Under food and beverage director Olivier Lavoine, the Hilton Kingston has been – and ever so quietly, might we hasten to add – transforming the property’s culinary landscape. The true test would come on Valentine’s night, a night feared by even the most celebrated chef.

a night when the focus becomes more about securing a table (any table) than truly spectacular fare and flawless service. Jamaica Observer & Hilton Hotel Valentine’s Day winners Samantha and Peter Shirley, Marshalee Sinclair and Carief Smith completely shattered that myth with two great tables, excellent food and service, and rose-filled suites in which to repair and yes, there was breakfast-in-bed the following morning and spa treatments before check out.

OUR suspicions are that both couples, who had checked in earlier on that Valentine’s afternoon, were making full use of their luxury suites. They are both late for dinner and beaming from ear to ear. We more than understand. Palm Court maitre d’ Leroy Myers leads them to their tables.

Beverage orders taken, we’re soon enjoying a superb Georges Duboeux Villages, (there’s Chardonnay too) straight-from-the-oven French bread and the amorous guitar strains of David Gayle in the intimacy of the restaurant’s quiet a deux enclave.

Restaurant chef Garfield Victor, visible from the well-illuminated kitchen counter, is in complete control of the filled-to-capacity restaurant.

His offerings this evening are:

. Sweet Love – layers of aubergine with sun-blush tomato and mozzarella caressed with a basil dressing.

. Neptune’s secret – mussels steamed in Pot Poury and Goat cheese quiche.

The soup course affords an opportunity to savour the harmony of bell peppers and sweet kernel corn gently hugged by a puffy pastry.

Entrée

Romeo’s Heart – Black Angus Tenderloin carefully grilled to your liking served with roasted garlic mash potato and wild mushroom à jus or Juliet’s Fantasy – Mahi-Mahi gently pan-fried served on a corn pancake; embraced with a tomato salsa and drizzled with pink pepper corn sauce.

Dessert

Twilight Zone. Poppy seed strawberry parfait with a hot à la maitre d’ chocolate sauce or a dream world of dark chocolate pudding.

There’s no faulting the chef this evening, the Black Angus melts in the mouth and, thankfully, the mahi-mahi truly is ‘gently pan-fried’ with the application of tomato salsa and pink pepper corn sauce playing the role of enhancer rather than masker.

The ‘smart’ desserts bring part one of the evening to a magnificent end.

Our winners ‘sleep well’ and are gently nudged out of romantic slumber by breakfast chef Veyona Martin who wheels in a post-Valentine’s Day breakfast that sends them back to bed (thankfully the hotel has afforded a late afternoon check-out as well as a spa treatment), for Marshalee Sinclair, Carief Smith, Samantha and Peter Shirley are definitely still basking in Valentine’s Day glow.

(Breakfast prepared and

served by Veyona Martin)

The Welcome to Jam Rock

Dumpling stuffed ackee with saltfish with fried plantains and breadfruit sticks

Jam Benedicts

Poached eggs atop bammies steamed callaloo and smothered with hollandaise sauce infused with Solomon Gundy

Fisherman’s Favourite

Pickled saltfish with breadfruit and banana fritters and Johnny cakes

Steamed Snapper and Bammies in Coconut Sauce

Mackerel Run Down with boiled green bananas & crushed green plantains

Healthy Alternatives

Steamed callaloo wrapped with egg white omelette, grilled tomatoes, onions and hash brown potatoes

Tropical Fruit Platter

Includes naseberries, otaheiti apples, tangerines, oranges and melons

Bakery Basket

Banana bread, chocolate croissants, assorted muffins, palm leaves, scones, English muffins, bagels and a wide selections of breads.

The Jamaica Observer & The Hilton Hotel Valentine’s Day competition won by Samantha & Peter Shirley and Marshalee Sinclair and Carief Smith afforded the couples:

. Dinner for two on Valentine’s night at the Palm Court Restaurant

. A Hilton Hotel suite with candles, rose petals and chocolates

And on February 15:

. A sumptuous Jamaican breakfast in bed

. A relaxing spa package

What the couples had to say

Samantha and Peter Shirley: “It exceeded our expectations.We were treated like kings and queens by everybody. We’ll be back next year for Valentine’s Day, but before that we’ll continue to support the Hilton. It really is The Place You’d Rather Be.”

Marshalee Sinclair & Carief Smith: Wow!.. the petals in the magnificent suite, the spa treatment, both the dinner and breakfast the next morning. It was truly an unforgettable experience.”