Caliente! Restaurant's logo wins silver prize in USA

Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

Authentic Mexican food is now available in Ocho Rios with the opening of Caliente Bar and Grill on the beach at Mammee Bay in St Ann.

The opening of Caliente Bar and Grill further diversifies the culinary offerings in Ocho Rios which, prior to this, featured Greek, Italian, Indian, Chinese and, of course, Jamaican cuisine.

Caliente opens on the back of some good news out of Florida. Its logo recently won a silver award from a list of 450 entries in the American Advertising Federation of Greater Fort Lauderdale, Addy Awards, earlier this month.

Ideally situated on the beach, Caliente stands as the only restaurant on the beach in Ocho Rios and presents a captivating atmosphere. Thatched roof and bamboo-laced walls add to the ambience.

The restaurant is run by Dimitri Konidis, who last year opened the Mykonos Greek Restaurant on Main Street, Ocho Rios.

"I'm trying to bring something new and exciting to Jamaica, something that hasn't been done before, so we decided to do Caliente because it's a beautiful location, it brings you the beauty of Jamaica combined with some nice culinary experience while you're there," notes Konidis.

Something different

Konidis said he chose Mexican cuisine as there was no real Mexican restaurant in Ocho Rios.

"We wanted to do something that is not overdone by a lot of people, so that's why we went for the seafood with a Mexican flair. But the main thing is freshness."

Freshness indeed. Seafood is not stored but is caught daily and prepared. And the food is excellent.

Famous for its spicy flavour, Mexican cuisine is truly personified by Caliente, a Spanish word that means 'hot.'

The menu includes tacos - of fish, lobster, chicken, steak; nachos, quesadillas, burritos, chimichangas, shrimp scampi, among other delicacies.

"People who want to try something different can come to us," said Konidis

Meanwhile, the logo, which includes a red jalapeno pepper, is used as the 'I' in Caliente, with a rising flame in the background, was designed by Darren Seys of Peak Seven Advertising of Deerfield Beach, Florida.

"It was inspired by the flavour of the food, the open flame (used to prepare the food), and the proximity to the ocean," Seys told The Gleaner.

He said the logo took about four hours to design and he was extremely pleased with the award.

One customer, upon hearing that the logo had won a silver award, commented: "And the gold goes to the chef; this food is fantastic!"