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Showing posts with label Blue Mountain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blue Mountain. Show all posts

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Dining At The Gap Café

The entrance of The Gap Café
Tucked away deep in the Jamaica Blue Mountains is a small cafe called The Gap Café. This quaint rustic restaurant is located in Portland Gap, twenty one miles away from Kingston. However, the journey certainly feels longer as the mountain road to this well elevated restaurant in narrow, windy and is a very rough ride, so you may want to prepare your self mentally for this long drive. Nevertheless, if you are longing for rustic dining in the clean mountain air away from the noises, the hustle and bustle of city life then this journey will worth the trip.

Directions along the winding road.
Milestone at The Gap Café
Driveway to the café from the road
The rustic charm and board structure of this restaurant and cafe definitely blends in with the natural look and feel of it's rural location and is reminiscent of a old country house. It is perched on the side of the mountain overlooking the lush green forrest that carpets the Blue Mountain Range, perfect for that rural dining.
The back balcony or The Gap Café

One of the many plants outside the café
View of Holywell from The Gap Café
Once you enter the cafe you cannot help noticing the blue and white inside of the main inner dining area and lobby is decorated with white and cream furniture with framed pieces of Jamaican history mounted on the blue board walls. If you are looking for even more of a natural rustic dining experience the balcony overlooking the blue mountains will definitely fulfill that desire.

Interior of the café
Interior of the café
The food was pretty good, and I especially enjoyed the oxtail which was season to the bone, full of flavour and the meat fell right off the bone with stroke of a knife. My dinner date had a variation of Chicken Cordon Bleu, chicken breast stuffed with callaloo and cheese.

Chicken Cordon Bleu with Rice and Peas
Oxtail with Rice and Peas

My highlight of the evening though was the French Pressed Blue Mountain Coffee which was absolutely delicious with that wonderful freshly brewed coffee aroma. We had it with a slice of chocolate cake which was not as wonderful as I had hoped but definitely the coffee made my day.

French Press Blue Mountain Coffee
French Press Blue Mountain Coffe and chocolate cake
If you are looking for a good drive out in the hills on a Sunday evening and want to dine in a rustic country atmosphere then The Gap Café is worth a try. And be sure to end your evening with some French Pressed Blue Mountain Coffee!


Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Strawberry Hill Explored

The View of Kingston from the Poolside at Strawberry Hill
If someone should ask me to tell them of a place with lush beauty and a breathtaking view of the mountains and of a distant city, only one place would come to mind, Strawberry Hill Hotel and Spa. Strawberry Hill Hotel and Spa is nestled in the beautiful and lush mountain range called the Blue Mountains, dubbed by that name due to it's blue appearance when viewed from a distance. This unique location offers a breathtaking view of the majestic blue mountains on one side but also a splendid view of the the entire city of Kingston and St. Andrew below. This wonderful view that Strawberry Hill offers, gives a gentle reminder of the modern city life that rests below it's feet yet it shows how far removed you are in the mountains experiencing peace and tranquility.

Breathtaking view of the Blue Mountains
An amazing view is not all that Strawberry Hill Hotel and Spa has to offer. The hotel boasts a rustic, yet refined appeal with its nicely constructed wooden buildings. The old Georgian architecture complements the remote and scenic location an both blend well to create the atmosphere of Strawberry hill. It's the kind of environment that takes you back in time and gives you that real sense of being tucked away in a rural cabin far away from the anxieties of the modern world. Each cabin and even the main building are all build with balconies that boast views that are nothing short of wonderful and relaxing. But Strawberry Hill is by no means cut off from the conveniences of modern life as it offers visitors the means to stay connected to the outside world with cable television and wifi high speed internet for those who just have to stay connected. Another amenity that this hotel offeres, is one of its trademarks, the gorgeous infinity pool that overlooks the entire city of Kingston and St. Andrew that sits below the edge of the pool. Now apart from getting a massage to calming music and  relaxing aromatic scents in a relaxing atmosphere, chilling in an infinity pool in the mountains overlooking the city way below is the next best thing!

Famous Strawberry Hill infinity pool overlooking Kingston
No hotel or resort would be complete without what all of us crave, delicious and appealing meals that tantalize our tastebuds. Strawberry Hill Hotel and Spa offers a variety of such tastebud seducers that are a mix of local, international and dishes fused from the two. From chef prepared and appealingly plated meals to mouth watering morsels fresh from the smoke on the grill, the hotel offers a range of dishes to supply the hungry guests with tasty meals to satisfy their cravings.

Culinary delights served at Strawberry Hill
The view of Kingston from Strawberry Hill at dusk
Old Georgian architecture of the buildings on the property
The relaxing view from one of the many balconies at Strawberry Hill
Strawberry Hill is just what the doctor ordered if you are in need of rest and relaxation in a calming, peaceful atmosphere or if you are looking for that wonderful serene location to celebrate your nuptials with your family and friends. Scenic views, an old time Jamaica charm, relaxing atmosphere and good food, all that is needed to make you appreciate life a little more.

For more photos of Strawberry Hill please visit the album HERE and remember to "Like" my page!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Cafe Blue On The Mountain

Cafe Blue Irish Town
Recently I went up to Strawberry Hills on an assignment, however, I made a stop at Cafe Blue for a good cup of the original Blue Mountain Coffee. Being an avid coffee lover I could not let the opportunity to enjoy the taste of freshly brewed Blue Mountain coffee go by without firmly and eagerly seizing it. What better way to enjoy that flavour and aroma than to go to the Cafe Blue that's closest to the source, Cafe Blue Irish Town.

Cafe Blue located along the main road through Irish Town
The Irish Town location is quite a bit of a drive away from the hustle and bustle of the city of Kingston along very rough, narrow and winding roads. This location is definitely not the Cafe Blue to go to for a quick cup of Java, rather it's a must stop is you are heading up into the Blue Mountains. It's perched on a hillside along the main road running through the rural community called Irish Town.The original and first Cafe Blue location opened by the parent company Coffee Traders Ltd, carries a somewhat rustic charm and a relaxed atmosphere, qualities that befit its location in the hills of the Blue Mountains.

The interior of Cafe Blue Irish Town
Coffee machine used to brew fresh Blue Mountain coffee
This quaint coffee shop serves up several mixes of coffee beverages guaranteed to tantalize the tastebuds of any coffee lover. However, they are not just limited to coffee, but they offer tasty cakes and pastry that go well with the smooth taste of the world famous Blue Mountain coffee. It's definitely worth the stop if it's even for a few minutes, which might turn to a few hours on the terrace if you have good company. If you just can't satisfy with a cup or two of that wonderful Blue Mountain coffee you can take some with you as the Cafe Blue offers a wide variety of wonderfully packaged Blue Mountain coffe as well as coffee mugs for the true Blue Mountain coffe enthusiast.

My cup of coffee which I enjoyed on the terrace at Cafe Blue
Tasty pastry and cakes at cafe Blue
Several types of roasted coffee available for purchase
Coffee Mugs for the trie Blue Mountain Coffee lovers
So if you are in the area of Irish Town, going to Strawberry Hills or even to Holywell and you love coffee then Cafe Blue is a must stop for that Java craving!