Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

Legendary songbird Marcia Griffiths gives Olympian Asafa Powell a hearty hug.

Patrons came out to dine and lyme with their favourite Olympians at Strawberry Hill on Friday, October 3, but what they did not expect was that the $15,000 per plate meal would be a scarce commodity.

The event dinner, dubbed 'Dining with the Stars', was in honour of the Jamaican Olympic team. The dinner got off to an extremely late start but patrons were content to sip cocktails and get photo ops with their favourite athletes.

Where was the food?

During the first course, Dean Fraser and C Sharp Band provided relaxing music. But while some tables were feasting on their four-course meals, others waited patiently to be served even the soup. So, after many were still on a second or third round of wine and fruit punch, they began to wonder: where was the food?

Those patrons became restless and began walking around, grumbling to see waiters just standing still. Plus, no representative of the organising committee explained the cause of the shoddy service. Even after midnight, some of the athletes were not still not fed. By this time, some people got tired of waiting and left.

Despite the lack of nourishment, the I-Threes, Etana and Tarrus Riley put on stunning performances throughout.

Jhana Sauders (left) and friends, Michelle Hirst (centre) and Kimberley Forbes, are out to dine with the stars on Friday, October 3, at Strawberry Hill, Irish Town, St Andrew.

Monique Todd (second right) and Rosemarie Voordouw (right) in conversation with past Olympians, Grace Jackson (left) and Kathy Rattray.

Triple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt (second right) has a Kodak moment with, from left, Mark and Betty McKenzie and Maxine Whittingham-Osborne of Red Stripe, at 'Dining with the Stars'.

Shelly-Ann Fraser hangs out with singer Tarrus Riley. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer