Imagine an old country estate set amidst rolling green hills where pimento scents waft through the air and laughter spills over from long communal tables. This is Rockfield. And this is where sisters Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau invite guests and food adventurers to journey back in time to experience Jamaica in its most genuine and decadent way.
Two Sisters is not another new travel adventure. It is a personal welcome to get to know Jamaica, but this time by way of food, art, music, history and fashion guided by two of the Caribbean's finest culinary storytellers. For travelers who appreciate true experience, culture crash courses, and the delight of good meals shared in unforgettable settings, Two Sisters provides an experience that's one-of-a-kind.
A Legacy of Caribbean Hospitality
Together, Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau have led the Caribbean hospitality scene for more than three decades. They have owned favorite restaurants, appeared in award-winning television shows, and authored award-winning cookbooks that are a testament to the rich heritage and flavor of West Indian tradition.
Their reputation is not only in their cooking prowess but in keeping things authentic. Each dish they offer has a history. Each function they host is an invitation to slow down and indulge in the good things of life.
With Two Sisters, they are making this philosophy a reality within an environment that could not be more ideal.
Rockfield The Heart of Two Sisters Experiences
In their search for the perfect home for this new venture, the Rousseau sisters found Rockfield, or vice versa.
This stunningly restored Great House in the hills of St Ann's Parish is not just any ordinary location. A former pimento spice farm constructed post-emancipation, Rockfield is burdened with Jamaican history in its walls and gardens. Its history is part of the island's narrative of hope and ingenuity.
When Michelle and Suzanne found that the house needed new life, the idea to establish Two Sisters Experiences there was born. It was a stroke of destiny that transformed their vision into reality.
Today, visitors will gather around blazing fire pits on the expansive grounds of Rockfield, drink rum in its elegant salons and sleep to the sun breaking over its green hill sides.
Immersive Experiences that Tell a Story
Two Sisters is no run-of-the-mill cooking classes or standard tastings. It's a sophisticated series of immersion activities that are meant to transport the visitors to the heart of Jamaica's culture.
For the travelers who enjoy genuine traveling, the experience provided is irresistible.
Hearth to Table is alfresco dining where rustic Jamaican cuisine is cooked above live coals on a three-century-old pimento BBQ. The sound of the coals crackling, the scent of spices, and the diners' laughter under the stars are an evening to be savoured.
Harvest Lunch celebrates fresh locally harvested produce simply and beautifully prepared. Guests sit at long tables and share stories and conversation as platters of colorful food are presented. It is a celebration of island plenty and of community.
Journey Through Jerk is a comprehensive journey through Jamaica's most renowned culinary heritage. Guests learn about the true history and traditions of jerk preparation from native origins right up to its contemporary varieties.
For the intrepid, there is the Country Walk and Traditional Jamaican Breakfast, a guided walk up Rockfield's lush hills and then a traditional country breakfast prepared over an open fire.
Other activities include tastings of rum, mixology workshops and coffee and chocolate tastings. All experiences are meant to capture Jamaica's rich gastronomic heritage and the women and communities who have maintained it.
Honoring Women Across Generations
At the center of Two Sisters is the love of storytelling. But these are not stories of recipes or of food. They are stories about women.
Michelle and Suzanne have dedicated their life's work to honoring the achievements of Jamaican women who have carried forward knowledge, maintained traditions and established culture from generation to generation and from class to class.
These will be shared with the guests during each meal and master class. They will know the hands that harvested the pimento, the grandmothers who stirred the pot around the open fire and the people who clung to traditions even in the times of change.
Thus, Two Sisters is not merely an epicurean adventure but also a treasure trove of Jamaican heritage.
The Art of Slow Living
For the discerning traveler, Two Sisters provides something different. It is an opportunity to leave the chaotic pace of contemporary life behind and connect with what is really important.
No rushed meals to be had here. No impersonal buffets or mass-market tours, either. Instead, we enjoy languid afternoons eating superbly grilled fish, candlelit nights getting lost in conversation and mornings that begin with coffee roasted just a few steps from where it was cultivated.
This is slow living at its best. This is travel that feeds both body and soul.
A Place Worth Visiting
Situated on St Ann's Parish hills, Rockfield is under thirty minutes from Ian Fleming International Airport, Ocho Rios and ninety minutes from Norman Manley International Airport, Kingston.
But to me, it seems to be a world away. The stately verandas, green gardens and old structures of the estate provide a sense of sanctuary that is rich and earthy.
Experience sizes range from intimate groups of ten to larger groups of thirty and can be customized for private reservations. Costs begin at one hundred dollars per person, which is a budget-friendly yet classy way to immerse in Jamaica's culinary offerings.
The Promise of Two Sisters
For Michelle and Suzanne Rousseau, it is not business as usual. It is the culmination of a lifetime's work and gift to those who feel as they do about Jamaican culture. As Michelle relates, perhaps the most powerful way of preserving and transmitting cultural heritage is through food. With Two Sisters, they are ensuring that the traditions, heritage and tastes that shaped them will inspire future generations of guests.
For readers of Fine Homes and Living who appreciate authenticity, heritage and the joy of an expertly prepared meal shared in fine company, Two Sisters is a must. It is Jamaica at its very soulful best, inviting you to sit at the table and take part in its heritage.
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