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Thailand, Thalia Lyn; legal powerhouse and newlyweds Peter Millingen and his fabulous wife, Stacy Barbar-Millingen; businessman Rod Heaven; attorney Seyon Hanson; businessman Carl Crossley and his companion, Janine Graham; and technology consultant, Robert Haughton; plus a number of others.