Larry Gardiner, CEO of Vineyard Town Premium Blend (or BabyLove's Twist), shared that his wife was the inspiration for the brand's name. The product line includes 10 non-dairy ice creams: blue java (coffee), soursop, sorrell, coconut blitz, coconut vanilla, Peruvian chocolate, rum & raisin, grapenut, cookies & creme, guava passion and jackfruit. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
June 15, 2023
And The 2023 Nominees Best (New) Local Products Are…
Vineyard Town Premium Blend blue java (coffee), soursop, sorrell, coconut blitz, coconut vanilla, Peruvian chocolate, rum & raisin, grapenut, cookies & creme, guava passion and jackfruitPrincipal: Larry GardinerEmail Address: iriemisterg@gmail.com(Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Salada Foods cinnameg (cinnamon and nutmeg), caramel and coconut cappuccino coffeePrincipal(s): Salada Foods Limited – Kerrian Johnson, commercial & corporate affairs managerEmail Address: k.johnson@saladafoodsja.comCommercial and Corporate Affairs Manager Kerrian Johnson (centre), flanked by brand amabassadors Latoya Savings (left) and Jody-Ann Sterrad, had their table stacked with cinnameg (Cinnamon and Nutmeg), caramel and coconut cappuccino coffee.(Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Commercial and Corporate Affairs Manager Kerrian Johnson spoke about how their flavours of coffee products are versatile and designed to go above and beyond what customers expect, all while keeping the product portfolio current and trendy and preserving their traditional offerings. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
What started as a pandemic experiment birthed a passion in 2020. Peta-Gay Mills (left), principal, Mylk Jamaica, introduced a delightful selection of toasted coconut, café brew coffee, coconut based with crunchy grapenuts, chunky choco bits, espresso chip, coffee ice-cream, rum & raisin, chocolate chip vanilla, berry, and mango passion sorbet ice cream flavours to (from second left) Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards conceptualiser Novia McDonald-Whyte, chairman and CEO of Derrimon Trading Company Limited Derrick Cotterell, and president of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (Jampro) Shullette Cox. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Mylk Jamaica toasted coconut, café brew coffee, coconut based with crunchy grapenuts, chunky choco bits, espresso chip, coffee ice-cream, rum & raisin, chocolate chip vanilla, berry, and mango passion sorbetPrincipal: Peta-Gay MillsEmail Address:mylkja@gmail.com (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Chocollor monk fruit sweetened dark chocolatePrincipal(s): Tara Shoucair, For Goodness Graze, and Chocollor owners (Donna-Kaye and Carl Sharpe)Email Address: Tshoucair@hotmail.com (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Chocollor Business Development Manager Donna-Kaye Sharpe (left), and Tara Shoucair, CEO, For Goodness Graze, introduced their concept for using monk fruit to sweeten dark chocolate. The idea of this collaboration stemmed from a desire to improve the health of their countrymen in a small way while still providing consumers with a quality bean-to-bar crafted indulgence without sacrificing a taste of Jamaica.(Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Just something she had created for herself and incorporated in celebratory meals with family and friends became her brand: Fulljoy Foods. Principal Christanya Julien (left) presents flavoured butters to Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards judges (from second left) Stacy Belnavis (partially hidden), Patricia Henry, Codie-Ann Barrett (partially hidden guest judge), Josina Jackson, , Pauline Edie, Oneal Johnson, Mala Morrison and Victoria Colahar.(Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Fulljoy Foods garlic & herb, sun-dried tomato & basil, spicy cilantro lime, spiced rum, coffee caramel, lavender mint caramel and sorrel ginger caramel butter.Principal: Christanya JulienEmail Address: fulljoyfoods@gmail.comChristanya Julien, principal, showcased the collection of seven flavoured butters: garlic & herb, sun-dried tomato & basil, spicy cilantro lime, spiced rum, coffee caramel, lavender mint caramel and their holiday flavour, sorrel ginger caramel.(Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Mel’s Sticky Jam strawberry; pineapple and ginger; mango scotch bonnet; jackfruit and rosemary; otaheite apple (seasonal) and sorrel gingerbread (seasonal) jams.Principal: Melissa Tavares-WilsonEmail Address: melstickyjams@gmail.com (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Founder of Mel’s Sticky Jam, Melissa Tavares Wilson, gave a presentation on how a bag of overripe star apples served as her inspiration for creating a jam. After much trial and error, she created her first flavour: Star Apple Jam. Strawberry, pineapple and ginger, mango Scotch bonnet, jackfruit and rosemary, otaheite apple (seasonal), and sorrel gingerbread (seasonal) jams are some of her other flavours.(Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Michele Williams, founder of Moveable Feast Caterers, at the start of the COVID- 19 pandemic, was inspired to create lasagne, the ultimate comfort food, for kerbside pick-up and delivery after spending a year working in a restaurant in Canada. Her made-from-scratch beef, chicken and vegan lasagnes are made with locally sourced, homemade ingredients. Williams’ daughter Samantha encouraged her to create a healthy, plant-based, dairy-free vegan lasagne.(Photo: Karl Mclarty)
[USE AS INSET]Moveable Feast Caterers beef, chicken, vegan and vegetable lasagnesPrincipal: Michele WilliamsEmail Address: moveablefeastcaterers@gmail.comHead chef Robert Creary and principal Michele Williams presented beef, chicken, vegan and vegetable lasagne.(Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Manchester Hill exemplifies the timeless adage “Perseverance is key to success.” Business consultant Annette Salmon and CEO Rayal Young shared that the failure of their pumpkin tomato sauce was the driving force behind the production of the lava hot, fish and seafood seasoning, all-purpose seasoning, BBQ, spicy mango, and spicy guava sauce.(Photo: Karl Mclarty)
[USE AS INSET]Manchester Hills Sauces & Seasonings lava hot, fish and seafood seasoning, all purpose seasoning, BBQ, spicy mango, and spicy guava saucePrincipal(s): Rayal Young and Richard JosephsEmail Address: yjs.associates@gmail.comFrom left: General Manager Richard Josephs, business consultant Annette Salmon and CEO Rayal Young had the lava hot, fish and seafood seasoning, all-purpose seasoning, BBQ, spicy mango, and spicy guava sauce on display.(Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Maria Serrano shared her experience about infusing her Latino heritage into the creation of callaloo and Scotch bonnet queso pupusas; chicken and beans tamales; and baked empanadas.(Photo: Karl Mclarty)
[USE AS INSET]Tasty Latinos callaloo, and scotch bonnet queso pupusas; chicken, and beans tamales; and baked empanadas.Principal: Maria SerranoEmail Address: gusto@tastylatinos.com (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Smart Choice Farms Manufacturers Limited co-owner Arthur De Niro and sales representative Tika Rutherford discussed that they initially started out delivering top-quality peppers, full of heat and aroma, while the sauces they tried from the producers were diluted and full of vinegar so they interpreted that as a challenge waiting to be met, and saw a market opportunity waiting to be conquered.(Photo: Karl Mclarty)
[USE AS INSET]Smart Choice Farms Manufacturers Limited mango and guava jerk saucePrincipal: Bernd HasenbichlerEmail Address: info@smartchoiceja.comBrand Manufacturer Diane Reynold (left) and Sales Representative Tika Rutherford introduced the mango and guava jerk sauce.(Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Clockwise, from left: Sales Representative Yvett Henriques and Procurement and Inventory Officer Omar Watson explained to Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards conceptualiser Novia McDonald-Whyte and chairman and CEO of Derrimon Trading Company Limited Derrick Cotterell that they wanted to create a brand that could attract and satisfy “foodies” with discerning taste, occupy a place in the international gourmet market, and be recognised as a quality Jamaican product.(Photo: Karl Mclarty)
[USE AS INSET]Goldfinger Estate honey jerk (spicy), Scotch bonnet pepper (intense) and rum bbq sauces (smokey)Principals: Dr David Lowe, chairman of Republic Trading Company Limited, Yvett Henriques, administrative manager & Omar Watson, Supply Chain.Email Address: mail4dlowe@gmail.com & Yvette_henriques@yahoo.comDirector Karla Henry (centre) showcased the honey jerk (spicy), Scotch bonnet pepper (intense) and rum BBQ sauces (smokey) with Sales Representative Yvett Henriques (left) and Procurement and Inventory Officer Omar Watson. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Garfield Seivwright Jr informed the panel that the inspiration behind the sweet Scotch bonnet sauce, in mild and spicy, was the result of the rave reviews received from his concoction. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
[USE AS INSET]CrEATe Sweet Scotch Bonnet Sauce In Mild And SpicyPrincipal: Garfield Seivwright Jr.Email Address: chefgarfieldjr@gmail.com & createsauces@gmail.comGarfield Seivwright Jr (left), founder, presented the sweet Scotch Bonnet Sauce in mild and spicy with his Head Chef Mario Benjamin. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
