It was dinner under the stars — literally — as James and Jacqueline Lechler played host to an intimate dinner party in celebration of the Jamaica Observer’s Salut! Cater In Week at their St Andrew hillside home last Monday. The mahogany dinner table, dressed by Jamaica Observer Food Awards awardee Audia Archibald, was elegantly set for 12 in the Lechlers’ garden, with the occasional hoot of owls in-between lively conversation.

The Lechlers, directors of the Stewart Motors automotive dynasty, utilised the culinary services of multi-award-winning Executive Chef Dennis McIntosh for the Salut!-themed dinner. McIntosh, the executive chef of the Cardiff Hotel and chairman of the Culinary Federation of Jamaica, impressed appetites. His four-course meal included oven-roasted pumpkin bisque cinnamon cream, smoked and fresh salmon tartare with micro greens and citrus basil oil, grilled tenderloin of beef crumbled blue cheese, lobster thermidor, lobster thermidor and callaloo sausage, seasonal baby vegetables and garlic smashed potatoes.

Post-dinner sweet treats included: Chef’s tasting of chocolate and coffee — a chocolate and coffee mousse, coffee crème brûlée and a guava chocolate truffle. Hand-rolled truffles were served as guests sipped Blue Mountain coffee. We share scenes from the Lechlers’ nod to Salut! (Photos: Garfield Robinson)