HogAholics grilling for Kansas

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

Say the name HogAholics and it does not evoke imagery of culinary delights. Truth is, the name HogAholics is not an indication of a stroke of marketing or public relations genius. It is somewhat odd, but the moniker summarises the ties that bind these long-standing friends together - their love of pork!

Well, it would be brazen to assume that a group of young professionals, socialites, heirs/heiresses would assume the ungainly name of HogAholics. Worse yet, to challenge them to a cook-off to establish grilling supremacy and bragging rights assuming that of such an unattractive name, they would be pretenders and not the real gungo!

On the other hand, it would be wise to assume that with the ungainly name HogAholics, those involved would know their way around the kitchen, and then some!

And so they did, as they have proven themselves to be one mighty, mean grilling machine, not only knowing their way around the kitchen but becoming masters of their craft.

HogAholics first came together for fun to enter the then Jack Daniel's All Jamaica Grill-off some four years ago. Since then, the group has expanded, and the event has become the Appleton All Jamaica Grill-off. This annual grilling contest pits fun-loving professionals and non-professionals in an all-day grill-off, with the winner earning bragging rights, plus the opportunity to represent Jamaica in an international event hosted in Kansas City at the "greatest grill-off family show ever".

The winners over the last four seasons have had to fund their own way to Kansas, and in keeping with that tradition, this year, the winners decided on hosting a cocktail and grill to raise funds for their upcoming trip.

Hosted at the upper St Andrew residence of Dale and Henrietta DeLisser, the affair was a $5,000 per plate all-inclusive do.

My dears, there's lots of talk about hard times floating around, but the beauty of the HogAholics fund-raiser is the sense of camaraderie it promotes. The 200 available tickets were completely sold out in four days after they were made available. On the night of the event, a number of friends who had competed against HogAholics joined forces with their rivals to prepare and present their best dishes for the dinner.

And so it became one spectacular culinary outing! My dears, as they say in the local parlance: 'The ting sell-off!'

Luvs, it was a night of high society meeting hot grill, and luvs, it proved a smashing combination, as with the chic, the glamorous and the party-hearty out in full force, you know we are talking a smasheroni here. And that it was, and nothing but!

Luvs, with Appleton and its other premium brands flowing all around; the waiters from The Jamaica Pegasus hotel and Lorraine Fung, serving up side orders, the HogAholics team and some of its former rivals grilled up a culinary storm that was as divine to see as it was to taste. And we are talking lamb, lobster, beef, poultry, sausages, and yes, of course, pork - deliciously wicked pork, grilled to pliant perfection, and tasty beyond belief.

And it was a family affair as Yvonne Hamilton was there assisting son Christopher Hamilton; Zein Issa Nakash joined hubby Christopher Nakash by preparing some mouth-watering brownies; Judith Harrison worked by the side of hubby, Richard Harrison; Henrietta DeLisser, was very much a partner to hubby Dale DeLisser; and Belinda Levy helped out her son Simon Levy; while other friends and relatives pitched in to make it all happen, and fabulously!

And it was not all about fine food and premium libations either, as at the end of dinner, guests were invited to join in an auction which saw a number of cellphones, a weekend for two at the fabulous Breezes Resorts, plus a number of other goodies, on the block. Auctioneer Abe Baracatt was totally and wholly irreverent bringing in the dollars. But it was the shirt offered by Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt, who attended and promised he would only deliver his signature pose when the bidding hit the $100,000 mark. When it was all over, the autographed shirt had fetched a whopping J$110,000.

Dears, it was all one very fabulous night, and nothing but!

Among those out sharing the thrill of the grill were Canadian High Commissioner Stephen Hallihan, wife Cathy and their daughter Brianna; Dr Barbara Matalon and daughter Karen; Albert and Su Nakash; Peter and Faye Bangerter; Robert MacMillan, Rachael Gore and her lovely daughter Dana Saulter; Capt Michael Lyn and wife Thalia; David DeLisser; the lovely Muna Issa; Wayne Foster; Yogi and Clare Fernandez; David Carr; Andrew and Debbie Issa and their children; Mark and Margaret Mahfood; Steven Lyn-Kee-Chow and Franny Mahfood.

Also present were Roger Malik and the lovely Amber Vicens; Andrew and Natalie Desnoes; Chris Berry and wife Dr Patricia Berry; his sibling, Mark Berry and his gorgeous wife Genny; John and Lori Ralston; Saleem Lazarus, his sibling David Lazarus and wife Tracy; Mark and Karen Myers; Dominic and Lisa Azan; Anya Schnoor; David and Kim Mair; Geoffrey and Judy Ziadie; Ian and Rosemarie Moore; Kamaal and Carmela Azan; Paul and Anna Chin; Brian St Juste; Wayne and Karen Vaz; Michael and Christine McMorris; Michael and Melanie Subratie; Julianne Lee Samuels; Mark Melville; Jackie Sangster-Brooks; Mark and Wendy Fletcher; Steven and Michelle Jones; Nari Williams-Singh; James and Miranda Sampson; Paul and Tracy Josephs; Steven and Simone Chanpong; plus a number of others.