Ambassador McNish and the chefs |
Lovers of
the culinary arts got a treat in October when a “Taste of Jamaica” hit Brussels, Belgium, as part of the celebration of Jamaica's 50th
anniversary of independence.
Two of the Caribbean island's top executive chefs, Mark Cole of the Pegasus Hotel and Dennis
McIntosh of the Cardiff Hotel and the Spa Runaway Bay, brought their gastronomic expertise to the Belgian capital from October 15-19, Jamaican Heritage Week.
The chefs
served up dishes such as “sun kissed scallion potato and codfish cake”, “Fe
weh” Walkers Wood jerk pork loin with pineapple chutney and plantains, and St.
Mary’s pineapple bread pudding with aged Appleton Rum and sorrel sauce. The
names alone were enough to delight patrons at the BE Restaurant at the 5-star Sofitel
Hotel in Brussels. Jamaica’s famous Blue Mountain Coffee naturally topped off
the memorable meals.
The
week-long event was launched on October 15 at a reception
hosted by Jamaica’s Ambassador to Belgium and Head of Mission to the European
Union, Ambassador Vilma McNish. The food fiesta was one of several cultural
events around the world commemorating Jamaica’s independence from Britain in
1962.
The
Jamaica Tourist Board, the JAMPRO trade and investment organization, the
Jamaica Cultural Development Corporation and Walkerswood Caribbean Foods
collaborated with the Embassy in organizing the event.