Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer
Pat Wright - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
My dears, the culinary deities have spoken, and the word is, Epicurus would have been justly proud of the ninth staging of the annual Epicurean Escape. Hosted in absolutely bewitching Negril, at the tres elegant Grand Lido Super All-Inclusive Resort, fabulously laid out over some of the best beach acreage to be found on this fabulous island.
Well dears, some time ago, the Superclubs family of fine resorts decided to up the ante with its flagship Grand Lido Resort by introducing a week-long wine and food epicurean adventure. And so, Epicurean Escape was born.
Sue McManus - Photo by Denise Reid
total celebration
My daahlings, as is suggested by its very name, Epicurean Escape represents the total celebration of the gourmet and oenophile, and this is a total celebration of all that is fab in the culinary world, with the added bonus of scholarly dissection, presentation and appreciation for the fine art of elegant dining and wine-drinking. In short, it is designed to provide the participant with a rendezvous with the senses!
Well, if y'all missed out on this staging of the annual Epicurean Escape, then honeychiles, hate yourselves, as indeed, this was the food and wine event of the season. No, make that the year, as pumpkins, this was a gourmand's dream and teetotaller nightmare, as the five-day and night affair was designed for the civilised palate and connoisseur of fine and elegant wines and champagne. Talk about laying it on. Well my dears, this was all about laying it on, and in such fine and elegant a mode, it was pretty nigh wickedly and deliciously sinful!
once-in-a-lifetime outing
Oh, the feast! The style! The eleganza! Simply put, this was a once-in-a-lifetime culinary outing! We are talking cooking classes and demonstrations by the world's leading contemporary chefs, including the doyenne of the Jamaican kitchen, Norma Shirley, who was definitely the belle of the ball. There were wine-tasting and seminars given by leading international sommeliers; cook-off and samplings; coffee tasting with Jablum, earning rave reviews from all who sampled the faultlessly rich and aromatic brew. Demonstrations in place settings and table and utensil etiquette and the crowning glory - an eight-course gala dinner (white-gloved synchronised service and all), with each and every course paired with an incredibly fabulous complementary wine and/or champagne. My daahlings, it was to-die-for!
fabulous company
We are not talking cuisine a la granmere here. It was also not one of your stiff, dreary dos jam-packed with affected fuddy-duddies, affecting a superior attitude and/or knowledge in things culinaria and/or epicurean. The absolutely fabulous company out for the do added that necessary ingredient required to transform any occasion from merely happening to being well and truly sublime!
Precious angels, y'all have not dined on oxtail until you have had chef Jose Riqueline's apple cider and Appleton rum braised oxtail, and broad bean mousse! Sweet-things, we are talking a symphony of taste, texture and proportion that was pretty nigh unto heavenly! The grilled prosciutto-wrapped scallops were the perfect accompaniment. The Rosata di Sangiovese murderously fab! Then there was the spring baby lamb chops with thyme, parsley, mint and feta cheese, served on a kotta of pak choi against a red wine sauce, done-up by Norma Shirley. It was a treat, with the Cabernet Sauvignon wine adequately toasting the flavours of the lamb chops and coaxing them out of the chops and on to the tongue, and thus producing the climax of taste that mere mortals only get to experience once in a while. My dears, it was enough to cause even the most jaded of diners to choke back the squeal of delight that was forced from the inner recesses of the brain and mind.
discovery of the season
And then my dears, there was the discovery of the season - the Shingleback Black Bubbles Sparkling Shiraz. Dovecakes, talk about a Shiraz with an attitude! It was introduced to the event on Friday by sommelier Jason Quinn of the USA.
Among those spotted were artist and connoisseur, SuperClubs vice-president Jag Mehta; socialite and style doyenne Sue McManus; the lovely Joan Ross and sisters Ina Prowde and Maureen Walsh. The ultra-fab Betty Delfosse-Ingleton; the oh-so gorgeous Sophia MaxBrown; culinary critic and author Rosemary Parkinson; Jamaican sommelier Christopher Reckord; the very charming Pauline Kerr of Air Jamaica; the lovely Angeline Harris; restaurateur Gari Ferguson; designer and style arbiter Pat Wright; the lovely and elegant Mary Viera; Omar Spence of Nestle; Mary Johnson of Los Angeles, who was one of several visitors who planned their annual vacation around the event and raved about the experience. Famed international sommelier Michael Jordan; and Henry Weinacker II, of Donald Trump's TV reality series Big Idea; and the resort's public relations manager, Rochelle Forbes; plus scores others.
And kudos, my dears, to the resort's executive chef, Israeli Gai Kotzer, and resort GM Roberto Pelliccia, as indeed it was a command performance! Now, on to the 10th anniversary!
Master Sommelier Michael Jordan - photo by Denise Reid
