While our star athletes continued to mine gold in Moscow and make Jamaica proud, a different team was just three-and-a-half hours away displaying their culinary skills in France.
Last week Thursday, we gave you the background to our summer project in France called Straight from Yaad — A Taste of Jamaica. We left off our short story at the point of decision — Go or No Go for the Friday night festival.
Belgian Nicole Thissen (right) was in full Jamaican gear as she paused for a photo with Lorraine Fung.
Does this suit me? That’s what Anna-Kay ‘Miss T’ seemed to be saying as we visited a number of artisans in Le Marais.
The 13th-century castle that now houses Château Fontesteau was home to our culinary team while we were in Pauillac, Bordeaux, France for the 16th Annual Reggae Sun Ska Festival. Winemaker and Château proprietor Dominique Fouin (centre) raised a flag for his Jamaican guests that included Chef Anna-Kay Tomlinson of Miss T’s Kitchen, Ocho Rios (2nd left) and hubby Dr Osmond Tomlinson (left), ace caterer Lorraine Fung and G’s BBQ Chef/Patron Gariel Ferguson.
Out on the town in Bordeaux saw us ending the night at a wine bar called Aux Quatre Coins du Vin. Owner Chloé Allano (right) spent some time with the Straight from Yaad team: Anna-Kay Tonlinson, hubby Dr Osmond Tomlinson, Lorraine Fung and Gariel Ferguson.
We conceived it, believed it and achieved it — Wolmerians Chris Reckord (left) and Sam Clayton Jr, a day after the event. The idea was conceptualised after a meeting last December, over a few glasses of wine at Bin 26.
We got some time to relax in Paris after the festival and found this unusual perfume shop called The Different Company that uses wine glasses to sample the fragrances. Sweet!
Chris Reckord paused for a photo with Jennifer Poirier, coowner of quiet and peaceful Résidence Les Gobelins, which served as home to the Straight from Yaad crew in Paris. Poirier, a happy and jovial Jamaican living in Paris for over 30 years, was more than happy to take some time to show us places only a Parisian insider would know where to find.
We took a peep outside of the VIP kitchen to see Gentleman on the stage performing in front of 30,000 patrons.
Hon Damion Crawford (centre), minister of state in the Ministry of Tourism & Entertainment, with members of the Third World Band AJ Brown and ‘Cat’ Coore. (PHOTOS: CHRISTOPHER RECKORD)
These French kids were having a blast waving their newly acquired Jamaican flags around.
Dr Osmond Tomlinson has a little fun with La Tour Eiffel
The very first wine that we tasted as we entered the festival grounds was the 2008 Château Liouner. At the festival site, no one cares what you drink the wine from, as long as you are drinking Bordeaux.
Friday Shutdown
When our team arrived at the festival site on Friday morning ready for the first day of work, we were greeted by a number of the organisers of the event who were all in a very sombre mood. The regional authorities had just informed them of another impending storm; with the devastation of the previous weekend still fresh in everyone's mind, the Friday night festival was cancelled. Our team, focused on the job at hand, took to the kitchen and did all the required preparation for the rice & peas, chicken, pork, and roast fish for the next two days, because the Saturday and Sunday shows were still on.
Jamaican Menu Outsells French Menu
The main stage shows began at around 4:00 pm, the VIP restaurant was opened at 7:00 pm. On both nights, the Jamaican menu outsold the French menus during long periods. Many visitors to the VIP area were very interested in trying what the Jamaicans has to offer. Three days of food was finished in two days; first to go was the roast fish, then the jerk pork ran out. Soon the rice and peas ran out. The only reason we had some jerk chicken left was that one small pre-seasoned batch was partly hidden in the storage.
My challenge — Bordeaux Wine & Jamaican Food
The festival was over and it was time to exhale.
Château Fontesteau winemaker and proprietor Dominique Fouin sat with us and gave us some open, honest feedback. One important challenge he put to me was how to pair Bordeaux wines successfully with Jamaican food. For a good food and wine experience, the wine should taste just how the winemaker intended, and the food should taste just how the chef intended. The intention is for a delicate but well-choreographed dance between each sip of wine and each taste of food — none overpowering the other. We have put a Bordeaux wine and Jamaican plan in place for 2014.
Giving Thanks
A very special thanks to the chefs and their organisations who made the investment to make the trip to France a reality: Catering by Lorraine - Lorraine Fung; Miss T's Kitchen - Anna-Kay Tomlinson; G's BBQ - Gariel Ferguson. The team would also like to thank Sean Garbutt and Walkerswood Caribbean Foods for their support. We also thank JAMPRO and the OPM for the giveaway items.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we thank the Reggae Sun Ska team, especially Arnaud Bengochea and our Jamaican connection Sam Clayton Jr, for making this all possible and hosting us in Bordeaux.
One thing is for sure: Jamaica is a cultural Superpower!
Christopher Reckord - Businessman, Entrepreneur & Wine Enthusiast. Send your questions and comments to creckord@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter: @Reckord
Last week Thursday, we gave you the background to our summer project in France called Straight from Yaad — A Taste of Jamaica. We left off our short story at the point of decision — Go or No Go for the Friday night festival.
