Bed & Breakfast Blog

Kushite Vegetable Cuisine at Neita's Nest

4/8/2015

Meatless Easter Monday was made of these...

Lemongrass Lemonade added to the welcome at
Meatless Mondays
@ Neita's Nest
featuring
KushiteVegetableCuisine.

Then, appetites were whet with BBQ Jackfruit Sushi Rolls.

For the Entree, Soy-free, Gluten-free Lentil Balls in a Mexican Mole Sauce served with Jallof Cous Cous and Pineapple Basil Salsa was presented.

And, for a sweet finish, A no-bake Tropical Fruit Pie

Keep your ears to the ground and your eyes fixed here for next Monday's Meatless Menu at Neita's Nest, featuring Kushite Vegetable Cuisine.

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Joyful, Joyful Kingston morning

4/5/2015

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I am still on a high from the spiritually uplifting Morning of Movement and Music, an Easter Sunday tradition of our National Dance Theatre Dance Company, going 34 years now.

To extend the feeling, lingering moments were spent at the NDTC Cafe, followed by brunch with family and friends at a most serendipitous retreat in Red Light. Still high, up in the cool of Irish Town, we did a las lik at Cafe Blue for some Amaretto Cheesecake and Coffee; Blue Mountain, of course.

As we journeyed home we could not miss the Yellow Poui in all her glory, lighting up the city even in the broad daylight.

Thanks Ruth. Your photos captured the brilliance of this Easter morning.

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Calling Birdwatchers to Kingston

4/3/2015

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Birding and a Kingston Bed and Breakfast

Spring Breaker, Andrew started out his birding visit in Jamaica right here on the verandah of Neita's Nest, spotting a few endemic and migrant species on the afternoon of his arrival. This Sophomore from Dartmouth, on a birding expediton around eastern Jamaica with his dad, was being ably guided by Ricardo of the Arrowhead Birding Team. Again, we are pleased to welcome those doing Spring Breaking of a different kind.

My sons and I used to do birdwatching too; it was an easy walk along our driveway from where we could spot them high up in the feeder trees and flying across the valley in front of our home. Good outdoor activity for active and energetic young ones, and therapy for me;
reminiscent of an extra-curricular opted for in high school. Over time, my sons and I found about twenty species here.

The interest has clearly remained. Fifteen years after sparking the interest, this bird nest was recently spotted in our garden by one of my sons, and photographed.

It was the mentioning on our website of our neighbourhood birds that brought Neita's Nest to the attention of bird watching organisations in Jamaica like BirdsCaribbean and Arrowhead Birding. Or was it our name? Whatever the catalyst, the synergies between us have taking form and flight over these past years. Just goes to show, birds of a feather do flock.

Now that our nest is a B&B, we have named our three guest rooms after some of the more prolific birds in the area, and of course those with sexy names. No! Flycatcher, John Crow, Grassquit, or Bald Pate just would not fly! Instead we have chosen Pea Dove, Woodpecker and Doctor Bird, and themed our decor around their colours.

But the greater joy is to witness the pure passion persons have for birding. Arriving with their telescopes, tripods, cameras, binoculars, and their bucket list, they joyously tick off when they have sighted this specie or that, but can go into a tail spin when they dip out, even when only one of our 29 endemics eludes them. Then, when master guide, Ricardo takes them out for their last expedition, does his bird call and makes his magic find, they return to Neita's Nest chirping.

Much has been gained in recent times from going birdwatching on the guided monthly early morning walks through the Hope Botanical Gardens. I meet old friends and make new ones, get caught up in discussions on endemic, indigenous and migrant birds, their habitats, feeding patterns, migratory and nesting habits. More than anything else, these mornings are an easy walk in the park.

We have enjoyed the company of many a birding enthusiast and aficionado, and gladly share our own experiences and observations of sighting patterns over the nearly two decades that we have lived here.
We therefore appreciate the relevance of
Birds - Connecting Commmunities and Conservation, the theme chosen by BirdsCaribbean for their 20th Annual International Meeting scheduled for the end of July in Kingston.

The meeting will focus on the latest avian research and initiatives to conserve Caribbean birds and their habitats. Sounds interesting.

