A fantastic birthday feast
Published:Friday | July 26, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Executive chef Martin Maginley went into his culinary cap and pulled from it a magical menu for actor Asa Jean's birthday dinner party at the fabulous Round Hill Hotel and Villas.
Maginley who runs the kitchen at the resort, prepared a spectacular dinner for 15 specially selected guests of Jean and his better half, Vanessa Noel, of Vanessa Noel Shoes and chic Nantucket boutique hotel - Vanessa Noel Hotel in the United States.
Noel, who owns one of the villas and refers to herself as a Jamerican, spent most of her summers at Round Hill with her parents while growing up. Today, she is slowly but surely 'Jamericanising' the birthday boy, who was privy to the tastiest oxtail this side of town, the most delicious fried plantains, awesome curried lobster and palate pleasing smoked marlin yam balls.
Teased the taste buds
Maginley teased taste buds with a choice of real Jamaican conch or pumpkin soup, followed by mixed green salad with cherry tomatoes, fresh from the hotel's gardens.
I can still taste the lemon herb dressing, and hear the discerning Novia McDonald-Whyte praising the balsamic, poured from contemporary cuatro jars.
The main course was obviously carefully selected with the preference being boneless curried chicken, seasoned rice, steamed cho cho, steamed fish with pumpkin, roti and papadum.
The evening was topped off with a coconut flavoured layered cake decorated with '7 minute' icing and coconut-flakes for the birthday boy who rules under the sign of the Lion, seated close to the cusp of the crab.