Those attending the 10th annual Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards next Thursday at Vale Royal will be in for a gastronomical treat, as not only will Kingston’s best restaurants and food vendors be cooking up a feast, but so will a few out-of-town favourites. Among those making the trek to Kingston will be Montego Bay’s Rainforest Seafood Market, Marguerites by the Sea, Blue Beat, the Ritz Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, as well as Little Ochi and Marblue Villa Suites straight from the red grounds of St Elizabeth.

“We are looking forward to the Food Awards, but it’s going to take a lot of work in the next week to get ready to take everything over to Kingston,” says Tricia Ann Robbins, director of sales, marketing and promotions for Island Entertainment Brands which owns Rainforest Seafoods, Seafood Market, Blue Beat and Marguerites by the Sea.

Orders for several hundred pounds of seafood have been placed and the refrigerated trucks which will leave Montego Bay at four in the morning next Thursday are already on standby for the event, which according to advertising and marketing estimates will attract over 1,000 people from across the island.

“One of the main things that we hope to accomplish is to expose our brands a little more. We want Kingstonians to know that Marguerites is open for business,” says Robbins.

A Kingston branch of the popular Second City eatery, the Seafood Market, will be opening in Kingston by the end of the summer and according to Robbins Island Entertainment Brands will be using the food awards as an introduction into the city.

Winner of the “Best Kept Secret” and “Most Innovative Dish” at the Table Talk Food Awards in 2005, 2006 and 2007, Marblue Villa Suites will be on hand at the food awards whipping up some exotic dishes.

“I am doing something with goat this year that is absolutely different,” says Axel Wichterich, proprietor of Marblue. Among the items to look out for at the Marblue station will be the German Sauerbraten Goat – goat which is marinated in vinegar and red wine and further reduced in a raisin and plum sauce and a Green Thai Curry Goat.

“I am looking forward to the Food Awards so that I can show the people a reflection of Marblue – from the tranquil setting to the gourmet experience,” says Wichterich, who is hoping to cop another prize at this year’s awards.

Ritz Carlton chefs Lee Goble and Christian Ghisays have been busy for the last few weeks putting the final touches on the menu for next week’s Food Awards. There will be a savoury section which will consist of dishes such as shrimp lasagna, vegetable spring rolls and teriyaki glazed salmon with undone noodles and sour miso dressing. The desert station will feature delights like nutmeg mango cheesecake, hazelnut praline with white and dark chocolate, strawberry bon bons, as well as a Kingston Lime Pie, for those lovers of Key Lime Pie.

“We want to make the experience a ‘wow’,” Ghisays says and adds, “We at the Ritz Carlton love participating in the Food Awards because it is such an excellent event and it is the ultimate display of the true culinary skills in Jamaica.”

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