Negril Notes

Petra @ Selina’s: Best Meal of the Trip

April 2, 2007

I never thought to have dinner at Selina’s. Sorry Selina I’ve always thought of your place for brunch, beans and Bloody Marys, but not anymore.

I met Petra at Selina’s Sunday Brunch Webcast. I knew she was German, and that she recently moved to Negril. We didn’t talk much, but I envied her moxie for making the big move.

Petra

A few days later I stopped at Selina’s to load up on some fresh roasted Blue Mountain Coffee, and to grab some lunch. While enjoying my cheeseburger in paradise, Petra came by and we got to talking. I was surprised to learn she was the new chef at Selina’s, and after hearing her story I was intrigued. Petra, a classically trained European chef, began spending her off-seasons in Negril a few years ago. I guess she liked it because she moved to that particular harbor this past year.

We spent some time talking about Jamaica, Germany and the fact that we had food in common. She likes to cook it, and I like to eat it. Actually, I was in the restaurant business for over twenty years, and I think of myself as a wizard in the kitchen. It was great to know there was a fancy-shmancy euro-chef right there in Negril, and I promised to try her food before I left town.

It turned out I didn’t have to wait very long. Upon telling Megan and Jason about my new chef friend we decided to start their last night in Negril celebration with a meal by Petra. We met up at the Castle around 4PM. My room there, along with the adjacent patio, had a spectacular ocean view, and we partied through the most beautiful sunset of the week.

We toasted Megan and Jason’s last night in paradise, and their first real trip to Jamaica. Jason had planned a romantic sunset dinner at The Rockhouse for their last night, where he planned to ask her to marry him, but he couldn’t hold his water and he asked her within twenty-four hours of arrival. Maybe not exactly how he planned, but still a moment they will remember forever.

Soon after sunset the mosquitoes started biting, so we hailed a taxi for the ten minute ride to Selina’s on the beach. We sat at the bar and ordered a round when Petra came out to tell us about the specials and discuss the menu. Yeah, discuss the menu. It was nice; the usually wide open Selina’s seemed smaller and more intimate in the darkness.

I was sold on the special. I’m easy. My friends told Petra what they liked, and she suggested options. We had another round of drinks, and our food came out quickly.

I had the Vegetable Lasagna. It was beautiful, not some kinda-sorta Jamaican knock-off like the reggae version of Freebird. This was excellent; a small caesar-like salad with two pieces of grilled baguette. The pasta was tender, dare I say home made, with a variety of local vegetables in a creamy cheese sauce. All baked and topped with crunchy herbed bread crumbs.

My friend Jason some kind of Escoveitch Fish, he came to enjoy that Jamaican style of cooking. Megan had Grilled Snapper in a light butter and wine sauce with local vegetables. Both Jason and Megan were groaning in culinary delight as they ate.

I was in a struggle with myself, do I devour this delicious meal like a rapacious Leaping Slug, or do I savor each bite like a mature adult? I came down somewhere in the middle. This was hands-down the best meal of the trip, and one of the best meals I ever had in Negril. Petra’s hospitality in Selina’s humble relaxed eatery created an elegant and satisfying evening.

We said our good-byes and waddled over to Kuyaba for dessert. There’s always room for dessert