Jamaican Fiesta heats up the month of May at MLH

There are so many yearly celebrations in Jamaica, Jazz, reggae, Calypso, arts but MLH is proud to inform you that the hotel so celebrates its festival of food starting with a Beach BBQ with Calypso music on 8 May.

Then Cinco de Mayo a festival of great celebration with Mexican food and not forgetting the Tequilas and Margaritas will dawn on 5 May.

The Caribbean cooking style by Chef Michael Wedderburn heats up MLH in from 24 to 29 May 2011 including a Slow Food Night on 28 May on the Paradise Beach. Chef Michael Wedderburn, Executive Chef at the Shakespeare & Company, in Lexington, Kentucky is the Chef under the spotlight. Born and raised in Jamaica, Michael Wedderburn worked as chef in Jamaica. His kitchen career after the cruise lines was Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Buckhead. After two years he joined the Opening Team for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Sarasota, Florida as an Executive Sous chef.  Michael was promoted to Hotel Chef and then was repositioned at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island in 2005 as the Café 4570 restaurant’s Executive Chef. After seven years with the Ritz-Carlton Hotels. In 2006 he joined the Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando, a Loews Hotel, as the Executive Chef. In 2007, he joined Hershey Resorts as the Lodge Executive Chef at the Hershey Lodge. Chef Michael now oversees all banquet operations for the 665-room property with more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space and 10 outlets.  Shakespeare & Company insisted he joins them in 2010 to assist in opening up their first restaurant in the United States. At present Michael is the Executive Chef for Shakespeare & Company Lexington, Kentucky. Chef Michael’s culinary specialties are French, Caribbean and Mediterranean including giant Chili Cook-off inspired food with indeed the Jamaican Jerk.

The real Jamaica jerk is seasoned with a lot of onion, garlic, thyme vinegar, soy sauce pimento, black pepper and lots and lots of scallion and scotch bonnet pepper. In olden days the meat was wrapped in pimento leaves and placed over live coals in the pit on a stick then covered until done. Yes that is exactly how it will be done at MLH, states Chef Wedderburn.

The Winemakers Night on 21 May will allow guests to get up close and personal with the makers of their favourite tipples. From chatting to multi-award-winning winemakers to taste a tailor-made menu to suit palates and moods of the guests at the night, all conjured up by the global chefs of MLH.

8 May 2011 also showcases the Mothers Day Sunday Jazz Brunch with all the trimmings; elegant, classy, affordable, delicious. A ‘Mother’s Day’ to remember indeed. “You’ll dine on a sumptuous menu prepared by MLH’s award-winning culinary team,” states Anura Dewapura, General Manager Mount Lavinia Hotel

A total mex-experience for kids on 22 May at the Paradise Beach from 3.30pm onwards. Fiesta Mexicana is an evening dedicated to kids to learn about celebration: Cinco de Mayo, Mexican Independence Day, Hispanic Heritage Month are just a few occasions to celebrate with a fiesta. Celebration is the epitome of Mexican culture, and the games that will be played at the evening are passed down through generations. Both children and adults play these fiesta games, which are considered a family activity as well as educational. Hence come and enjoy this evening with the whole family: Mexican Hat Dance, crack the Pinata and let the real excitement begin, Native Mexican Kickball, Count the Chips, Spanish Words Game, are just a few of fun events that will take place. Call 2711 430 for further details.