It has never been a more exciting time for us at The Jamaica Observer. It happens tonight. Our stylist Maurine Capleton is pulling out all of Tent City’s Tents and this year we’ve also rolled out the red carpet. Well why not? Norma’s on Whitehall Avenue is preparing some Jamaican food which she says will have you all lining up for more. The Ritz is cruising in and Jing-Shi wants his Excellence in Pastry crown back.

We have the Caribbean’s best caterers in our line-up:

Jacquie Francis, Maxine Fontaine, Jeanette Hutchinson,

Suzanne and Michele Rousseau, Delvaille Caterers, Patsy Lyn, Susan Dougall and Kim Chee’s Clifton Peart.

What a task. What a line-up.

Who better to decide on Chef of the Year than the chefs themselves. The judges then took the final five and after much chewing eventually found a winner. So who’ll be champion chef for the year?

Enchanted Garden’s Stan Zeiger, The Courtleigh’s Ivan

Silk, Strawberry Hill’s James Palmer, Toscanini’s

Pierluigi Ricci or The Ritz Carlton’s Dennis McIntosh.

Best New Food Item

This category has remained our most keenly contested,

little surprise since four years ago The Scientific

Research Council popped open its first jar of Sorrel Chutney. Little surprise it was love at first… and worked with everything but moreso with a delicacy created by Howard and Jane Taylor called Smoked Marlin winner of our Best New Food Item for year 2. Last year

the nation held its breath and young entrepreneurs

Karl and Juliet Duncan perfected the oyster mushroom.

Which product will be held up this year? Lalibella’s honeycomb, JD Fudge, Maxine Thelwell puddings, Sonia Allen’s marinades, Marjorie Lue sang’s Cole slaw, RADA’s cassava pancake, Ebony Park’s pineapple mango spread, Juley Wynter Robertson’s jackfruit syrup or Kimberly Issa’s Pita crips?

Our other categories include:

Most Interpretive Food Establishment

* Redbones the Blues Cafe

* Norma

* Margueritaville

* Sugardaddies

* Island Grill

* Bullseye Steak House

Best Decor

* Norma’s on the Terrace, Devon House

* Redbones the Blues Cafe

* Toscanini Italian Restaurant & Bar

* Sugardaddies

* Passage to India

* Bullseye Steak House

* Cafe Aubergine

Best Restaurant

* Jasmine at the Ritz Carlton

* Akbar Restaurant, Montego Bay

* Toscanini Italian Restaurant & Bar

* Cafe Aubergine

* Norma’s on the Terrace

* Bullseye Steak House

Best Dining Deal

* Mother’s

* Rations

* Island Grill

* Pelican Grill

Best Food Event

* Jamaica Tourist Board’s Jamaica Spice Festival

* Italian Week at Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus

* Halloween Night at Norma’s on the Terrace

Best Theme Restaurant

* China Express

* Toscanini Italian Restaurant

* Dragon Court

* Sugardaddies

* Passage to India

* Bullseye Steak House

Excellence in Dessert

* Caroline Brown

* Janet Senior

* Susie’s

* Guilt Trip

* Diane Tai

* Jing-Shi Grand Lido San Souci

* Pattacake

* Tortuga Rum Cake

Best Hidden Treasure

* Because, 47 3/4 Old Hope Road

* Sunday brunch at Strawberry Hill

* Roast Beef on Thursdays at Cassons

Best Service

* The Courtleigh Hotel and Suites

* Toscanini Italian Restaurant & Bar

* Norma’s on the Terrace

* Bullseye Steak House

* Cafe Aubergine

Total Shopping Experience

* John R. Wong

* Farm Fresh Supermarket

* Super Valu

* Hi-Lo, Manor Park

* Super Plus Food Chain

* Sovereign Supermarkets