Taking the road eastwards out of Port Antonio, just past the Trident Hotel you see a sign on the right for Match Resort, take the right turn up a newly paved road and you will turn into the pleasant forecourt of the Match Resort and Hotel. Entering the tidy lobby and reception area, I am met by my friend Richard Harris, local lawyer and proprietor of the property, who, while having very competent and pleasant staff, loves to be hands-on when it comes to his guests.

A perfect inn to spend a weekend in Portie when watching one’s budget. Each room has AC, satellite TV, and fridge and breakfast is included.

The Scotch Bonnet restaurant is spotlessly clean, simply and neatly laid out. It somehow reminds me of the many family-run establishments along the Neapolitan coast in Italy, tasteful table settings, a few local artisan featured paintings and the beautifully coloured mural featuring local fruits on the back wall.

A friendly waitress takes my order and I go to sit in the quiet paved courtyard by a well-stocked poolside bar to relax while my lunch is being prepared. My first choice is the cream of pumpkin soup, which I observe being sliced and diced then blended in the kitchen; there is something deliciously special about the Jamaican pumpkin. The bowl of soup is ample with hot, freshly baked garlic toast but I am ready for my main course-two delicately steamed butterfish laid out over slices of garlic sautéed Irish potato with an extremely fresh grated salad of cucumber, carrot and beets always bought in the morning from the local Port Antonio market.

Richard has a huge network of local fishermen from whom he carefully picks his catch in the morning so one might find the type of fish on the menu changing from day to day, depending on the catch, but the deliciously prepared style is a constant.

The cool and quiet of the restaurant with its large French doors gives one a real moment to pause and think, away from the constant and busy chatter of my life, but equally with a group of friends or family- there is a peaceful serenity to be found here.

The brown stew chicken breast is excellent, carefully grilled to a tender perfection and lightly browned, not drowned in sauce but more delicately basted on the grill so that the flavours go deep into the chicken flesh, however, another of my favourites is the curry chicken wrap-succulent diced chicken breast with sliced carrot in a lightly folded pancake- style wrap. (There are actually three in an order however, after the sumptuous butterfish I can only manage one)!

I finish my meal today rather indulgently with a large slice of strawberry cheescake and rather guiltily take my leave of Richard after paying the very modest bill for such fare and surroundings. I will be back soon enough.

Contact number: 993 9629

Standard Queen Room starting at $8,700 double includes a full breakfast

Deluxe Queen Room $10,200

Triple occup $12,800