L ast Tuesday evening, at The Courtleigh Corporate Centre Penthouse with its sweeping vistas of Kingston, Friday Social joined hosts Edmund Bartlett, MP and Minister of Tourism, and Kevin Hendrickson, managing director, Jamaica Pegasus hotel, for a formidable dining experience to introduce six UK journalists to the culture of gastronomy in Jamaica. The evening commenced with cocktails and then transitioned into a seven-course meal carefully crafted by the Jamaica Pegasus hotel team — headed by the property’s executive chef Mark Cole — to expose the palates to familiar and not so familiar local culinary offerings.

Over dinner, Minister Bartlett reiterated his ministry’s and by extension the Government of Jamaica’s commitment to gastronomic tourism, with its propensity to make a visitor’s trip a unique one. Gastronomic tourism also places the spotlight on the destination and helps to bolster its good reputation. “Food,” he continued, “has always been the train that has taken people into all sorts of experiences, from deep rural areas to driving people to explore different types of flora and fauna. Food represents a new frontier for our tourism industry, and we are pleased to welcome new visitors and are hoping to attract even more who are seeking unique cultural experiences.”

Minister Bartlett also used the occasion to disclose that CNN

would be coming to Jamaica to place the spotlight on its culinary footprints.

Friday Social shares highlights from the penthouse.