Local cuisine doyenne Enid Donaldson-Mignotte was the recipient of sterling recognition for her distinguished career with the Chairman’s Award at the Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards 2003 on the lawns of Devon House on Tuesday evening.

In a comprehensive citation, the Observer paid tribute to Donaldson-Mignotte for her pioneering work in presenting Jamaican cooking to wide audiences, through her cookbooks, television appearances and long-running weekly newspaper columns.

The Lifetime Food Award went to Native Food Packers, makers of the iconic Chippie’s brand of banana chips and other snacks. Founded over thirty years ago by the late Adrian Grant, the Chippie’s brand is now the flagship of a growing range of snacks. Some one million packs of the original were exported in 2003, with over 5 million consumed on the local market.

Special guest, award-winning US chef Andy Husbands, declared that Jamaica had an exceedingly bright future in the food/cuisine industry. “The number one requirement for cooking great is top-quality ingredients,” Husbands told the capacity audience.

“You guys here in Jamaica have some of the very best ingredients in the world, and from my limited time here I know you have the ability. I’m sure Jamaica is going to do very well”, he said to much applause.

Christopher’s, the jazz lounge and bistro on the ground floor of the new multi-level Quad complex, was a double-winner on the night, scoring awards for Best Décor and for Best Watering Hole. Sister act Michelle and Suzanne Rousseau, of Ciao Bella Catering were named Caterers of the Year, while brothers Donovan and Melford Morris of Lime Cay Enterprises took the award for Best Sunday Spot.

In the service category, The Restaurants at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay were cited for Best Service, while Ocho Rios-based Jamaica Inn was named Best Kept Secret for its breakfast offering.

Another Ocho Rios-based eatery, Passage to India, received the Best Ethnic Restaurant award, while affiliate property Coconuts Café and Bar took the Best Lunch Spot award. Gourmet vegetarian specialist Velisa’s was named Most Talked-About New Restaurant.

Freelance Waiter of the Year, the lone individual award in the early categories, went to David Gordon.

The award for Best New Food Item went to Homestyle for their stew peas with beef, ahead of a very competitive field that included leeks from Patrick McLarty, grape tomatoes from Raymond Surkarloo, rotisserie pork from Copperwood Limited, smoked ham from Hamilton’s Smoke House, ice cream from La Bella Italia, baguettes from Big T bakery, cassava pone from the Yap Sam family, peppered shrimp and boneless white fish from Home Choice and blackberries from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Top Mountain Station, jerk sauce from Busha Browne and calypso chutney from Walkerswood.

Separate best of awards were presented to caterer Patsy Lyn for her crispy pork, “Blackie” of Little Ochi Seafood for fish and shrimp, Norma Lou’s at Whitehall Avenue for her oxtail, Donnie Bunting of Longville Park Farm for fresh tilapia, Alex Twyman for Old Tavern Blue Mountain Coffee, Oven Front Limited, Golden Bakery brand for 100% whole wheat bread, Jane and Howard Taylor for smoked marlin and Ann and Nathan Richard for organic chicken.

Guests at the event sampled liberally from a virtual cornucopia of culinary delights, ranging from gourmet chocolates to peppered shrimp as well as beer, wines and other spirits and non-alcoholic beverages.