Dinner on the Beach with Chef Charlie Mitchell

This year, Rockhouse Hotel will proudly celebrate its 50-year anniversary, alongside 30 years of the current ownership and 20 years of the Rockhouse Foundation, the hotel’s charitable organization.

To celebrate these milestones, the Rockhouse Foundation will host a special Dinner on the Beach on Saturday, June 22nd, featuring award-winning chef Charlie Mitchell, executive chef & co-owner of Michelin starred restaurant, Clover Hill in Brooklyn, NY. Charlie, who is the first Black Michelin-starred chef in New York City, won the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: New York. Chef Charlie will bring his fine dining sensibilities, influenced by the art and culture of New York City, to the shores of Jamaica at Skylark Negril Beach Resort, alongside Miss Lily’s culinary director, chef Andre Fowles.

Guests will enjoy welcome canapes paired with cocktails from Worthy Park and live music, followed by a seated beachfront dinner and a multi-course menu of chef Charlie’s innovative dishes using the best of the island’s produce, much of which will be sourced from the onsite Rockhouse hydroponic farm. An after party will feature music from DJ and partner, Max Glazer, and dancing into the night.

100% of proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Rockhouse Foundation, our charitable arm dedicated to transforming the places where Jamaica’s children learn, and supporting the great people who teach them.

Evening Schedule: Saturday, June 22
6:00pm – Sunset Cocktails from Worthy Park rum, wine and canapes at Miss Lily’s Negril at Skylark with entertainment from the Silver Birds Steel Orchestra
7:00pm - Seating begins for Dinner on the Beach at Skylark Negril Beach Resort with chef Charlie Mitchell and chef Andre Fowles, with support from Miss Lily’s Negril executive chef, Kahari Woolcock
7:15pm - Welcome presentation from Paul Salmon, chairman of Rockhouse and co-founder of the Rockhouse Foundation
7:30pm - Chef Charlie Mitchell presents details on the first course; dinner commences
9pm – 11pm Dinner concludes; after party at Miss Lily’s at Skylark with DJ Max Glazer

Chef Charlie Mitchell
Charlie Mitchell is the executive chef & co-owner of Michelin starred restaurant Clover Hill in Brooklyn Heights, NY. With over nine years of experience, Mitchell has worked at some of the most heralded fine-dining institutions in the country, including Betony and the iconic Eleven Madison Park. In 2023, the Detroit-native became the first and only U.S. Black male Executive Chef and restaurant owner to be awarded a Michelin Star, and thus became the first Black Michelin Star Chef in New York City. As the winner of the Michelin Guide New York 2022 Young Chef Award, a 2023 James Beard Award Finalist, and 2024 James Beard Award Nominee, Charlie, is redefining the fine dining restaurant experience as he creates a dining atmosphere influenced by both the arts and forms of self-expression as demonstrated in New York City culture

Chef Andre Fowles
Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Andre grew up around delicious food made by his grandmother, who taught him the art of “down home” cooking, made with lots of love, local ingredients and delicious flavors. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Andre returned to Jamaica and worked in some of the island’s finest establishments including the award-winning Mac’s Chop House and the world-renowned Round Hill Hotel. Andre later worked for four years as chef de cuisine at New York City’s popular Jamaican restaurant, Miss Lily’s, where he further developed his take on modern concepts of Caribbean flavors, before eventually working his way up to culinary director. Chef Fowles is a three-time Food Network ‘Chopped’ Champion, he was a finalist on ‘Chopped’ Grand Championship tournament and has appeared as a contestant on ‘Beat Bobby Flay’. Andre’s work with the Miss Lily’s brand as Culinary Directory including their Jamaican outpost at the Skylark Negril Beach Resort, in addition to Miss Lily’s 7A in New York’s East Village. Chef Andre also continues to grow his New York based hospitality company, Everything Food, while he writes his first cookbook and works on launching his first restaurant concept.

Chef Kahari Woolcock
Born and raised in a farm community just outside of Negril, Kahari Woolcock in 2005 opened Klas Restaurant & Bar in Orange Hill as his first hospitality venture, creating a popular local menu. He went on to work at prominent establishments throughout Jamaica including Rockhouse Hotel, Coral Cliffs Casino as Executive Sous Chef and Spices Negril. Kahari moved to the U.S. to further pursue his culinary career, working alongside Chef Rhy Waddington as Kitchen Manager at Winged Foot Country Club, and as Sous Chef at Forty 1 North in Newport R.I. In 2021 Kahari returned to his roots and joined the team at Miss Lily’s in New York as Chef de Cuisine. In 2022 he moved back to Jamaica to become Executive Chef at Miss Lily’s at the Skylark Negril Beach Resort.

About Rockhouse Foundation
The Rockhouse Foundation is dedicated to transforming the places where Jamaica’s children learn while supporting the great people who teach them, directly impacting the lives of thousands of young people and their families. Since its inception in 2004, the Foundation has invested over $9 million USD to build, expand and renovate six Negril area public schools and the Negril Community Library. In 2017, the Rockhouse Foundation established Jamaica’s first public institution serving children with disabilities and without in a full inclusion setting – the Savanna-la-Mar Inclusive Academy (Sav Inclusive), which was also the first school built from the ground up by the Foundation. Jamaica’s Ministry of Education and the Rockhouse Foundation have signed a new joint commitment to expand the school through to 12th grade over the next decade. All administrative and marketing costs of the foundation are underwritten by Rockhouse Hotel, Skylark Negril Beach Resort, Miss Lily’s and their owners, meaning all donations go directly to the projects and programs. The Rockhouse Foundation directly impacts the lives of thousands of young people, their families and their educators in western Jamaica.

We look forward to welcoming you to Negril Beach.

One Love,
The Rockhouse Foundation