KINGSTON, Jamaica – The 18th staging of the Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards was met with characteristic success as “the best of the best” in local and international cuisine took centre stage at the region’s premier culinary awards and exhibition event held on the east lawns of Devon House in Kingston last evening.

The popular Rotty and Cherry, located at Old Stony Hill Road in St Andrew, walked away with awards for Best Tripe and Beans and Best Turkey Neck.

Other double winners of the night include M10 Bar and Grill, which copped prizes for Best Rice and Peas and Best Stewed Peas; Juici Patties, which walked away with awards for Best Porridge and Best Fried Johnny Cakes and The Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, Best Place for Family Dining and Best Service, awarded to its Regency Room.

Presentations for excellence in international cuisine were made to Opa! Greek Restaurant & Lounge, Best Greek Restaurant; Toscanini Italian Restaurant, Best Italian Restaurant; Jade Garden, Best Chinese Restaurant; Chez Maria, Best Lebanese Restaurant; Stush in the Bush, Best Ital Cuisine; and Mystic India and Nirvanna Indian Fusion Cuisine, which shared the recognition of being the Best Indian Restaurant.

Among the night’s biggest winners were Celeste Gordon, Caterer of the Year; Nadine Burie who received the Jing Shi Award for Dessert Chef of the Year; and The Sugar Mill Restaurant at the Half Moon Hotel which received the coveted Norma Shirley Award for Restaurant of the Year.

Runner-up on Season 5 of the popular Food Network show, Chopped Champions, Jamaican-born Andre Fowles, was named Chef of the Year.

Complete list of winners:

1) Out of Many One – Themes

Best Greek Restaurant – Opa! Greek Restaurant & Lounge

Best Italian Restaurant – Toscanini Italian Restaurant

Best Chinese Restaurant – Jade Garden

Best Indian Restaurant — Mystic India/Nirvanna Indian Fusion Cuisine

Best Lebanese Restaurant – Chez Maria

Best Ital Cuisine – Stush in the Bush

2) Best Rice & Peas

M10 Bar and Grill

3) Best Stewed Peas

M10 Bar and Grill

4) Best Curried Goat

Moby Dick

5) Best Tripe & Beans

Rotty & Cherry

6) Best Curried Chicken presented by The Best Dressed Chicken

The Pantry

7) Best Fried Chicken presented by The Best Dressed Chicken

Lorna’s Catering

8) Best Steamed Fish

Gloria’s Rendezvous

9) Best Oxtail

Miss T’s Kitchen

10) Best Turkey Neck

Rotty & Cherry

11) Best Plantains

Island Grill

12) Best Fried Johnny Cake

Juici Patties

13) Best Porridge

Juici Patties

14) Best Rundown

Alhambra Inn

15) Best Ackee & Saltfish

Pelican Restaurant

16) Most Talked About Parish Gem

Kaluga Kafe and Cliffhanger Restaurant

17) Best Product 2016

Nice Rice and Pimora Pimento Briquettes

18) Best Takeout Experience

Fromage Gourmet Market

19) Best Place For Family Dining

Brunch at The Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel

20) Wine Purveyor of the Year

Uncorked

21) Jamaica Yellow Pages Chef on the Rise

Volae Williams

22) Caterer of the Year

Celeste Gordon

23) Jing Shi Award for Dessert Chef of the Year

Nadine Burie

24) Chef of the Year

Andre Fowles

25) Best Service

The Regency Room at The Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel

26) Best Food Moment of 2015/2016

The Best Dressed Chicken Moment at Diner en Blanc

27) The Norma Shirley Award for Restaurant of the Year

The Sugar Mill Restaurant at the Half Moon Hotel

28) The Chairman’s Award

Stush in the Bush

29) The Lifetime Achievement Award

Tastee — Applauding 50 years of the iconic Jamaican staple — The Tastee Patty

See more in the Sunday Observer.

Paul Allen