Sister-duo finds The Alchemy in ‘brunchified’ fanfare

The mouthwatering decadence of savoury and sweet notes, basking in the blissful melody of a floral fantasy fit for the ‘Gram et al. That’s the magic, beauty, and memory two sisters dreamed of creating Kingston’s hidden gem, The Alchemy.

Located in Northside Plaza at Liguanea, the Instagrammable cafe presents a chic floral aesthetic and a ‘brunchified’ fanfare geared towards satisfying the appetites of breakfast and lunchtime lovers throughout the day.

“We mainly do pancakes and French toast. Our American breakfast-style pancakes come with scrambled eggs and crispy bacon is a favourite. Our top-selling French toast is the ‘Take me to Italy’, which is a sweet brioche French toast, fresh blueberries, and strawberries, topped with Devon House vanilla ice cream and maple syrup on the side. And then there’s the cookies and dreams, pancakes with crushed oreos and cookies and cream ice cream and a white chocolate sauce,” Janel Edwards told Food. I’ve never been to Italy before, but if Italy tastes like those refreshingly sweet bites that I had, then take me there!

Some customers come in expecting a Jamaican menu. But once they have a taste of the offerings, according to Edwards, they are impressed.

And to honour the science theme of the restaurant, the shots are served in test tubes, beakers, and conco flasks, as well as smokey drinks. There are popular cocktails like the mad scientist, passion fruit martini, dairy dreams, and French 75, which come with a cotton candy cloud.

Edwards explained that she and her sister, Shanique Smith, have always had a great relationship with food. “We are always going out. We always find a reason to go out, whether it’s to celebrate a milestone, special occasion, or for ‘just because’ purposes.”

After being actively involved in hospitality and studying the sciences at university, the dining duo decided to merge the two by opening a restaurant, “We opened on the 31st of December last year and the response has been awesome. It’s a new place so there have been ups and downs, but so far, so good. People are fascinated by the science aspect as well as the decor. People take out their phones to take pictures and videos; it is really an interactive experience” They were expecting January to be a slow season, after the Christmas rush, but it was just the opposite.

The eatery has gone viral several times on social media for its exquisite botanical decor, delicious meals, and science-driven drinks. Persons are excited to strut in stunningly, capturing the timeless moments and sharing them for others to see. “Our target audience is the ‘girlies’ who love to dress up, come out and show off. We do get romantic dates as well.”

“Because we are new and this our first business and our first physical location, it is interesting feeding into Jamaica’s culture. Every obstacle we face, we try to go back to the drawing board, taking reviews from our customers and learning on the journey.”

Here’s a fun fact about the petalled ambience that everyone raves about Edwards and Smith are responsible for executing the decor by hand. “My sister and I did every ounce of decoration. We wanted it to be done correctly because, for us, presentation is key. We look nothing like other restaurants that are currently in Jamaica. When my sister and I go out, the first thing we look at is the aesthetics; is it giving? We made everything aesthetically appealing so that our customers can have Instagrammable moments from every angle. No need to wait for a cue. Anywhere you sit, you can get a beautiful photo,” she said.

With plans already under way to give back to the local community, particularly St Catherine High School and students looking to study stem cell research, the duo also tell us they want to expand to other locations where they will be able to provide a dinner experience.

So what can you expect from The Alchemy: a truly exciting experience. The owners are happy for constructive feedback as they aim to serve the very best in customer service, so be sure to share your thoughts. And to my honeys in heels: be prepared. There are several stairs to climb before you arrive at the gorgeous destination, so if you’re not about the step life in that footwear, bring a pair of flat sandals with you for the climb or wear them instead.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com