Jamaica Food & Drink Festival’s Cooking + Cocktails series

Jamaica Food and Drink Festival is on a mission to breathe life back into Kingston’s gastronomy scene with an innovative culinary series dubbed Cooking + Cocktails. Set to be staged at JA Food & Drink Kitchen – the festival’s new state-of-the-art foodie haven at Progressive Shopping Centre at 24 Barbican Road – this novel and interactive series promises to be a treat. And with local DJs set to keep the energy high as guests enjoy intimate chef-guided classes, patrons are destined to safely revive their appetite for fun.

From start to finish, sushi devotees will have the opportunity to make the traditional Japanese dish at Let’s Roll, where a chef from Rainforest Seafoods will teach guests how to make three types of sushi, while Johnnie Walker’s mixologist leads a hands-on tutorial, culminating in two delightful libations.

Those with a sweet tooth can learn and indulge at Bean to Bar, sponsored by the Tourism Enhancement Fund and the Tourism Linkages Network, where Wouter Tjeertes and Rennae Johnson of The Pure Chocolate Company will teach you how to make three desserts using local Jamaican chocolate, followed by a personal mixology lesson featuring Cognac.

Board – Ohh is set to transform guests into great hosts. Learning how to curate the perfect charcuterie board from Trudi Hamilton of Trudi Alexis Design Studio, guests will combine a variety of cheeses, meats and other delicious toppings on a board while sipping on Spanish wines from Select Brands. Added bonus? The boards are yours to keep.

Tipsy Tacos brings Tex Mex and Tequila together as Chef Samantha George will teach how to make three delicious tacos while you discover exciting new tequila cocktails that will elevate any Tex Mex meal.

Get your vegetable fix at It’s Veggies, So What with Jacqui Sinclair, also known as ‘JuicyChef’, alongside Chef Alex D’Great, where you will be taught how to make three delicious vegetarian dishes.

All Ale’ D’Grill has Roast Meats grill master, Simon Levy, sharing his secrets. This interactive class gives you the chance to create your own sauce, secret rubs and grill your favourite meats and veggies to perfection. Grilling and beer go hand in hand, so Heineken will be on site to teach you how to create a few beer cocktails to pair with your dishes.

For more information, head to www.jafoodanddrink.com and on Instagram at @jafoodanddrink.