Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

Levee - File photos

Luvs, it's been just about a year since former high-fashion model Cecile Levee decided it was time to return to her true love: preparing and presenting food in an elegant atmosphere that would not only serve to complement the fare, but would also be one of exquisite pleasure.

It was with these benchmarks that saw the creation of Wine With Me, wine bar and restaurant. This is not a mere restaurant, as it is in reality, concept and execution, a true work of art!

Since opening its doors, however, the tres chic wine bar and restaurant has been raising the bar, when it comes to the promotion and appreciation of fine cuisine and wines.

Sweet things, in its very short lifespan it has garnered an international reputation as one of the island's leading restaurants and one of the region's finest wine bars; its extensive wine list ranking with the best, internationally.

Now, as part of its promotional spiel, the restaurant has been hosting a monthly series of gastronomic outings that have simply become the talk of the town, and we are talking nothing but the real gungo here!

A night to remember

Maginley

Well my dears, last Saturday, the venue, in collaboration with one of the island's finest, Round Hill Hotel and Villas' celebrated chef, Martin Maginley, with BETCO Premier providing the wines, another in the series took place.

My daahlings, it was a night to remember, and then some! And for my word, how!

To begin with, Martin Maginley can cook! Add his culinary expertise to a selection of elegant wines; throw in some absolutely fabulous people, and y'all know you are in for an absolutely marvellous time here, and so it was at the Altamont West Hotel in bubbling Montego Bay.

My daahlings, there's nothing like good company to add that extra little oomph to any occasion. And when that occasion happens to be a seven-course meal with the appropriate wines, it transports the art of dining to a pleasurable experience, even a journey into the exotic.

Well, my daahlings, Jamaican cuisine, a la granmere, has not only come of age, it is being well and truly celebrated in international culinary circles as the next true great culinary discovery. And little wonder, as with its distinct ingredients, flavours, preparation and presentation, Jamaican cuisine has not only arrived, it has done so in fine and elegant style!And style was the order of the occasion for Maginley as in the interpretation of age-old recipes, their presentation; use of indigenous plants and food; the history and understanding of the author and stewardship of these selfsame recipes. Dears, it all made for a fine gastronomic rendezvous with the senses.

And then there were the wines! My luvs, an oenophile's dream, and then some! Dears, BETCO Premier is known for its assemblage and distribution of excellent brands, but last Saturday they simply raised the bar with the Louis Jardot Pouilly-Fuisse 2005. And dears, y'all should know, or have heard by now, that 2005 was a good year. My dears, you can take this one to the bank, as it was that good! Easily the discovery of the occasion!

And then there were the ackee and saltfish tart with Scotch bonnet foam; herb-flavoured fish tea, served with seasoned bammy chips; oxtail dumpling on five bean ragout with Appleton Estate 21-year-old cream; and the tamarind and guava braised short ribs with macaroni cheese, Boston-style baby-goat rack with escoveitch slaw served with pico du giyo.

Culinary outing

Patrick Casserly and wife Katrin.

Doves, it was a culinary outing of the fabulous kind, and nothing but! Made more so by the fabulous company in attendance, as among the notables out were: the esteemed Josef Forstmayr, Dorothy Vendreyes, the grande dame of Jamaican/Caribbean fusion cuisine Norma Shirley, JPS's Damian Obligio and his lovely wife Maria, Maureen Shaw, Patrick Casserly and his lovely wife Katri, the elegant Norma Foreman, Tony and Yvonne Ray, André Steiner and the fab Vanessa Taylor and daughter Chelsea, Richard and Carol Bourke, Bill Moore, Gloria Shenk, the oh-so-gorgeous Karen Neita and Wayne Cummings.

Also out were Scott and Trisha Robbins, Omar Robinson, Tracy Chung, Peter and Karlene Kellond, Brian Sang, mother and daughter Michelle White and Monique Wade, in from The Bahamas, Paul Burke and financée, the lovely Kerry-Ann Clarke, Valerie Brimo, Percy and Murine Clarke, David Morgan, Andrea McHardy, Ray Therrien and wife Ann Chang, Nevada Powe, Tina Davis, Glestina Neita and her granddaughters Kennedy and Spencer Levee, Chris Reckord, Larry Necora, in from Miami, Denzie Sinclair of BETCO Premier, plus a number of others.

My dears, the guest chef in residence for the monthly do in November will be the fabulous Norma Shirley, so y'all know, not even stampeding hordes of the polloi would be enough to keep this here scribe away!

Tony and Yvonne Ray

Shirley - Contributed

Shaw

Damian Obligio and wife Maria.