Monday, November 9, 2026
At ROK Hotel Kingston, Palate is setting the table for its next chapter!
First In Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards judges (from left) Oneal Johnson, Stacy Belnavis, Patricia Henry-Brown, Mala Morrison, Adolph Raynor, Josina Jackson, and Maurice Sloley were among the first to arrive! Garfield Robinson
Shaken, Stirred… Spotted Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards judges (from left) Angelique Beaubrun, Christopher Reckord and Josina Jackson were snapped at the cocktail bar. Garfield Robinson
Always Evolving Speaking on behalf of ROK General Manager Amit Mahbubani and Director of Food & Beverage Sherene Brown (centre), Director of Sales & Marketing Marlene Buckridge acknowledged the familiar faces around the table, noting that the group had witnessed Palate’s ongoing evolution first-hand. “You’ve all been here before, several times. And I think that if there’s anybody that can attest to how much we have reinvented ourselves — almost every year we come up with new things — you are the guys that can tell those stories for us,” she said.Garfield Robinson
The hotel’s signature restaurant is turning up the flavour with a reimagined menu, refreshed interiors and Executive Chef Oji Jaja at the helm. With ambitions of repositioning the hotel as downtown Kingston’s premiere food and beverage destination, Jaja, alongside Amit Mahbubani, general manager; Marlene Buckridge, director of sales & marketing; and Sherene Brown, director of food & beverage, welcomed a table of discerning guests for a first taste of what’s cooking.
Papped At Palate… …was Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards judge Kadean Vendryes.Garfield Robinson
Among those pulling up a chair were Jamaica Observer Managing Director Dominic Beaubrun, Deputy Managing Director Natalie Chin-Samuda, Senior Associate Editor, Lifestyle & Social Content, and Table Talk Food Awards Chair Novia McDonald-Whyte, alongside Food Awards judges. Already familiar faces at Palate, the group was well-placed to assess the restaurant’s latest culinary direction!
Judgement Call Who better to put the cocktail bar’s latest pours to the test than Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards judges (from left) Oneal Johnson, Maurice Sloley and Adolph Raynor?Garfield Robinson
On The Guest List Table Talk Food Awards judge Selena Mohammed-Wilson made a stylish entrance.Garfield Robinson
Page 2 shares highlights.
ROK Solid Welcome A warm welcome, served with a side of downtown chic! ROK Hotel Kingston General Manager Amit Mahbubani (right) and Director of Sales & Marketing Marlene Buckridge (second left) were happy to host Jamaica Observer Media Group Managing Director Dominic Beaubrun and Deputy Managing Director Natalie Chin-Samuda at Palate.Garfield Robinson
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Photographer: Garfield Robinson
