The Jamaica Observer week-long celebration of wines and champagne continued Wednesday evening at Opa! with, you guessed it, Greek wines. Indeed, the festivities were taken up several notches as the establishment itself was celebrating birthday number three. Opa! Greek Restaurant and Santorini Skylounge proprietor Alexx Antaeus and his co-director Orlease King were the consummate hosts, ensuring not only that wine flowed all evening long but that they seized the opportunity to pair new menu options with each bottle of wine. The evening’s first bottle was, in the words of Antaeus, “My big fat Greek wine — Savatiano”: a dry white wine paired with an ackee slider. This was followed by Lafkioti Nemea, a dry red served with Opa’s lamb burger. Hummus and pita bread and Opa’s caramelised onion, bacon and feta cheese pizza were additional offerings ahead of dessert — Opa’s signature carrot cake with a shot of Mavrodaphne de Patras.

The bonhomie was felt throughout as guests clinked glasses, made new acquaintances, congratulated Antaeus and King on their successful venture and looked ahead to Thanksgiving and yuletide celebrations.

Friday Social thanks Antaeus for his generous words for the Jamaica Observer and especially for the 1986 Chateau Lafite Rothschild which was accepted by the company’s Senior Associate Editor — Lifestyle & Social Content Novia McDonald-Whyte.

Salut!