COUNTDOWN TO THE FOOD AWARDS…

Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards judge for the parish of Manchester, attorney-at-law and barrister Camille Shields– Mommichef, wannabe Masterchef, Life Lover. Lawyer “Eat, Pray, Love” — is delighted to share her culinary gems. “I love my food, probably too much,” she shares, “and welcome this opportunity to showcase my parish’s offerings.”

1.OMG Restaurant & Coffee Shop offers a wide array of international and local cuisine. It is centrally located in Mandeville at Cobblestone Centre on Brumalia Road and is a regular hangout on the weekend for drinks. The decor is modern coffee shop and the service is good.

My favourites are the jerk chicken wings and Caesar salad, Philly cheese steak and fries, and the desserts are very good. It’s a good coffee and dessert spot to visit for drinks and music with a real bar vibe on the weekends. If one is in the mood for comfort and variety, OMG is a very good option.

OMG Restaurant & Coffee Bar

1 Brumalia Road

Mandeville, Manchester

962 7251

2. Star Grill is one of the best dining spaces decorated with elaborate opulence. A recent addition to the Mandeville food landscape, it is conveniently located on South Race Course Road. It offers dine-in and take-away. Delivery is optional and it offers local and international cuisine. The service is good and the staff courteous and helpful.

One of my favourites is Chicken Alfredo Pasta, but I must say their new offering of bammy pizza is quite delicious. My new LeanCleanJamaica lifestyle approves of this pizza, although Captain Clean Rachael would not approve of the cheese. The bammy base is divine if you love bammy, and I do, so I console myself that I’m consuming complex carbohydrates and ignore the fat content of the cheese.

Star Grill

20 South Race Course Road

Mandeville

Manchester

876 632 3834

3.Bickles is a cookshop with dine-in facilities and caters more to walk-in clients as there is no parking. It is located across from Mandeville Plaza in a lane that used to facilitate a pass-through back to Perth Road. I have never dined in the restaurant and probably wouldn’t, as it’s for me a lunchtime option. They deliver in the town and the delivery service is quick and the staff very friendly. Bickles offers really good value for money.

The food is strictly local but so delicious! I have yet to have a bad meal and my favourite is fried chicken and rice and peas with oxtail or stew gravy. My staff prefers curry gravy. This restaurant is on my office speed dial and I can guarantee that at least one person orders from there every day; they know us by name. I also like the curry goat made with local goat and the mannish water.

Bickles Cookshop

Mandeville

Tel# 387 1663

4.Fork in de Road- Not to be left out of foodie forwardness, Debe-Ann Chen’s food truck aptly named Fork in de Road is a welcome addition to the food landscape. Offerings from the truck include a wide variety of local, regional and international food. The truck can be found at different locations in Mandeville and New Kingston, I understand. It is currently parked just off Caledonia Road at James’s Plaza and stands out.

I’m a sucker for Trini food, and dem doubles and fish and bake…bwoy, if I close my eyes tight I’m on Maracas beach, delicious! There are also many Asian-inspired dishes on the menu which are quite tasty, but I go for the doubles or fish and bake. Fork in de road also packages its meals nicely and I like the friendliness of the staff. Definitely good value for money.

Fork In De Road Food Truck, all over Mandeville

808-FORK