Miss Norma

On the East Lawns of Devon House a few Saturdays ago a memorial service was held to celebrate the life of Norma Shirley.
If you never knew her, I do believe a little piece of your life may have been missing. This culinary maven put Jamaican cuisine in the mouths and on the lips of chefs and food critics across the world.
Not only was she genius in her technique and preparation of food, but she made it a point to incorporate our local foods – fruits, vegetables and such – into every dish… All this, before presenting it in a manner fit to be served on the tables in any top notch restaurant.
I had the fortune…make that, was given the privilege…to have met and worked with Miss Norma – breakfast with Marco-Pierre White, tea party with the Friends of Devon House, Jamaica Observer’s FNO, Grogg Shoppe food shoot, occasional phone calls for advice…
Far from being an ‘angel’, she was feisty, a go-getter…but as aggressive as she may have come across to some, she had a gentle soul…. She had an incomparable generosity… Kind and understanding, she never hesitated to offer her help where it was needed…She was everyone’s mother, teacher, confidante…
…and she will be missed.
Before her passing, she had breathed new life into the Grogg Shoppe at Devon House. Here are a couple photos…

Bon appétit

NB – she never liked having her photo taken, however I will include more at a later date…