Global Directories Marketing Manager, Communications Tshani Jaja (left) and her mother, certified management consultant Dr Nsombi Jaja<strong></strong>
May 27, 2016
An Award-winning Affair
The Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards, now 18, is all grown up. The conversation has expanded to facilitate the cross-pollination of culinary talent and the ambitious expansion of the Jamaican template further afield in the Cayman Islands and Trinidad and Tobago. Like a proud parent, the formal gardens and east lawns of the historic Devon House venue witnessed the growth and influence of an awards vehicle that has become the pedestal for the best in food, wine, service, and decor. Led by chair Novia McDonald-Whyte and her close-knit family of judges, the platform has vindicated the consistent and launched the careers of prodigies.
Always seeking to reinvent itself, the Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards, added ‘adventure’ to its interests with covetable parish gems, ‘heritage’ with categories for delicacies, and encapsulated the country’s melting pot status with its Out of Many One recognition of international cuisines that have found favour on the local palate. Resident decor stylists Ann-Marie Wyss and the team at Main Event finetuned the big day’s layout and window dressings. SO, accessorised with the return of lanyarded vino stems introduced in 2015, sweeps the manicured greens of the precious exhibitors’ ‘shire’ to deliver the glittering extravaganza.
Art museologist Rachael Barrett (left), J Wray & Nephew Marketing Manager, White Spirits & Beers Pietro Gramegna, and EITS Cafe co-principal Robyn Fox.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Supreme Ventures Co-founder and Deputy Chairman Ian Levy and his STS Vehicles manager wife Cecelia.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Sally Levy (centre) with her husband, Jamaica Broilers Group President & CEO Christopher Levy and Regional Marketing Manager Avadaughn Sinclair.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Victoria Mutual Wealth Management General Manager DevonBarrett and The Best Dressed Chicken Divisional Sales & Marketing Manager Joan Forrest-Henry<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Heineken NV Assistant Brand Manager, Spirits, Ellisse Campbell.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Sizzling Slots CEO Gassan Azan (left), businessman Christopher Zacca (centre), and Island Bet Managing Director Adam Epstein.<b>Kenyon Hemans</b>
Nirvanna Indian Fusion Cuisine restaurateur and chocolatier Mahek Chatani (left) and Bijoux Jewelers buyer Bina Chandiram.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Iberostar Rose Hall Managing Director Philipp Hofer<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Blue Mahoe Estate Company Secretary Sonia Tomlinson and her chairman hubby Lloyd.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
An Award-winning Affair: Table Talk Food Awards 2016<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
The LED archway illuminating the Devon House formal gardens that hosted the awards ceremony, and the east lawns that held the exhibitor village.(PHOTOS: ANTONIO GRAHAM, JOSEPH WELLINGTON, BRYAN CUMMINGS, KENYON HEMANS & GARFIELD ROBINSON)<b>Kenyon Hemans</b>
Educator Jill Stewart and Select Brands Managing Director Andrew Desnoes<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Victoria Mutual Group Senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Peter Reid, state minister in the Ministry of Finance and Public Service Fayval Williams, Victoria Mutual Wealth Management General Manager Devon Barrett, PROVEN Wealth Director Lisa Gomes and her chemist daughter Christine<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Harbour Wines & Spirits wine consultant Marilyn Bennett (left) and event designer and event planner Aiesha Panton of Pussbackfoot.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
The Best Dressed Chicken Senior Telesales Representative Cecile Chin Shue and Reggae Jammin’ Brand Officer Adrian Bell<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Victoria Mutual Wealth Management Head of Capital Markets Colando Hutchinson (left) and Wealth Advisor Dwayne Hunter<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Itel-BPO CEO Yoni Epstein (left) and Wallenford Coffee Company CEO & Vice-Chairman Mark McIntosh<strong> Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Fashion designer Toya Taylor in a BMW X5 sports activity vehicle display.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Event planner Melanie Miller and attorney-at-law Duane Thomas<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Fitness trainer Steve Ming and An Elegant Affair CEO Karen Clarke<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
