I am interested in info about Culloden Cafe. Is overnight lodging available? I have heard that the food is wonderful. Where can I find out more information about it. Thanks

Sold by its owner to a couple from the UK, Culloden Cove/Cafe is now a
private residence and no longer a
restaurant/b&b/villa-inn. Ann Lyons
moved on and is now the food/bev
manager at Jake's in Treasure Beach.
The most innovative and arguably
best food on island can be found also in Treasure Beach at the Rose-
Blue Bar/Bistro at MAR BLUE in
Old Wharf/TB, a modern Euro-style
auberge/inn with stylish yet laid
back accomodations, pools, and a
word-of-mouth following on island
and a-foreign.

Tivertonhouse, I knew you would know the answer! I am thinking of 2 or 3 days in Treasure Beach, then Negril for a few more. MarBlu seems to be the ticket, although I am drawn to the funkiness of Jakes. But many poor reviews of Jake's has made me a little doubtful.

patsyvance, you can still enjoy the funky vibe of Jake's while staying at Mar Blue--just walk down and enjoy the bar or have lunch. We stayed at Mar Blue in January 2005 after the Verandah first opened and we were glad we did--Jake's was fun to visit but Mar Blue was much more comfortable to return home to at the end of the day, and the food we had there is just about unparalleled in all of our Caribbean travels.

Having recommended Mar Blue in the first place to ej, her comments are
spot-on regarding Mar Blue, even if I'm biased in their favor completely for a 2-3 day sojourn.
Try for 3 nights, minimum-- Treasure Beach is deep
country, and if you're coming there first, you'll want to spend the first day just decompressing from the US. The area takes a bit of time
to adjust to, thankfully, in that it is so non-resort. You'll want to explore the roads walking, on mountain bikes or mopeds, or with a guide. And schedule a trip by boat out to Pelican Bar, a highlight.
Jake's is good for drinks at sunset
when you can also walk into Calabash not in midday heat, and
check out M&D Groceries if it's Fri or Sat for their very good soups/cheap; and the new Mermaid
Gallery at Calabash House a few chain down from Jake's, plus L.T.'s
woodcarving studio/he works in lignum vitae, very well.

Axel and Andrea just sent us up word
that this late Nov an elegant
steakhouse will open in a new room
at Mar Blue's Seaside Restaurant
(which will still also serve innovative takes on Jamaican cuisine, 8 course tasting menus and a new cheese trolley sampler in the main bar/bistro). The menu sounds
wonderful for island, as beef (normally the stringy Australian
imported) is hard-to-find. Classics like onion soup, caesar salad, filet mignons, cowboy and New York strip steaks and grilled duck steaks, plus surf and truf with local lobster, sauce bernaise and
pommes alumettes -- with guests selecting their own lobster from the new fresh lobster basin pool.
This is really the next step up
for foodies, especially on the
South Coast of island. They open late November before we get back so let us know what you think when you go earlier -- and if you like the special CD sampler music we cut for them

Sounds like an innovative step. And while the menu might not be what I prefer to eat on vacation, I'm sure it will appeal to tons of folks! I do love the idea of a tasting menu, though. Hmmm...maybe I can move the date of Barry's birthday celebration. What do you think?
Is it just the month of October that Mar Blue closes each year?

Morning, EJ -- was thinking on same track to a Sept or Nov. I also was taken aback by the concept of surf and turf -- but you know how Axel will transform it into something extraodinary and not just Craftsteak or Peter Luger's in the tropics.
Regardless, it's only one room and
the bill of fare you enjoyed is still very much on in rest of
restaurant.

Axel's lobster bisque and grilled kingfish were one of the best meals I have had in Jamaica.

I third the suggestion to stay at Mar Blue and do Jake's for happy hour.

...however, if Ann of Culloden is running the kitchen at Jake's, that would be worth checking out for a meal. I loved Culloden's food also.

From recent reports, Ann hasn't been able to make a dent yet in
the male-dominated kitchen, which is a shame as she really could be a plus point.