Belgian Nicole Thissen (right) was in full Jamaican gear as she paused for a photo with Lorraine Fung.
Does this suit me? That’s what Anna-Kay ‘Miss T’ seemed to be saying as we visited a number of artisans in Le Marais.
The 13th-century castle that now houses Château Fontesteau was home to our culinary team while we were in Pauillac, Bordeaux, France for the 16th Annual Reggae Sun Ska Festival. Winemaker and Château proprietor Dominique Fouin (centre) raised a flag for his Jamaican guests that included Chef Anna-Kay Tomlinson of Miss T’s Kitchen, Ocho Rios (2nd left) and hubby Dr Osmond Tomlinson (left), ace caterer Lorraine Fung and G’s BBQ Chef/Patron Gariel Ferguson.
Out on the town in Bordeaux saw us ending the night at a wine bar called Aux Quatre Coins du Vin. Owner Chloé Allano (right) spent some time with the Straight from Yaad team: Anna-Kay Tonlinson, hubby Dr Osmond Tomlinson, Lorraine Fung and Gariel Ferguson.
We conceived it, believed it and achieved it — Wolmerians Chris Reckord (left) and Sam Clayton Jr, a day after the event. The idea was conceptualised after a meeting last December, over a few glasses of wine at Bin 26.
We got some time to relax in Paris after the festival and found this unusual perfume shop called The Different Company that uses wine glasses to sample the fragrances. Sweet!
Chris Reckord paused for a photo with Jennifer Poirier, coowner of quiet and peaceful Résidence Les Gobelins, which served as home to the Straight from Yaad crew in Paris. Poirier, a happy and jovial Jamaican living in Paris for over 30 years, was more than happy to take some time to show us places only a Parisian insider would know where to find.
We took a peep outside of the VIP kitchen to see Gentleman on the stage performing in front of 30,000 patrons.
Hon Damion Crawford (centre), minister of state in the Ministry of Tourism & Entertainment, with members of the Third World Band AJ Brown and ‘Cat’ Coore. (PHOTOS: CHRISTOPHER RECKORD)
These French kids were having a blast waving their newly acquired Jamaican flags around.
Dr Osmond Tomlinson has a little fun with La Tour Eiffel
The very first wine that we tasted as we entered the festival grounds was the 2008 Château Liouner. At the festival site, no one cares what you drink the wine from, as long as you are drinking Bordeaux.
              Belgian Nicole Thissen (right) was in full Jamaican gear as she paused for a photo with Lorraine Fung. #slideshowtoggler, #slideshowtoggler a, #slideshowtoggler img {filter:none !important;zoom:normal !important}  1/12  |
Friday Shutdown
When our team arrived at the festival site on Friday morning ready for the first day of work, we were greeted by a number of the organisers of the event who were all in a very sombre mood. The regional authorities had just informed them of another impending storm; with the devastation of the previous weekend still fresh in everyone's mind, the Friday night festival was cancelled. Our team, focused on the job at hand, took to the kitchen and did all the required preparation for the rice & peas, chicken, pork, and roast fish for the next two days, because the Saturday and Sunday shows were still on.
Jamaican Menu Outsells French Menu
The main stage shows began at around 4:00 pm, the VIP restaurant was opened at 7:00 pm. On both nights, the Jamaican menu outsold the French menus during long periods. Many visitors to the VIP area were very interested in trying what the Jamaicans has to offer. Three days of food was finished in two days; first to go was the roast fish, then the jerk pork ran out. Soon the rice and peas ran out. The only reason we had some jerk chicken left was that one small pre-seasoned batch was partly hidden in the storage.
My challenge — Bordeaux Wine & Jamaican Food
The festival was over and it was time to exhale.
Château Fontesteau winemaker and proprietor Dominique Fouin sat with us and gave us some open, honest feedback. One important challenge he put to me was how to pair Bordeaux wines successfully with Jamaican food. For a good food and wine experience, the wine should taste just how the winemaker intended, and the food should taste just how the chef intended. The intention is for a delicate but well-choreographed dance between each sip of wine and each taste of food — none overpowering the other. We have put a Bordeaux wine and Jamaican plan in place for 2014.
Giving Thanks
A very special thanks to the chefs and their organisations who made the investment to make the trip to France a reality: Catering by Lorraine - Lorraine Fung; Miss T's Kitchen - Anna-Kay Tomlinson; G's BBQ - Gariel Ferguson. The team would also like to thank Sean Garbutt and Walkerswood Caribbean Foods for their support. We also thank JAMPRO and the OPM for the giveaway items.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we thank the Reggae Sun Ska team, especially Arnaud Bengochea and our Jamaican connection Sam Clayton Jr, for making this all possible and hosting us in Bordeaux.
One thing is for sure: Jamaica is a cultural Superpower!
Christopher Reckord - Businessman, Entrepreneur & Wine Enthusiast. Send your questions and comments to creckord@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter: @Reckord
