Monsoon-like showers and steep ticket prices did nothing to put a damper on the turnout at the Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards on Thursday at Devon House in Kingston.

Kingston’s long drought was broken on Thursday afternoon with torrential rain that appeared to threaten the 17th staging of the annual event which celebrates Jamaican cuisine. But the showers ended before the evening start time, and the end result was a cooler and more comfortable temperature than normal.

Meanwhile, the increase in the price of tickets from $15,000 in 2014 to $25,000 had no apparent effect on the number of attendees. More than 2,000 people attended the event which, according to conceptualiser Novia McDonald-Whyte, was about equal to last year. In fact, final numbers showed ticket sales outperformed expectations by more than 10 per cent.

The number of patrons appeared to support a general theory that the ability of the Jamaican market to pay top dollar for luxury-styled entertainment should not be underestimated.

That theory, which could be named the Shaggy Principle, was developed after entertainer Shaggy had no difficulty selling Gold and Platinum VIP tickets for his Shaggy & Friends charity concerts.

There were a total of 62 restaurant and bar booths at the Food Awards, showcasing a wide variety of gourmet menu items, cocktails and wines. Exhibitors included top chef Brian Lumley as well as two Business Observer Mogul in the Making nominees — Liqy Liqy gourmet popsicles and Umium chocolate coconut spread.

This year, the programme awarded $1.5 million in scholarships and bursaries to hospitality and tourism management students at the University of Technology, Jamaica in Kingston. Meanwhile, a total of 60 students received paid internships at the event.

The success of the Observer Table Talk Food Awards is now being replicated in Trinidad and the Cayman Islands.