Hundreds of Jamaicans filled the lawns of Liguanea Club in Kingston last Friday evening, hoping to sample delicious food and great wines at the Heart Foundation of Jamaica’s 16th annual Wine and Food Festival.

From as early as 6:30, patrons showed up at the event that was scheduled to commence at 7:00.

“It looks good… It gets better and better ever year,” Peter Bangerter, the foundation’s secretary/treasurer told the Observer. “It’s good times, good food and good company.”

Apart from the newcomers, Bangerter said that the absence of a booth with chicken samples was the only difference this year. “It is the biggest disappointment.”

The new comers to this year’s festival included Jamaica Biscuit Company, 1876 Wines, Le Gourmet and Chocolate Dreams.

Owner of 1876 Wines, Paul Hanworth, who said his business has been open for almost five weeks, told the Observer that his aim was to educate Jamaicans about wines. Hanworth’s booth displayed wines from as far away as South Africa, Italy and Spain.

Chocolate Dreams displayed its custom-made chocolate, as well as its own chocolate truffles, while Marco Polo Limited displayed Seafood Regatti as well as Broccoli and Carrot Casserole prepared from locally-made noodles.

Pearl Samuel, who said it was her first time at the festival, particularly enjoyed the Broccoli and Carrot Casserole. “This is my first time, and I am enjoying it,” she said. “I like everything here but the wine… I don’t drink wine.”

Another patron, who was at the festival with her two sons, said that they had been attending for three years.

“My sons heard the advertisement on the radio and they told me that they wanted to come,” she said.

Ramons Chase Limited decided to show off their Gourmet Salmon as well as Peppered Steak. Additionally, the company also displayed wines from Argentina and Spain as well as potato chips and peanuts.

Likewise, Wray and Nephew Wines also displayed wines from France, Chile and Germany.

Debbie Chen, Heart Foundation general manager, agreed with Bangerter that the festival improved every year.

“It is very nice. The ambience is good and there is a wide variety of food and wine, which is value for your money,” she said.

In addition to sampling the foods and wines, patrons, on entering the lawns, were able to get a free blood pressure test and they were also offered healthy lifestyle tips.

Bangerter told the Observer that he expected to raise between $600,000 and $1 million from the event, which is staged to help maintain the foundation’s in-house clinic services, its mobile outreach programme, and its cardiopulmonary resuscitation training programme.

Apart from the wine and food festival, the Heart Foundation also stages a fun run, golf tournament and a banquet to raise money. The Fun Run is scheduled to take place November 28.