Page 18 - Dreamscapes Magazine | Winter/Spring 2025

M U S T V I S I T
DEVON HOUSE
In the late 1800s, Devon House was home to Jamaica’s first
black millionaire, George Stiebel. In 1990, the government
declared the Kingston mansion, with its mix of Caribbean and
Georgian architecture, a National Heritage Site. Open for tours,
the restored interior is furnished with local, English and French
antiques from the 1880s. Walk behind the house and visit a
courtyard full of handcrafts and gift shops plus a few small
restaurants. Although you can buy a flaky half-moon-shaped
Jamaican patty anywhere in Jamaica, the square patties at
Devon House Bakery may be the most innovative. Along with
the classic beef or chicken, try callaloo greens, curried goat or
lobster-stuffed patties. Keep walking to Scoops Unlimited,
considered one of the island’s finest ice cream emporiums. It’s
so popular, half the industrial-looking space is lined with ropes
and a security guard is needed to manage the crowds. The
strawberry ice cream was especially delicious but I had to lick
it at high speed before it melted in the 34 C heat.
coffee trees first-hand. Their hard green “cherries” turn bright
red when the beans ripen. After a short hike, with views of
Kingston below, we stepped inside the pink Great House, built
in 1805, for an informative talk on coffee production and for a
taste of the freshly-brewed java—so smooth and mellow, even
non-coffee lovers are sure to enjoy its authentic aroma.
PRETTY CLOSE
When I asked about day trips, a local recommended a riverside
outfitter in nearby Gordon Town. Be warned, the zigzagging
road here is not for the faint-hearted.
Called Pretty Close, Omar Edwards, whose family has
owned the land for generations, offers a laid-back lunch and
waterfall hike. For my intro to this jungle walk, he suggested
sitting on a tree trunk, toes in the water, for a free pedicure by
tiny garra rufa fish. I then joined a small group led by Omar
and one of his rescue dogs on a hike along the Flora River
(water shoes required). We covered three waterfalls, each more
challenging to reach. I recommend stopping at the first one for
a refreshing plunge.
We ended the journey back at the site with a delectable ital
lunch (the “vital” vegetarian regime created by Rastafarians in
the 1950s). Over a menu of stewed callaloo, red beans, fried
ripe plantain and fried fish, served in eco-friendly calabash
bowls with bamboo utensils, we got to see Omar cook up a
storm in his tiny outdoor kitchen. It was quite a feat!
From fast food to fine restaurants, I left the island
impressed with the quality and variety of its food scene.
Jamaicans are working hard to grow more ingredients locally
while finding new ways to serve traditional dishes. Jamaica is
much more than jerk chicken and rum, I discovered. Come
taste it for yourself.
DS
TRAVEL PLANNER
For more travel information about Jamaica see Visitjamaica.com.
For a slice of Kingston’s food scene, see Kingston Creative at
Kingstoncreative.org. To learn about Kingston’s annual Jamaica Food
and Drink Festival in November, visit jafoodanddrink.com
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DREAMSCAPES WINTER/SPRING 2025
PHOTOS: STRAWBERRY HILL | JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD | CYNTHIA DAVID