Don’t get it twisted: Pachie’s, located some three minutes by car from the gate of Tryall, is a culinary gem. The sea within kissing distance of their tables, patrons enjoy — pun intended — the catch of the day: lobster, conch and snapper.

Thursday Life arrives in time for a late lunch with Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards judge for the parish of Hanover Aram Zerunian and his foodie team of David Barber, Robert Headley and Patricia Henry. Proprietor and resident chef Wesley Chambers is busy.

 The orders are coming in fast and furious. “Things are good,” he shares, “and have picked up considerably since I won the award.” It’s no idle boast! Chambers’s grill pan, which is made from galvanised zinc, holds up to 48 packages of fish wrapped in foil, and keeps the heat inside as it steams the fish, conch and lobster to perfection against the fire brick wall.

If the proof of the pudding is in the eating, the sight of our MD Danville Walker, Tryall Club MD Aram Zerunian, Director of Marketing & PR David Barber, Chief Financial Operator Patricia Henry and Director of Operations Robert Headley, sipping goat belly soup and scarfing down lobster, conch and escoveitched snapper with sides of bammy, breadfruit and festival, speaks volumes.

Not quite hungry, I opt for the steamed snapper in foil thinking that I’d not be able to complete same. Clearly I was in denial for my fork was soon scraping the sides of the foil. Chambers, whose journey into food was by happenstance — a contractor by profession, things were slow so he looked elsewhere — has an infectious smile and endearing personality.

His incredibly good food will, we reckon, keep him nourishing stomachs for generations to come.

— NMW Pachie’s Main Street, Sandy Bay Telephone: 876-425-7150