Our homestyle B&B has afforded us opportunities to meet new acquaintances and make friends flying in from near and far.

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Book Dinner for 2....

4/1/2015

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See how life unfolds when you are flexible!

For Tjitske and Arnoud, it was a page-turning stay at Neita's Nest in Kingston. They booked our bed and breakfast for (only) one night as they traversed our island trying to soak up as much as possible.

After a welcome drink and a little getting to know you chit-chat on the verandah, we set about finding a lunch venue to embrace the best of Kingston on a Sunday afternoon. A drive through Stony Hill and riverside brunch thanks to Stephen Jones of Boone Hall Oasis, introduced them to an unexpected side of our city.

Next was supposed to have been a quiet, pre-arranged Dinner for 2 @ 7, an easy night-in, or so they thought! So we all thought.

I left them to enjoy the evening breeze and the mountain view.
Then comes a call from my dear friend, Nevada, seeking an opinion for a concoction. That led to an invitation to sample, followed by "How many guests do you have in-house? (Two) Bring them!" "Just let them know that this is all an experiment", was his only proviso.

Of course, the thing about running a B&B is that you never know who is coming to dinner. And, even when you have met, you are not always sure what their appetite is like. Are they exhausted from jet lag, are they looking forward to a romantic "just us" candlelight dinner, are they open to shifting gear and trying the unexpected?

Well, Arnoud and Tjitske certainly were open. Here is how it went. "My friend is experimenting on a coconut shrimp dish and I am invited to taste. Would you like to join us? We will take our dinner and just share." Maybe it was my infused enthusiasm along with assumed consent, maybe it was built-up trust over our welcome introductions earlier, perhaps the seeming simplicity of the venue change, or just the way they are. I would like to believe it was all of the above. We got dressed while Charmaine made a salad and grilled our contributions to the potluck soiree.

Needless to say, the welcome was warm, the Karen-styled setting inviting and, as Nevada put the finishing touches on his spicey coconut concoction, the Proseco poured and conversations flowed.

We started out on what was seen and done since they arrived in Jamaica, suggested the not-to-be-missed experiences as they continue on their journey, in exchange for much on life in their Netherlands. Clearly well-travelled, all, we segued seamlessly to comparisons of carnivals in different countries, to gateways opening to Cuba, to cultural norms and taboos, challenges the world over, through to coffee shops vs traditional cafes.

As the natural light of the evening dimmed, and candle lights and city lights flickered, our host did the unusual. He took a telephone call. He was being invoted to be featured with a few of his favourite things in the following Sunday's newpaper, and he started to list them for us; a sort of dress rehearsal for the staging later that week. The conversation turned to other things and the evening continued to be delighful for all of us, ending with expressions of appreciation for an unforgettable day and night.

One week later, Arnoud and Tjitske, still relaxing in Jamaica, sent this photo., with a note that read:
"What an amazing night was that! Thanks a lot"

Yes, it was indeed one amazing, magical night! Unexpected, unplanned. The combined happiness of each of us made it special for all of us. Tjitske and Arnoud now take away delightful memories of their 24-hour stay in Kingston and memorabilia of their impromptu host.

By the way, the potluck was perfect; Herbed Coconut Shrimp Rice, Jerk Marinaded & Grilled Chicken Tenderloins, Fresh Garden Salad, finished off with Ice Cream topped with a Coconut Chocolate Spread served with Freshly Brewed Coffee.

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Forward>>

Kushite Vegetable Cuisine at Neita's Nest

Meatless Easter Monday was made of these...

Joyful, Joyful Kingston morning

Calling Birdwatchers to Kingston

Birding and a Kingston Bed and Breakfast

Book Dinner for 2....

See how life unfolds when you are flexible!

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Kushite Vegetable Cuisine at Neita's Nest

Meatless Easter Monday was made of these...

Joyful, Joyful Kingston morning

Calling Birdwatchers to Kingston

Birding and a Kingston Bed and Breakfast

Book Dinner for 2....

﻿See how life unfolds when you are flexible!﻿

Author

Archives

Author

Contact us

Categories

See how life unfolds when you are flexible!