Locale #ThePinkBuilding at 4 Holborn Road recently hosted Isle Epicure, an unforgettable five-course dining experience, curated by Tooksie Kay Catering principal Alexa Von Strolley. The exquisite design details handled by Aiesha Panton for pussbackfoot upped the style quotient whilst the wines carefully selected by Caribbean Producers Jamaica (CPJ) Limited provided the perfect pours.

The experience commenced with a Freixenet Premium Cava along with palate-pleasers like jerk tuna tartare tostadas and crispy mushroom arancini.

The evening’s official welcome came courtesy of Locale co-principal Dr Dainia Baugh, who thereafter invited guests to take their assigned seats prior to introducing multi-award-winning guest chef Alexa Von Strolley for Tooksie Kay Caterering who in turn walked guests through the evening’s menu.

Von Strolley shared with Thursday Food (TF) how creating memorable moments is de rigueur to the current food experience.

“Dining is theatre. The whole idea of dining out is to see something that they have never seen before, taste something that they have never tasted before, see something plated in a way they have never seen before… It’s about that OMG moment… the onus is on us to create as many of those aha moments as possible,” she said.

It wouldn’t take long for the first aha moment to arrive! Charred sweet corn and coconut soup poured tableside in a coconut shell was the perfect opening act, complemented by the Villa Sandi Prosecco Rosé wine. There would be no need to change bottles for the salad course: Compressed watermelon and feta cheese providing a cacophony of colours on an impeccably styled plate that tantalised the taste buds. It was a strategic precursor to the guava and champagne granita palate cleanser and the introduction by CPJ Corporate Wine Specialist Meaghan McConnell to the first of four pours for the evening, emphasising the Rodney Strong brand, a winery out of Sonoma County in California.

“Rodney Strong was founded in 1959 by Sir Rodney Strong. It was actually the 13th winery in Sonoma County, so they were the pioneers in that area. Thirty years later, it was sold to the Klein family, who four generations later have implemented the requisite sustainable and eco-friendly practices,” McConnell explained.

The Rodney Strong Chardonnay was the first pairing for the evening’s starter: Pan-seared scallop and yuzu corn purée. “Chardonnay is described by many as creamy and buttery with notes of vanilla, a little bit of spice and toasted oak. That is what you are going to find [this evening],” McConnell opined.

The scallops and chardonnay gave way to the main: Miso Glazed Sea Bass with Rodney Strong Russian River Pinot Noir or Mojo-Marinated Short Rib paired with Rodney Strong Merlot.

McConnell also explained how von Strolley incorporated creaminess, assortment of spices and various other elements into the evening’s menu and how the CPJ team worked in tandem to pair the components of each course with the characteristics of each wine.

Isle Epicure closed with a coconut lime panna cotta paired with Villa Sandi Prosecco Rosé.

Von Strolley’s final appearance was to lusty applause and with Olympian Asafa Powell’s light-hearted request for another serving of the short rib.

Locale co-principal Aiesha Panton expressed gratitude on behalf of co-principals Baugh and Clarke for joining them in a unique celebration of Jamaica.

“Creating these experiences is something that we are passionate about. [It’s] just like a beautiful escape to celebrate life and celebrate Jamaica in an unexpected way. I hope you had a beautiful experience,” Panton expressed.