Barbara Ellington, Senior Gleaner Writer
Lions Club of Mandeville president, Dunbar Wilson at the 'Men Who Cook' fundraiser.
FOR THE seventh year in a row, some of the island's most influential men converged at Alpart Sports Club to serve up a range of succulent meats and accompaniments for hundreds of patrons who support the annual Lions Club of Mandeville main fundraiser.
The event which took place last Sunday, saw 20 men from the business, political and corporate sectors, donning aprons and caps and braving hot stoves to tempt the palates of all present.
And from what was observed, they did not do too badly at all; the lines were long and with satisfied expressions on their faces, patrons sat to enjoy the entertainment provided by singing group, To Isis, along with some creative dancing, giveaways and fun for the children.
This year's pleasant surprise was Dhering, Bunting and Golding's Peter Bunting who was quite convincing in his role of tilapia fish expert. His offering from Longville Park Premium filets was stuffed with a special blend of herbs and spices, wrapped in banana leaf, then folded carefully in foil before being grilled. It was succulent and delicious.
Health Minister John Junor's suckling pig never fails to satisfy but we don't expect less from someone whose early encounters with things cuilinary came via the gourmet route!
Many will no doubt be rushing to get stocks of Winston Lawson's 'NCB flavouring' the secret ingredient that made all the difference to his mouth-watering sweet and sour chicken.
As usual, anyone who wants to know Dr. Peter Wellington's recipe for his jerk barbecue chicken, will probably have to surgically remove it from his brain. Maybe he plans to open a restaurant.
For the vegetarians in the crowd, deWindies Grill's curried chick peas, was just what the doctor ordered. And Maxie Bell from Bell's Engineering, seems to have perfected his recipe for curried goat.
Other 'chefs' included: Grace Food's Anthony Lawrence; St. John Bosco's Newton Coote; Super Plus Food Stores, Windalco's Bevan Shirley; Vando Palmer of the National Works Agency; Carlton Masters of Masters Unisex; Alpart's Jim Goins; Winston Young of Soft Sheen Carson; Albert Lowe of Lowe's Total Service Station; Mandeville Couriers' Kurt Brown and Walkerswood's Woodyrow Mitchell.
Lions Club President Dunbar Wilson told The Gleaner that they expect to net some $700,000 from the event. He was particularly pleased that the men who cook continue to provide all the meat at their expense.
"Our main focus this year is sight, and so far a team of specialists from the Canadian Vision Center has seen 700 persons over a three-day period and members of Can See, also from Canada, performed 71 cataract surgeries," he said.
Rounding out the day's activities was a team from Soft Sheen Carson, headed by Karl Richmond and Carlysle Roberts, who, using the new product, Optimum Oil Therapy, worked their magic on the heads of eager patrons.