First Global Bank President & CEO Mariame McIntosh-Robinson and her member of parliament for St Andrew South Eastern and Opposition Spokesman on information hubby Julian Robinson.<strong>Bryan Cummings</strong>
Member of Parliament for St. Thomas Western James with his Precison Entertainment director wife and UWI, Mona medical student daughter Ava.<strong>Bryan Cummings</strong>
Most Talked About Parish Gem co-recipient, Kaluga Gourmet CEO Adrian Samuda<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Entrepreneur Kirk-Anthony Hamilton and Business Access TV Business Development Manager Tresha Miller.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Jamaica Observer Food Awards Chair Novia McDonald-Whyte and Electrolux Area Sales Manager, Caribbean Region Hosmith Martinez<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
ATL Automotive Group General Manager Matthew Cripps and Opa! Greek Restaurant Director of Operations and fashion designer Orlease King<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Rainforest Seafoods CEO Brian Jardim (left) and Continental Baking Company Chairman Gary Hendrickson.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Santorini Skylounge/Opa! Greek Restaurant Managing Director Alexx Antaeus<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Paramount Trading Managing Director Hugh Graham<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Julian Walker and the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Tastee Patty director Simone Chanpong<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Trinidad & Tobago-based ZaZou Bistro Moderne executive chef/patron Pierre-Yves Le Bihan and his director wife Zanifa.<strong>Joseph Wellington</strong>
Victoria Mutual Wealth Management Sales & Client Manager Karlene Mullings and her attorney-at-law husband Clive<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Chopped champion and Miss Lily’s Chef de Cuisine André Fowles with Victoria Mutual Group Marketing Manager Keisha Mascoll (centre), and chef/caterer and event designer Jacqui Tyson<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Mainland Brand Manager Tania Christie (left), Monumental Partners founder Christopher Goulbourne, and blogger Kaci Fennell.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Attorney-at-law and St Catherine East Central Member of Parliament Alando Terrelonge and LASCO Beverages Marketing Manager Catherine Goodall<strong> Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Hairstylist Lisa Hutchinson<strong>Bryan Cummings</strong>
Businessman Joel Tomlinson and Seaboard Freight & Shipping JamaicaAccount Executive Jhordanne McDonald<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
From left: Victoria Mutual Group Vice-President, Group Marketing & Corporate Affairs Vivienne Bayley-Hay, Chairman Michael McMorris, Senior Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer Janice McKenley, and Victoria Mutual Wealth Management General Manager Devon Barrett<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Phoenix Group President Zachary Harding and his Mara Made Designs wood artist wife Tamara Harding.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Red Stripe Beer Senior Brand Manager Nasha-Monique Douglas.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Adam & Eve Day Spa co-proprietor Kimisha Walker and her husband, Business Access TV Managing Director Garth Walker<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Attorney-at-law Matthew Hogarth — a Jamaica Observer Food Awards judge — and his Janus Strategic Marketing Services managing director wife Lisa.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Chairman’s Award recipients and Stush In The Bush principals Lisa and Christopher Binns.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards chair Novia McDonald-Whyte (third right) with (from left) Clifton Mount Estate Managing Director Jason Sharp, CGR Communications Public Relations Director Odette-Dixon Neath; Rachael Barrett, art consultant;S Flow Vice-President, Legal & Regulatory Rochelle Cameron, and Cayman Islands-based husband-and-wife attorneys-at-law Caroline and Richard Barton.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
Harbour Wines & Spirits Brand Manager Sharice Fernande.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
The amethyst tones of the Victoria Mutual pavilion glowed on the grounds of the Devon House east lawns.(PHOTOS: JOSEPH WELLINGTON, BRYAN CUMMINGS, KENYON HEMANS & GARFIELD ROBINSON)<b>Kenyon Hemans</b>
Courtleigh Group of Companies Managing Director Kevin Hendrickson, flanked by his special projects director daughters Kate (left) and Melissa.<strong>Kenyon Hemans</strong>
