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    Celebrating the Flavors and Fun of Jamaica

    June 13, 2020 by Debbie 2 Comments

    We spent an evening with all the flavors and fun of Jamaica. Come along with us and find out how to have your own tropical party!

    We spent an evening with all the flavors and fun of Jamaica. Come along with us and find out how to have your own tropical party!

    Choosing The Flavors and Fun of Jamaica as a theme for our Great 8 dinner was an easy pick. My parents always loved to travel and the Caribbean was their place of choice, any and every island.

    Luckily for my sisters and me, we “HAD” to go with them! Our vacations were always someplace tropical and only during the summer.

    Heaven forbid we missed school! A different island every year…it was easy to get used to!

    Deciding the Theme

    After several visits with and without my sisters and me, my parents, unbeknownst to us, were choosing their favorite island for a vacation home. 

    Jamaica won their hearts and Ocho Rios was the town they chose. A beautiful spot on the northern coast of the island.

    With such friendly people, sunny beaches, tropical breezes and amazing food, I knew Jamaica would be a fun theme for an upcoming Great 8 dinner party. Celebrating the flavors and fun of Jamaica, off we go!

    The flag of Jamaica made of paper.

    Invitation Creation

    I’ve always said that once the theme is decided, the rest is so much fun to pull together! For me especially, the invitation design is always my favorite part!

    One of the perks of being in the craft industry and working at Sizzix is being around the current trends Monday through Friday!

    I love taking them to another level! Why not incorporate trendy with the invitation, right? Taking a sneak peek at a Sizzix project my friend Thuy, of Blossom Papers was working on, the lightbulb went on and I knew immediately what I was going to do!

    Jamaica theme dinner party invitaiton with the flag as a backdrop and a small terrarium with sand and shells and paper leaves.

    Sizzix had JUST launched a line called TropiCool, by one of our oh so creative in house designers, Lynda Kanase. TropiCool…how clever is that name!!

    Her collections are filled with all things Tropical and all things cool! Papers, cards, leaves and toucans! Island fun! Just in time for my Great 8 dinner! Thanks Lynda! It’s almost like you knew!

    Close up of glass terrarium with sand and shells and paper leaves and a cut-out 8 hanging in the middle.

    Running to Hobby Lobby I picked up the trendy brass geometric terrariums I needed. And with my Sizzix Big Shot Machine, I put Lynda’s dies and papers to good use!

    Delicious Menu

    Next up, the menu! YUM! My mouth is salivating just thinking about the flavors of the island. Pure deliciousness!

    Whether the dishes were from our favorite restaurants in Ocho Rios, the kitchens there of my parents’ friends, or from Hazel, our own resident friend/cook, I knew which traditional island dishes to choose.

    Two ladies.

    In the town of Ocho Rios, we always made sure we’d stop by a small stand that sold the best Jamaican Beef Patties. I knew I definitely wanted them on the Jam8ca menu that night.

    Overhead shot of appetizer table for flavors and fun of Jamaica party.

    Anna replicated the meat’s flavor and crust’s flakiness to a T! The perfect appetizer to go with Phil’s signature Spicy Mojito rum cocktail.

    Overhead shot of Jerk Chicken with spices.

    With Jamaican Jerk Chicken being one of the night’s main courses, nothing would be better as a side dish than Kyle’s Jamaican Rice and Beans (they actually call them peas!).

    Woodsy, hearty and delicious and the perfect accompaniment to calm the palette from the heat of the Jerk Chicken. We knew not to fill up on all of the island’s savory deliciousness! We knew to save room for what Jurga was slicing up for us! Appleton Rum Cake! Just what we needed to top off the evening’s feast! Rum isn't just for cocktails friends!

    Colorful vertical painting of the back of a mom with a child on each side.

    Some Final Details

    With the table set, my favorite bartender ready to mix, shake and stir, the appetizers are ready to enjoy.

    Drinking glasses with names and palm leaves with limes in the background.

    Cue up the Reggae Music…We’re ready for a Gr8 time on the island!

    The weather in California cooled down to a comfortable island temperature for us that night! Just the right amount of humidity so we could “pretend” we were actually there, and enjoy the island feast outside!

    Outdoor table set with woven placemats, pineapple centerpiece sitting on cut out palm leaves.

    Cheers to another Gr8 night!

    Men toasting rum.
    « Island Mai Tai Cocktail Recipe
    Jamaican Appleton Rum Cake Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Debbie

      August 27, 2018 at 3:15 pm

      Thanks Lon!! The food was perfect and exactly how I remember the flavors being on that beautiful island! Even the weather here cooperated! It's such an easy theme to create with so many of the bright colors that I love! Thanks for being such a Gr8 friend!

    2. Claudia Kerns

      August 26, 2018 at 5:50 pm

      What a beautiful setting!! I am sure the meal was as delicious as the invitation was gorgeous!! You ladies only get better!!! Just like a fine wine!!

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