“I have watched the growing success and significance of The Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards with admiration. It is more than a celebration of the island’s vibrant food culture; it raises the bar through recognition of players in the food industry. Jamaica has been steadily defining itself as the Caribbean’s premier gastronomic destination with a spectacular array of culinary experiences, but the Table Talk Food Awards are without a doubt one of our best.” — Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett in his remarks at the launch of the 21st annual Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards in the executive boardroom of the Jamaica Observer, last Tuesday.

These words set the tone for what many deemed a spectacular launch of the region’s premier culinary event. Thirty-eight guests comprising Food Awards judges, sponsors and friends of the Awards enjoyed the camaraderie, learned about and applauded the culinary inroads made by quite a few seated around the mahogany boardroom table: from the reception of the culinary cognoscenti to Provisions: The Roots of Caribbean Cooking by Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau and award-winning blogger Jessica Hylton-Leckie’s invitation by the Government of Israel to showcase Jamaican vegetarian offerings in that country. There were nods of approval for food safety expert Marshalee Valentine’s resolve to bring more awareness to the delivery of safe dining options to our shores and for Debbian Spence-Minott too, whose single raison d’etre is that of elevating the narrative around Jamaican bartenders.

Jamaica Observer Limited outgoing Managing Director Danville Walker, in his welcome address, expressed gratitude for the turnout and spoke of the committee’s mandate to raise the bar each year, of the scholarships awarded each year to students of hospitality and tourism at the University of Technology (UTech), and of the overwhelmingly positive response each year to the Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards.

Novia McDonald-Whyte, senior associate editor and Awards conceptualiser, announced a few new categories, notably the Bartender of the Year, Beacon of Excellence, and Best Culinary Team awards. The more this year will be the Celebration of Communities culinary tours, which kicked off on Sunday, March 31 at Gifford House, Granville, St James.

“We’ve stirred the pot and gone restaurant-hopping around the island. This year the focus shifts to a celebration of community – more so the age-old tradition of family and extended family enjoying a traditional home-cooked Sunday dinner,” she revealed.

Brunch followed courtesy of the award-winning Ashebre Modern Caribbean Cuisine team led by Executive Culinary Artist Oji Jaja. The menu, a perfect complement to the glitzy launch, featured a signature Butterfly Pea Flower Mojito with fresh berries; smoked marlin atop micro arugula, smoked almonds, candied sorrel, roasted beet carpaccio and feta cheese drizzled with passion fruit vinaigrette; freshly baked focaccia, baguettes from Future Bakery; blackened salmon fillet and herb-roasted chicken breast lightly drizzled with peri peri cream sauce followed with sides of forbidden rice-quinoa risotto, ripe plantain, bay pak choy, sweet corn and grape tomato.

Brunch closed with a June Plum Cobbler made with fresh berries, poached pear topped with lavender ice cream, Blue Mountain coffee and oodles more table talk.

At Champagne o’clock, a toast was raised with G H Mumm-infused mimosas to the 21st staging of the Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards.