We are the Jamaican Dinner Club Team!!!

Jamaica.  Land of sunshine, "ganja", rastafarians (including the infamous Bob Marley) and a team of bobsledders that people remember by usually saying, "Were they the ones coached by John Candy?" 

It was with this knowledge that the dinner clubbers of November (ten in total) armed themselves with when they travelled down Fitzroy way once again (all the international foods seem to have found their home there) to a place that was not originally on the cards.  A late change (due to the only other Caribbean restaurant in Melbourne having closed earlier this year) meant that the new venue was a little place called "Sassy's Jamaican Kitchen" or "Sassy's" for short.

That's Sassy in the middle!!!

The Mayor lookin' sassy at Sassy's!!!

So with no idea what kind of meal Sassy (the owner, still no idea why he is called Sassy!) would be serving, we simply went with what dinner clubbers have discovered is the best option - the banquet.

A feast of "jerk" chicken and fish was on offer.  Now, my limited knowledge of Caribbean cuisine extends to meals in Belize (not even Caribbean, but a strong rasta influence in their cooking) tells me "jerk" simply means rubbed in spices.  Not that the chicken is generally antagonistic or an arsehole!!! (Thanks, I'll be here all week...)

Now Sassy's Jamaican Kitchen, while we were to discover, was the source of some phenomenal food, was not famous for its timeliness or service.  Ordering the banquet for 10 and some extra goat curry for fun, Sassy informed me he had been visited by not one, but two reggae bands that day, in town for a music festival.  As a result, he had practically been eaten out of house and home!!! 

Luckily for us, the wait of over two hours for food as Sassy prepared our feasts was made bearable by something that restaurants seem to underestimate as a valuable customer service tool: butcher's paper tableclothes and a container of textas. :)

See below for the graphical genius of November's dinner club participants!

Next month's dinner club made official by putting it on the butcher's paper diary!

S. Porrino's impressions of Jamaica.  Judges say 99% accurate!!!

Corny catchphrases and insults permanently recorded for future posterity.  The battle of wits between the Mayor and S. Porrino.

This is the result when male dinner clubbers have to wait more than 2 hours for their food.  B. Goodall's artist impressions of fellow dinner clubbers.  Reminiscent of a year 9 classroom really!!!  (Also note the rather lifelike sketch of J. Coleman by his hand!)

B. Goodall - art imitating life???

He thinks he's so funny.  And he's right. Yes, the Mayor loves a good penis joke. :)

With more than a couple of dinner clubbers making the most of BYO drinks, it was a sleepy and rather tipsy (K. Williams) collection of people that were finally served dinner at just before 9.45pm.  This is what we were met with...

How many wines can K. Williams handle on an empty stomach?  One less than when this photo was taken...

The Jamaican feast - Jerk chicken and fish, vegetable patties, rice and beans, curried vegetables and an AMAZING veggie paste in the centre - the Mayor's favourite!!!

Everyone tucks in for fear of keeling over from starvation!

SOMEONE liked the fish...

So with very full bellies, everyone rated the food as excellent.  M. Read and B. Goodall particularly raved about the fish. Over...and over... and OVER... ;)

So with just one more dinner club left, it is time to look at the final line up still in the running for the 100% attendance prize!  Still in contention:

1. K. Williams

2. L. Read

3. J. Coleman

4. S. Haughey (still 4th for comedic purposes)

Of course, special consideration has been granted AGAIN for participant V. Dennis, still currently in the US on diplomatic duties.  Whilst not looking like she can take the prize (given the hot competition from the four contestants above), her attendance has been evidenced by the name tag now currently in her wallet in Washington D.C.  For futher evidence, see below.

V. Dennis' proof of attendance at November's event.

With just one month of dinner clubs to go, the Mayor is excited to see this goal come to fruition, but also sad that this institution is coming to an end.  However, for dinner clubbers fearful of withdrawals, 2012 will bring a new monthly outing.  Given the success of this adventure and considering the many restaurants and cuisines to still sample, another dinner club may still be on the cards!!!

With that, I leave you with a snapshot of the dinner club that was November at Sassy's Jamaican Kitchen:

Insert obligatory K. Williams eating photo (food took too long so food not present yet!)

"Where's the food?"  quips L. Read.

B. Goodall proves butcher's paper is for kids and adults alike.

The special at Sassy's - mmmmm, fried plantains.

Nerds at dinner.  M. Read and B. Goodall browsing a fellow dinner clubber's recent oversea trip pics of China.

Don't mind if I do!  A nice touch, the communal esky at the front of the restaurant.

Dinner clubber #4 S. Haughey LOVES Sassy's!!!

The Mayor re-enacting a famous shot from a recent trip to QLD with S. Porrino and S. Haughey as she sets up the timer!!!

Sassy's Jamaican Kitchen - the ACTUAL kitchen lies just back there and is staffed by.... Sassy!  (Original name huh?)

The Mayor and Sassy himself - sweaty from working VERY hard to feed us hungry dinner clubbers!!!

The November dinner club crew: S. Porrino, E. Haynes, S. Haughey, K. Wilson, J. Coleman, B. Goodall (imitating the fish he loved so much), L. Read, M. Cook, K. Williams and M. Read.

Next month sees us head to The New Turtle Den aka "George's Chinese Restaurant" in Ringwood where the Mayor hopes to see all dinner club participants to send of this goal in style!!!

xox