Friday, May 6, 2011

The Jerk Store called...

Jerk Chicken. Jerk Pork. Festival. Patties. Beef *and* cheese patties. Ting.
Mmmm.
The food in Jamaica is really good. Like, really good. Fortunately for me, I was traveling with a group of people who not only appreciate the simple joy of a cold Red Stripe (or many, cold Red Stripe)...but also like to eat. Cheers to that!

Not only was the food at the hotel pretty decent - a large selection at the buffet, a couple of themed restaurants (including a Teppanyaki grill with a chef called Blackie Chan!) there was a great beachside grill that served up Jerk everyday from noon till 3 pm. Really good jerk chicken and (sometimes) pork with a choice of three sauces from Hellfire to Smooth. Amazing.
Also on the property - authentic Jamaican patties! Sold inside a little pharmacy in the main square, the beef or beef with cheese patties were $2 a piece. So perfect with a nice cold bottle of Ting.
A bunch of us also decided to leave the resort to check out a local seafood restaurant - The Spring Garden - in nearby Ocho Rios. We (appropriately) took a "short bus" into town and invited our driver, Donovan, to join us for a fun dinner. My dinner - chicken curry - was great. Apparently the crab cakes were also good since my friend Norm tried to buy 35 of them (for $50) before we left. No deal.






































And while all this food was amazing...it did not hold a candle to the holy grail of Jerk known as Scotchies. Or known as Sketchies, Skankies, Scootchies or Snatchies...depending on how many Red Stripes you'd had that day. I could tell you all about Scotchies gloriously smoked chicken and pork, homemade chicken sausage, festival bread and beautiful gardens but I think I will let my photos speak for themselves.

Runaway Bride & Groom

I'll admit it. I am a sucker for a wedding. What's not to like? Food, family, friends, fancy clothes, fun...you know, all the good things in life that start with "f".
So it's no surprise that I did wake up extra early to watch The Royal Wedding, just as I had thirty years ago for that other royal wedding. Weddings are a beautiful thing. So back in the fall when I received an invite to the destination wedding of two lovely friends - Vince and Katie - it was a no-brainer. The wedding, which took place in Runaway Bay, Jamaica in early April was filled with lots of laughs, sunshine and a very happy bride and groom.






































As it was my second visit to Jamaica within a year, I was excited to see a whole new side of island I hadn't made it to previously. Our resort - the Gran Bahia Principe Runaway Bay - located about an hour east of Montego Bay was lovely but a truly massive resort. So big, in fact, that some people (no names mentioned) had an incredibly challenging time locating their room...for several days. Needless to say, between the lost hotel rooms, good (and bad) bartering on the beach, a naked "Jersey Shore" swim chase in the pool and a swan dive in the Town Square fountain, there was definitely not a shortage of good comedy.

Nor was there a shortage of good food. So good it deserves it's own post...stay tuned.

































Winterpeg

It was only fair. After some pretty exotic business travel, I was due for a good dose of reality.

It's been a while since I have posted any of my travel stories so I have lots to catch up on. Starting with my February business trip to Winnipeg. Or, as it is lovingly known as in warmer parts of Canada, Winterpeg. It had already been a cold, long winter in Toronto when I packed up my warmest boots (good for up to -30C) for a week of business that would involve some long days outdoors in cold, snowy and windy conditions. But, as cold as it was, I actually really enjoyed my trip. Not just because of the fabulous people I met while I was there...but the great restaurants, cool, old buildings and amazing vintage shops I came across when I had some time to wander around downtown. I even spent 4 long, cold hours outside in a full-on blizzard...and still managed to have an awesome time. The weather was treacherous but, at the same time, it wasn't so bad. As everyone there says (often): it's a dry cold.

My hotel, The Fairmont Winnipeg, (located right at the corner of  the famous Portage and Main) had the most fabulous staff who would go out of their way to make sure your visit to their city was great. On several occasions the friendly door staff drove me and my friends around the city in the house car (a shiny Mercedes). Rod, our breakfast waiter, was especially nice and our waitress in the bar would draw us maps to some of her favorite local restaurants. Also a bonus - the rooftop pool, hot tub and steam room, a wonderful thing to come home to after a day outside in the cold. Secondly, the Exchange District, just a short walk from the hotel, is full of old buildings, faded murals, vintage shops and art galleries. I would highly recommend a trip to Peasant Cookery for an amazing dinner.

Winnipeg - I will be back! (But most likely in warmer weather.)