This Site Was Last Updated on Saturday, 28 March 2009
Site Owner - Stephen Smith
Remember Mario Machado
Mario 1968
Mario today
When did you attend Priory
1966 - 1972
Who were your most memorable teachers?
Probably Henry Fowler, although we had so many great ones. Mrs. Hernould, Mrs. Gregory, Mr. Tansey, Graham Davis, Greta Fowler. Great teachers but Mr. Fowler hauled me through high school!
Graham Davis and Nell Bourke
Henry Fowler
Who were your best friends at Priory?
Graham Paxton, Geoff Charlton, Curtis Khouri, Richard DaCosta, Sally Humphries, Henry Fowler, Simon Hernould, Susan Douthwaite, Denise Sleem
Susan Douthwaite, Denise Sleem, Richard daCosta, Sally Humphries and Graham Paxton
Who are you in touch with today?
Curtis Khouri, Cat Coore, Tony Thame, Brian Langford, Mike Matalon, Malcolm Hernould, George Cumming. My wife Fiona nee Bennett and her sisters Katrina and Anna and brother Donald Bennett.
Bryan Langford, Malcolm Hernould and Stephen 'Cat' Coore
Who would you like to track down?
This is worries!
What was the wildest thing you ever did at Priory?
Let's leave this alone!!!!!!
Who was the craziest person during your time at Priory?
Some guy named Dave Elrod I think. He was spooky.
Where do you live and what do you do nowadays?
I live in Kingston operating my own restaurant Mac's Chop House, after living all over the world, London, Sydney, Brussels, Boca Raton and the Turks & Caicos.
Here is a recent 'write-up' from the Gleaner:-
It's Mac's for special occasions
Mac's Chop
House
24-26 Trinidad Terrace,
Kingston 5
960-6328
Hours: Monday
to Saturday,
6:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m.
Reservations recommended
Andrea Downer, Gleaner Writer
MAC'S CHOP
House has been opened for six months and as such, could be considered a new
kid on the block in the local restaurant business. However, if bookings were
to be taken into account, the new kid on the block is packing a major
wallop. Macs One of the restaurants participating in Kingston Restaurant
Week, Mac's is all but solidly booked. Those who wish to sample the fine
cuisine that is lovingly prepared by house chef, Mario Machado, might have
to do so after the week of November
12-19, albeit at regular prices.
But Fiona Machado, who owns and operates Mac's with her husband Mario, and other family members, says the kind of dining experience offered at Mac's is worth every penny spent.
"We are expensive but our guests do get what they pay for and at the end of each meal, they are satisfied," she explained. While a three-course dinner at Mac's with wine and cocktails could cost $4,000, during Restaurant Week, those who have been lucky enough to book for dinner will pay half that price.
Mario credits his family's overnight success to their vast experience in the restaurant business.
"Restaurant is our business, we ran the Blue Mountain Inn for many years, right in the heart of the hotel district," he said. However, he admitted that the location of the restaurant has not hurt either. Next door to the hot night-spot, The Quad, and just steps away from major New Kingston Hotels such as The Hilton Kingston and The Jamaica Pegasus, the restaurant is centrally located and strategically placed.
"There is a great synergy between Mac's and The Quad, our guests sometimes go over to the club for a nightcap after they have eaten and sometimes they also go to The Quad to wait until seating becomes available," he explained.
He said they were prompted to open the restaurant as they realised that there were just not enough choices of places to eat out.
"In just six months, we have already met and exceeded our expectations," he beamed.
Mario says he hopes new clients will come in to eat during Kingston Restaurant Week and hopefully they will come back afterwards. "We want to be known as a special occasion restaurant," he said.
Tell us about any significant others
I married Fiona in 79, we are still very together. She also works with us. We have three kids, David 25, Sommer 24 and Claire 19. David and Sommer graduated from UCF in Orlando with Hospitality majors. Claire is at boarding school in Boca Raton
Fiona and Mario
Tell us about your most unusual meeting with a Priory person
I see lots of people all the time. I even bucked up 'Mad John' Harvey and Mrs. Leo in Australia in 74!
Jon Harvey
What do you think of the Priory Website?
Great stuff Steve, well done. Lets get a reunion going soon. Maybe somewhere central like Miami.
Click here to e-mail Stephen Smith Published on the Priory Website Sunday
10th September 2006
© Stephen Smith 2009