Chef’s Table kicks off Jamaica Food and Drink Festival 2026
With culinary delights from five chefs paired with expertly crafted cocktails, and DJ Rio on the turntables, one could not have asked for a better way to signal the start of the 2026 Jamaica Food and Drink Festival (JFDF).
Guests enjoyed an exclusive preview of the delectable fare on offer as JFDF hosted Chef’s Table, the exclusive kick-off event, at the Jamaica Food and Drink Kitchen on Wednesday, March 4, featuring Continent Atlanta and Brooklyn restaurant principal Scotley Innis, Chef Brigette Joseph, principal of Chef Brigette & Co, as well as local chefs Patrick Simpson, Celeste Gordon and Trevanne Donegal.
Saturday Social continues with highlights.
Photographer: Karl Mclarty
Chef Scotley Innis got a congratulatory hug from his sister, realtor Tisha Innis. Karl Mclarty
Worthy Park Commercial Manager Alexander Kong and Worthy Park Trade Marketer Lauren Byron enjoyed a round of Strawberry Fiyah Bird and Starboard Light cocktails. Karl Mclarty
DJ Rio brought the energy with chart-topping hits. Karl Mclarty
CB Group CEO Matthew Lyn (left) and content creator Jeremy Joyce chopped it up. Karl Mclarty
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green and his anaesthesiologist wife Dr Kerida Green were in deep discussion over the tempting menu at Chef Scotley Innis’s station. Karl Mclarty
In conversation while enjoying enjoying the cripsy tuna sushi rice and coco bread pudding were Courtleigh Hospitality Group Group Director of Marketing & Sales Nicola Madden-Greig and Target Planning and Resource Services CEO Mitchell Watson. Karl Mclarty
National Commercial Bank Acting Senior Vice-President, Payments and Enterprise Operations Danielle Cameron Duncan shared the frame with her husband, partner at Sage Global Finance Damian Duncan. Karl Mclarty
Enjoying the delicious fare were Massy Gas Products Limited Commercial Manager Nicola Watson (left) and Worthy Park Estate Marketing Manager Tamika West. Karl Mclarty
Pausing for a quick snap from the Saturday Social lensman were (from left) Jamaica Food and Drink Kitchen (JFDK) resident chef Celeste Gordon, JFDK General Manager Jaime-Lee Bingham, Jamaica Food and Drink Festival (JFDF) Hospitality Manager Kathryn Lloyd and JFDF co-director Nicole Pandohie. Karl Mclarty
Representing Nations Choice Limited at Chef’s Table were CEO Donald McDonald and Communications and Marketing Specialist Khorie Ann Beckford. Karl Mclarty
Chicago-based mixologist Tyler MacLellan was spotted crafting the Strawberry Fiyah Bird cocktail with a bold measure of Worthy Park 109 rum. Karl Mclarty
Jamaica Food and Drink Festival co-director Nicole Pandohie (second left) welcomed Jamaica Observer Media Group Managing Director Dominic Beaubrun, his HR consultant wife Angelique (second right) and heritage curator Dominique Inniss to Chef’s Table. Karl Mclarty
Representing CB Foods at Chef’s Table were Commerical Marketing Senior Manager Nicole Hall-Noble (left) and Assistant Brand Manager Samantha Fisher. Karl Mclarty
Content creator Octavia Brown was spotted enjoying a Spicy Passion Margarita cocktail. Karl Mclarty
Spotted at Chef’s Table were Olympian Asafa Powell and his wife, model Alyshia Miller-Powell. Karl Mclarty
Among the guests present were Select Brands Marketing Manager Lauren Meghoo (left) and Seprod Group Business Development Manager Amanda Sasso. Karl Mclarty
Enjoying their Splash Mode and Ocean Pop cocktails from the Ocean Spray booth were Pepsi-Cola Jamaica Sponsorships and Events Officer Jo-Beth Wood (left) and Pepsi-Cola Jamaica Brand Cordinator Ashli-Raye Recas. Karl Mclarty
Wisynco Consumer Marketing Manager Melissa-Kim Johnson (left) and Wisynco Brand Manager Brittany Thwaites had time for a quick photo before trying the dishes. Karl Mclarty
Raising a glass to the Jamaica Food and Drink festival was Select Brands Marketing Manager Debra Taylor Smith. Karl Mclarty
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