October 9, 2023
Monday, October 9, 2023
Saluti, a plated, seven-course, wine-paired menu, heralded the start of the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival, Wednesday last, at buzo Osteria Italiana, Kingston.
The journey through Italy, naturally on a Vespa, attracted a capacity crowd and quite the buzz which was amplified when resident chef Romar Ford and guest chef Alexa Von Strolley threw down in the kitchen, and copious pours of Ruffino Wines from Select Brands filled glasses.
The folksy musical styling of Della Manley added to the evening’s easy camaraderie with on-the-spot giveaways eliciting satisfied smiles.
Page 2 raises a toast.
(See more in this week’s Thursday Food.)
Kerry-Ann Clarke (left) and Aiesha Panton, co-owners of Locale, were in anticipation of a fab evening. (Photos: Naphtali Junior)
NCB Chief Executive Officer Bruce Bowen and his wife Suzann stepped out for a night of Italian culinary delights.
Executives from the Select Brands and Ruffino teams (from left) David McConnell, managing director, Select Brands; Ismael Martinez, commercial sales manager, Constellation Brands; Tiffany Holt, regional sales director, Webb-Banks and Ruffino representative; Debra Taylor-Smith, luxury portfolio manager, Select Brands; Jaime Smith, marketing manager, Select Brands; Tania McConnell, corporate marketing manager, Select Brands; and Andrew Desnoes, managing director, Select Brands, showed off some of the evening’s wine selections.
Lifestyle curator Cecile Levee was quick to hop onto the iconic Vespa, synonymous with Italian culture.
Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards judge Stacy Belnavis (left) was all smiles as she accepted her gift, an LED speaker from Kenesha Thomas, marketing manager, English Caribbean, Visa…Naphtali Junior
… while Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards judge Billie Jean Constantine-Tulloch (right) collected a cash gift certificate courtesy of NCB from Audrey McIntosh, head of private banking at NCBNaphtali Junior
Folk singer/songwriter Della Manley kept the evening’s mood mellow. Naphtali Junior
Debe-Ann Lange-Chen (left), product development consultant, and Jamaica Food and Drink Kitchen Managing Director Nicole Pandohie shared an ussie. Naphtali Junior
The NCB Private Banking team of (from left) Renee Smith, private client account executive; Kay-Ann Williams-Gayle, private client account executive; and Audrey McIntosh, head of private banking, enjoyed the evening’s welcome cocktails — Disaronno Sour and Limoncello Spritz.Naphtali Junior
