Sala’s at the Estate lights up Siloah

Less than a year in operation, Sala’s at the Estate has brought a breath of fresh air to Siloah and its environs in North East St Elizabeth. The establishment provides more than its tagline ‘Eat, Drink, Chill’, as sports-loving fans now have an area to go and watch their favourite event.

“This idea of Sala’s at the Estate was to take advantage of the spin-off from the rum tour,” Berth Solomon, the man behind the Sala’s at the Estate, told CENTRAL STAR.

“Sala’s at the Estate wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for plans to involve the communities,” he said. “People who come on the tour would get to meet and talk to people in the communities surrounding Appleton.”

“We basically wanted to offer an alternative, especially for food; and also alcoholic beverages, especially those that Appleton Estate Rum Experience doesn’t sell.”

Tatiana Thompson, a customer service attendant, said many of the persons who turn up at Sala’s at the Estate say they wouldn’t dream of something like this in Siloah.

“People also fall in love with the design, which was made from rum barrels,” Thompson said.

Berth, in explaining the design, said they “wanted a rustic look.

“We wanted something related to Appleton and the estate, something that can capture the imagination of people, and that is how the idea of the barrels came about.”

Donnicea Solomon, who manages the daily operations, said that in addition to the offerings, which includes fried chicken, jerked chicken, jerked pork, curried goat, stewed pork, stewed beef and oxtail, along with manish water, chicken soup, red peas with beef and conch soup, Sala’s at the Estate has a Seafood Thursdays, where seafood is done to order.

Jordaine Johnson, who is the guidance counsellor at Siloah Primary School, is a regular customer.

“It’s really a nice little chill spot if you just want to get away,” she said, while adding, “You always get fresh food.”

Johnson, who lives in Mandeville, Manchester, said: “I always say I wish there was somewhere in Mandeville like Sala’s Estate.”