Not being a vegetarian, i was most skeptical when my coworker, who is a Rastarfarian, ital living guy insisted I try Livity, after seeing my atrocious eating habits.I have to admit, I am a loyal fast food eater, even though i cant stand it most times. But its fast and thats what makes it easier for me to buy it and put in my mouth.
But considering that I have gained 10 pounds just by eating the nonesense, I decided to try something different.
I ordered a veggie chili wrap and a cream of pumpkin soup from livity. They delivered in about 10 minutes and it was easy i didnt have to walk the block like i usually do , to get my lunch.
First bite was incredible. The blend of hot pepper chilli with a surprise of plantain sweetness underneath had my mouth watering. The wholesome goodness of the mix of veggies with the sauce was enough to keep me wanting more. And it was filling!
It kept me sustained for most of the afternoon, so i didnt taste the soup until early evening. It was a bit bland, not your typical cream of pumpking but then its a vegetarian restuarant, so i suppose that is understandable.
All in all, the service was reliable, the presentation was good. and the taste was incredible. I would order from there again. The only problem i have is the price. It came up to $540. But then I suppose, its better to pay more for good,healthy food than to pay $250 for a burger.
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LIVITY : Will convert the meat eater
FOOD BOREDOM
I was commenting to Susie of Susie's Bakery that I am getting really bored with food. After speaking with her I realise that it could be a common problem with people in the food preparation business.
I am what is considered to be a semi-vegetarian, that is, I eat fish, shrimp, conch, lobster and cheese. That is pretty much it. Whereas to the general populace this might be luxury food to me it has become pedestrian. As a result I try to come up with wild and wacky recipes to excite my taste buds.
I find that I don't really like to cook for myself, so I guess that might be part of the problem. But let me want to cook for a group of people and that's when I get creative. Out comes the Roast Pork Leg stuffed with mashed potatoes, prunes and soaked in Yellow Tail Shiraz and white rum. Or Lobster grilled over river stones and sugar cane and white rum. Or the Tia Maria Roast Chicken.
I have found that if I want company on a Saturday, I don't have to make a call. All I have to do is put on a pot with soup, dip into my garden and pull up a few leaves of French Thyme and without even a phone call my house is full.
I get excited about seeing my friends enjoying the food that I have prepared, watching them take bets as to whether or not I have tasted the meat (as I said - vegetarian) and asking me if I am sure that I am not a carnivore in hiding.
Sadly for myself, I find that eating is really more of a necessary function than an adventure. Perhaps that is why I enjoy camp food. When those guys prepare roast breadfruit and fish run down over an open fire, after walking a few miles - it is a joy to consume. I think perhaps it is because I did not prepare it myself. I guess I just want to be pampered as much as I am willing to pamper.
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WILD JERK - wild game comes from the bush once per month.
Wild Jerk is a monthly event hosted by Gina Rey Forest of Forest Fire Productions on the last Friday of each month. The inaugural event was hosted at Lyme Key Restaurant (Forest Fire’s home base) at 2a Chelsea Avenue I July and was met with great success (for a first time event). Tickets were pre-sold as Jerked Wild Pork is apparently a delicacy and customers did not want to be left out of this opportunity.
The event will be held at different locations each month – primarily in the St Catherine and Kingston areas. Each Wild Jerk will feature a “special pot” – for example – Honey Rum Roast Ribs or in the case of the last one at Angels Plaza – Corn Pork Soup.
There are plans afoot to introduce other wild game on Wild Jerk Nights. To read about adventures during the hunts and the camping experience visit www.ffpchronicles.blogspot.com. Please feel free to leave your comments. If you would like to be added to the mailing list for Wild Jerk or Extreme Camps please feel free to contact me at ginarey@gmail.com
Gina Rey Forest is a poet, photographer and adventurer. She is also the owner of Forest Fire Productions (Entertainment outside the box)
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Free WiFi + non traditional being space influencing Dining Decisions.
Kingston,Jamaica - Great food and technology helps drive my businesses. As a tech entrepreneur whose office is a Macbook plus two phones, one Digicel and a My Virtual Office phone works locally and on which my Miami and Atlanta numbers ring , wifi..wireless internet is crucial…whether at home, in the small office or wherever I decide to work from that day. The fact is where I have breakfast and lunch especially tends to be heavily influenced by where has free and consistent wifi (wireless internet) and of course good food…I seldom have time or inclination to cook anymore. For me there are not enough places in Kingston that offers free wifi, food and drink and comfortable non traditional cool work space and there’s a heavy and ready market for it.
The digital lifestyle is here and growing fast, among young entrepreneurs, young professionals, expatriates and of course college students - who are connected to work and school via laptops, cell phones and wireless internet access. These road warriors and members of the blossoming digerati need more places to get things done.
Now there are a few places in Kingston that I know of most I have tried. There is Cannonball café’s two locations- New Kingston and Loshushan Plaza, Susie’s two locations- Southdale Plaza and Orchid village, Cuddyz in New Kingston, Haagen Daz also in Losushan, Café What’s On at Devon House, Christopher’s Jazz Café, Game Yaad, Indie’s Pub and Grill. The latter four I’ve not tested for wifi access, good food and comfi space.
From the others I’ve road tested the two places that come out on top are Susie’s and Cuddyz. Susie’s wifi is consistent at both locations and I’ve been there for early Saturday morning breakfast at the Liguanea branch or lingering late lunch at the Barbican Branch. I love Cuddyz, where else can you on a Saturday night and see a group of laptop lingerers in a corner surfing, sipping, nibbling and chatting. The catch with Cuddyz WIFI is you can’t use it from it’s very popular booths, it’s limited to the bar area nearest the mall side entry where the signal is strongest.
The digital lifestyle is growing fast and the food and beverage industry can tap into it a number of ways. I say all this to let more eateries and food and beverage marketers know that there is a need for this kind of service and space. How about a food or beverage brand like Red Bull opening up such a place, branding it, offering REdBull and it’s complimentary drinks and food, freewifi, comfi chairs, sofas, sell merchandise and others of it’s partners, plus all the digital gadgets one could stand, even a mini meeting space, but most importantly letting the people determine the rhythm of the place – make all feel welcome and stressless even if they don’t even buy a toothpick. Someone please, steal this idea.
Ingrid Riley, is a tech entrepreneur with interests in three businesses, her latest venture is The Caribbean Foodie Network which connects uses email and mobile to connect people who love great food and people who offer great food. Caribbean Foodie Network launch date is Wednesday July 25, 2007.Email her:ingridriley-at-yahoo.com
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