( L - R ) Edwards, Issa, Pouyatt, Jarrett
Oh my dears, we are definitely in the season of fabness with all kinds of social goodies happening from laid-back and picturesque Port Antonio, to the multi-tiered beauty and enchantment of glorious Negril. It's all about the beautiful people, the chic and, of course, the uber-rich!
Well my daahlings, to begin with, it's Europe for the summer for Round Hill habitues David Holland and his drop-dead gorgeous wife, Fenella Kennedy Holland. The absolutely fab couple kick off their European holidays in fab London, before returning to Jamaica late July.
And it's Las Vegas for the prince of style and designer extraordinaire Bill Edwards, and his companion Janet Farrow, as they head off to celebrate his 45th birthday!
And speaking of fab people and birthdays: birthday wishes to that great lady of style, the Jordanian born international 'A-crowder' and matriarch of the SuperClubs clan, the tres elegant Aida Issa. The oh-so-fab and devoted wife of hotel magnate, the illustrious John Issa, will celebrate her birthday this Sunday, June 21.
Daahlings, no fluff here, just style, substance and an unimpeachable belief of the sanctity of family. So no surprises here, come Sunday, as it will be a family only celebration and nothing but!
Belated birthday wishes to the lovely Shielle Lee, the daughter of nubian prince Dennis Lee and his fab wife Annemarie Lee, who celebrated her special day on June 8 with the partying in Toronto, Canada.
Then fab belated wishes to the lovely Kathy Owens, who celebrated her birthday on Saturday the 13th in Spain. The buzz is it was all that and then some!
In Washington, DC, however, it was Brent Ciurlino who was the man of the moment on Tuesday of this week, as the international financial adviser celebrated his birthday on the June 16.
Garth Williams will celebrate his day on Saturday the 19th.
Steven Pottinger of Hedonism III also celebrates on Sunday the 21st.
And Paul Morrison will celebrate his special day next Thursday, June 25.
Many happy returns y'all, with champagne toasts and caviar treats!
Then my dears, if y'all have not yet got tickets to the annual JamDammers Party Marathon, then luvs, kick yourselves as the annual event kicks of tomorrow night near fashionable Manor Park, at 1A Olivier Road, on the spacious grounds of the American International School. Organisers promise a mega party and fab-fest!
Well pumpkins, if past JamDammers parties are anything to judge by, and this here scribe say they are, then y'all know that all guests at this annual event will be in for a treat and then some!
Pumpkins, we are talking a celebrity packed here, not to mention Kingston's reigning beautiful people and some of the hottest athletic stars, all in attendance and partying like rock stars!
And my daahlings, with Andrew Henry's Renegade Disco providing the party music, y'all know it's simply a must-attend. Not only will it be a party with good music, it's also about raising funds for the JamDammers road race series, as well as the internationally renowned Negril Reggae Marathon. And luvs, the new mantra is all about partying for a cause!
Classical Evening
On Monday evening, however, the lovers of classical music will be heading to the University Chapel, Mona, for a classical interlude billed as 'A Classical Evening with Sonya Headman', soprano - and being presented by well-known Jamaican theatre aficionado, Gerald 'Buddy' Pouyatt, and Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), under the patronage of Earl Jarrett, general manager of JNBS.
My dears, the affair is the only talk in polite circles as the America-based soprano is the reported niece of the iconic Rex Nettleford, and so the event is the being touted by culture mavens as the classical do of the season.
Luvs, more anon, as this promises to be a celebration of Headman's talent and heritage and then some!
Grand Lido
Then my daahlings, it's that time of the year again when oenophiles everywhere, and those with that appreciation for the finer dishes of the culinary world, all look to Jamaica, and the Grand Lido Negril Resort and Spa, for that annual treat, known and celebrated internationally as the best wine and food event this side of the world, bar none!
Dears, we are talking about the annual staging of the 10th annual Grand Lido Negril Epicurean Escape - the five-day event which commences on Wednesday, June 24, and culminate on Saturday, June 28, with a gala dinner, all at the Grand Lido Negril.
Sweet things, to commemorate the anniversary, the organisers of the event have put together a celebrity-packed list of guest chefs and sommeliers from all over the globe. This will add texture and character to the event that will translate into an absolute and total treat. Headlining the list of who's who of the world of culinaria who will be in attendance are: Darren McGrady, dubbed 'The Royal Chef', who spent 11 years cooking for the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace, and four years as private chef to Diana Princess of Wales and her family at Kensington Palace. McGrady published his first cookbook, Eating Royally, and is currently a private chef in Dallas, where he also teaches cooking classes.
Kerry Simon, a victorious contender on the Food Network's 'Iron Chef America'; Nikki Cascone is the chef and co-owner of 24 Prince in New York. Influenced by her Italian background but not restricted to any one particular cuisine, Cascone has a penchant to experiment with flavours and ingredients from all over the world. Marie-Chantal Lesage of Quebec's Le Chateau Bonne Entente is not only an esteemed chef, but also an inspiration for budding at-home gourmets.
Rounding out the carte du jour are Wendy Jordan and Mary Clarke, chef instructors at Le Cordon Bleu Las Vegas; Jean-Francois Bonnet, executive pastry chef at Tumbador Chocolate, New York (formerly of renowned NYC restaurant Daniel); Bertrand Chemel, executive chef at 2941 of Falls Church, Virginia (formerly of Café Boulud in New York); Michael Jordan, co-owner and chef of Rosemary's Las Vegas; and Mario Machado of the now-closed Mac's Chop House in Kingston, Jamaica.
The bibulous set won't be disappointed as sommeliers at this year's event include returning wine experts Jason Quinn, head sommelier at PRIME Las Vegas, and Anthony Giglio, a wine educator who has penned a number of wine guides and articles for Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure and Esquire. Also on tap are Robert Bigelow, master sommelier of DeLuca Liquor & Wine in Las Vegas, Michael A. Jordan, general manager and master sommelier of Napa Rose located at Disneyland's Grand Californian Hotel, and Jamaica's local wine enthusiast, Christopher Reckford.
Darlings, this here scribe is already drooling in anticipation of what promises to be a truly first-class outing, with the glorious beaches of the Grand Lido Resort and Spa, and the other amenities and facilities of the resort, providing the purr-fect backdrop, for five days and nights of fun, sun and exquisite dining and pleasurable wines, to crown it all!
Dears, it's all about the Grand Lido Resort and Spa Epicurean Escape next week and nothing but, so let the festivities begin!