Vincy chef impresses with ‘The Taste’ event
Portabella takes styling for any event personally
This is an age when many
stores look the same and
merchandise is afraid to be
unique. Companies continue
to cut back on personal service
and try to reduce costs.
And stores are closing around
the country.
Not so at Portabella. Portabella
has stuck to its roots.
Runway fashions, the current
trends, and at least 60
percent off designer prices
everyday. Plus, individual
service for every customer
who enters the stores. Customers
are number 1. Each is
treated with special attention
by the trained customer service
team.
A recent Portabella customer
was overheard saying
to a cashier, “I always get my
suits at Portabella. You have
what I want at a great price,
great personal service and
the alterations are ready in
15 minutes” Portabella has
customizing tailor shops in
almost every location and in
most cases offers 24-hour alteration
service.
Caribbean L 38 ife, June 14–20, 2019
BUS I N E S S , B ROOK LYN S T Y LE – A DV E RTI S E M E NT
The Portabella business
is also changing. New deliveries
now come weekly, and
there is a new focus on special
event group sales. The great
values and new fashion have
made Portabella a headquarters
for weddings, proms,
sweet 16s, quincinearas, and
other special events. It prides
itself on making it more affordable
to buy pieces than
to rent, as well as providing
a better selection of the current
trend.
The multi-cultural buying
team at Portabella uses trends
from all over the world. They
combine their expertise and
different points of view to develop
a selection that gives attention
to each store location
and market.
Portabella now operates
more than 40 stores in New
York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania
under the Portabella,
Fino and Quails names. And
shop online at Portabellaonline.
com.
By Nelson A. King
A year after the highly successful
launch of “The Taste,” a
rising Vincentian chef in Brooklyn
has impressed patrons again
with her second offering.
Allona Jackson, otherwise
known as Chef Lloni, on June
2, had patrons asking for more
of her mouthwatering, fingerlicking
dishes at the staging of
her second annual “The Taste,”
at Studio 718 on Remsen Avenue
in Brooklyn.
She said patrons sampled a
variety of carefully-curated and
expertly-prepared dishes.
In addition, there were alcoholic
and nonalcoholic beverage
pairings, signature cocktails
and live cooking demonstrations
by Chef Lloni, owner,
chief executive officer and private
chef of Lloni Catering &
Party Supply Rental.
“The night was a culmination
of precise planning and
execution,” Chef Lloni told Caribbean
Life afterwards.
Uniformed wait-staff greeted
guests at the door with a choice
of smoked salmon with dill and
fruit caviar on toast, or chicken
galantine with mango chutney
on toast.
“The main area was a beautiful
expression of spring elegance
— floral and fairy-lit
backdrops, to the tables covered
in white and silver linens,
accented by yellow floral and
lemon centerpieces,” Chef Lloni
said.
Tasting stations showcasing
Chef Lloni’s range and skill
included appetizers, salad, seafood,
Caribbean carving and
dessert.
The live demonstrations
by Chef Lloni were one of the
many highlights of the special
evening.
Guests saw firsthand the
chef in action, as she made crab
wontons, tabouleh, and torched
and baked alaska on the spot.
From appetizers to desserts,
including soups and salads,
there were 32 different dishes
for guests to “Taste.”
Drinks included sangria; rum
punch (a crowd favorite); a variety
of red and white wines; beer
and ale samplings; and handcrafted,
signature cocktails.
“This year’s ‘The Taste’ was,
by all accounts, a night to
remember. Feedback has been
overwhelmingly positive,” said
Chef Lloni, adding that patrons
were “amazed and appreciative,”
noting the remarkable
improvement over last year’s
event.
“The night was not yet over
when inquiries began into next
year’s gastronomic adventure
at the third annual ‘The Taste,’”
she continued.
Launched in 2018, Chef Lloni
said Lloni Catering & Party
Supply Rental is her latest venture
of a “long history and love
affair” she has had with food
and food preparation.
Chef Lloni in action during “The Taste” event.
Photo by Nelson A. King
Patrons at the second staging
of “The Taste.”
Photo by Nelson A. King