Photos by Janet Silvera
(1) Cecile Levee (left), of Wine with Me, dishes with event planner Joan Lee (centre) and friend Sharon Cunningham.
(2) From left: Air Jamaica's Sharon Austin elicits much laughter from Norma Webster and Sandra Martin during the Rotary Club of Montego Bay's Wine '09 event.
(3) Visiting from the Rotary Club of Bayonne, New Jersey, (from left, front) are Allison Burns, Lisa LaGreca, Gwen Giannina, while behind them (from left) are John Butters, Janice Hall and Robert Fazio.
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Michelle Daswani, incoming president of the Rotary Club of Montego Bay, will zero in on addicts who have become slaves to drugs.
Daswani, several sponsors and over 400 patrons laid the groundwork for this project last Saturday when they invaded the fabulous Shoppes at Rose Hall to make money to sustain the Second City's first drug detox centre.
A model based on the highly successful Patricia House facility in Kingston, the Rotarians wowed socialites, wine aficionados and food lovers at their second Wine '09 marking the 48th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Montego Bay.
From as early as 7 p.m., 1876 Wines had secured positive impressions from even the most critical of connoisseurs, while Betco's Denzie Sinclair carefully explained each of his products to an eager audience.
Lascelles' mini wine lounge was a hit with the trellis of hanging, flashing grapes, Ramson's offerings showed the audience as their best sellers, while Caribbean Producers' wines spoke volumes.
Simply mouth-watering
Wine '09's official executive chef, Robert Joseph, performed magic on the many items which were donated for this function. These included: Rainforest Seafood's scallops and shrimps; Ramson's Gourmar smoked salmon and Duncan Sharp's beef tenderloin. The result was simply mouth-watering.
Lamb by Donnie Bunting and son simply melted in the mouth and Frozen Delights Distributors displayed an array of cheeses from their premier brand.
Alicia James again outdid herself with her flambé and newcomer Caryn DeMessa gave everyone a 'sugar rush'. To top things off, Jamaican Standard Products served coffee and tea paired with Tortuga rum cakes.
Rory Frankson captivated the audience with his exceptional vocal talents, tarot reader and astrologer Jana Nitt was hot - and DJ Fingaz provided great interludes in between the performances of ' HUGADE', Western Jamaica's favourite party band.
janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com
(1)Palmyra's Frank Perolli and his better half, Kathy Dear, snuggle up for the camera at the Rotary Club of Montego Bay's Wine '09 event at Shoppes at Rose Hall in Montego Bay last Saturday night.
(2) Power broker Michele Rollins is having a grand time with the Spring Farm duo of Richard Russell (left) and Trevor Headly.