Strawberry Hill – Jamaica
Blue Mountains Jamaica
Guest Authors: Paris Permenter & John Bigley
On every trip to Jamaica, we hit the jerk stands and beach bars for spicy jerk chicken and fresh Jamaican patties. But during each visit, we set aside one meal as a special event, a time to dress up a little, kick back, and enjoy Jamaican cuisine in a setting that doesn’t involve sand.
On a recent visit, we opted to make that special meal out at Strawberry Hill, a boutique hotel and restaurant perched in the Blue Mountains above Kingston. Rising high above the capital city, these lofty peaks are home to the island’s famed Blue Mountain coffee plantations that grow the coffee that sells for as much as $200 a pound in some countries.
The trip, just under an hour, from Kingston quickly moved from the city traffic to switchback roads. As our taxi labored up steep slopes, we said goodbye to the sprawling capital and its urgent, urban rhythms. Heading higher, we plunged into cool mist, finally parking and stepping from the taxi to enjoy the mountains that were quiet except for bird calls.
This was Strawberry Hill, a getaway for many celebrities–Mick Jagger, Melissa Manchester, Robert Palmer, and, models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell—who come to enjoy the resort’s private cottages. It’s also a getaway dining spot for many Kingstonians who come here for Sunday brunch enjoyed in an open-air restaurant 3100 feet above sea level. Kingstonians arrive at the lofty resort in their Sunday best for a relaxing meal high above the city, an escape, even for a few hours, from the hustle and bustle of city life below.
The restaurant, which features a spectacular view of the city in the distance on clear days, features “new Jamaican cuisine.” Dishes such as Jerked Lamb Loin with a Road Garlic Guava Glaze, Mashed Potatoes and Green Plantations, Pan Seared Herb Crusted Grouper Filet with a Chive Mushroom Nage, and Coconut Curried shrimp bring new twists to traditional island food. During our recent lunch on a cool, misty mountain day, we dined on spicy jerked chicken served up with a superb Jamaican curry pumpkin soup.
The restaurant also offers a lighter spa menu. Items such as grilled yellow tail snapper with mushroom tomato broth, herb roasted potatoes, free range grilled chicken breast on a bed of steamed callaloo with peanut wine sauce liven the palate without adding unnecessary calories or fat.
Environmentally-conscious diners can rest easy here; along with its own organic farm, the company also purchases most of its meats and seafood from local vendors. Diners sip a cup of local Blue Mountain coffee, and dine on mangoes from the hotel orchard, entrees flavored with herbs from the garden, and side dishes featuring fruits and vegetables from local farmers.
Thank you so much to my guest authors, Paris Permenter and John Bigley, travel writers, guidebook authors and publishers of JamaicaTripper.com, an online guide to Jamaica vacations. You can follow them on Twitter @JamaicaTripper.
Best Restaurants Jamaica
Websites: Strawberry Hill, JamaicaTripper.com
Strawberry Hill Resort
Irish Town,St Andrew, Jamaica
Tel: (876) 944-8400
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GOOD LUCK,
Joe
http://travel.jomatravel.com
Strawberry Hill,Montego Bay and many designation you can visit in Jamaica. If you want to see the blue mountains you can select the Kingston city. It is the capital of Jamaica, is a tourist class destination on the island. It is located on the east coast of banks and banks, and the high blue mountains, the plains of Liguanea. Red Hills, Kingston Harbor, the Blue Mountains and the mountains surrounding the Long March.