Siebel made his fortune when, after surviving a ship wreck at sea, he came a shore in central America with his money belt still attached to his waist. Using that money Siebel purchased and a diamond mine and made his fortune.
He built Devon House from scratch and with its large white house and converted servants quarters, its remains one of the most imposing parcels of land in Kingston. For several decades this century Devon House housed the National Gallery of Jamaica. These days it’s been converted into a series of dining and lounging spaces that attracts large families as well as those seeking fine dining.
Norma’s on the Terrace at Devon House is run by Norma Shirley, a world renowned chef, and the place has won citations from every culinary magazine you can name. She’s sometimes called the Julia Child of the Caribbean, though she cites her influences more from several English chefs. Either way Norma’s food is a rich, sophisticated take on traditional island fare. I had an avocado salad, curried shrimp and pieces of my dining companion’s goat and fish. Not only is the food heavenly but the atmosphere superb. All the tables are on an outdoor terrace with beautiful lighting, ceiling fans and well-maintained flowers. It’s a colonial setting with people of color not just cooking, but dining as well.
Down the steps from Norma’s is a courtyard with benches that are filled with Jamaicans and couples sampling another feature of Devon House, I Scream! which is a heavy cream desert spot that is packed with folks. Maybe because of Jamaica’s heat, Kingston residents like their ice cream thick and weighty. After two scoops of I Scream, you need to sit down on a Devon House bench and relax.
Sitting in a Devon House courtyard, listening to the sweet poetry of Jamaican patois and watching families and friends telling stories, lets a visitor experience Kingston more like a resident.
