'One of the finest restaurants in MoBay'

Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Over the years, Restaurant Week ambassador Omar Robinson has recommended Montego Bay's Houseboat to many of his Round Hill guests. Yet, he had never been there.

"I can tell you where the live lobsters are kept under the floor in this restaurant, yet I have never set foot here. Why? Everyone who eats here comes back with great stories about the food and the setting," Robinson, who dined at the RW delectable restaurant last Friday night, tells Food.

In tow was his best buddy, Rosemarie Johnson, regional manager of the Jamaica Tourist Board.

While Hurricane Sandy had created havoc elsewhere, the lagoons at Montego Freeport, where Houseboat is located, hardly felt any impact of the tempestuous storm.

Last Friday was a night to explore the magic woven by the fingers of chef Joseph Stephens, who created a grilled snapper, served with steamed vegetables and a mouth-watering tenderloin of beef, accompanied by a flavourful sauce of cracked pepper demi-glacé, sautéed onions, glazed carrots and nut brown butter mashed potatoes, in what Robinson describes as a very romantic setting.

"The atmosphere is absolutely romantic, and I am here with somebody else's wife, which gives it more intrigue," he quipped.

As he dug into the snapper, it became even more apparent that Robinson, a man who lives and manages one of the island's most fabulous and elegant resorts, the Round Hill Hotel and Villas, was feeling very special. "This is really special, it's the perfect place to take someone special," he notes.

"The fact that you are facing the ocean sitting at any table, is just fantastic," he continued, still in awe, adding that the lights hugging the hills of Montego Bay were a nice contrast to the secluded lagoons.

Turning to his food he notes, "The texture of the fish is fresh, light, the vegetables are nicely grilled and crispy". And although the Tai sauce used by the chef had curry in it, this gave the food an exotic taste.

His partner in food, Rosemarie Johnson, was just as captivated by her meal, "Beef tenderloin is my favourite meal," she admitted, before carefully staking her knife and fork into what seemed like a tender piece of meat.

Both friends paired their meals with Robert Mondavi's private collection and one glass of wine each was not enough for the two.

Earlier, Rosemarie Johnson had ordered a dish many Restaurant Week diners must look out for on the Houseboat menu, 'Black and White sesame crusted savoury lobster cake - an appetiser, pickled with ginger and roasted red pepper, mayonnaise, red cabbage and slow miso vinaigrette.

For dessert, the two ordered sinfully delicious warm molten chocolate with Chantilly cream.

"Houseboat is simply one of the finest restaurants in Montego Bay," notes the RW ambassador.

Need we say more?

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com