Grande Bay Answers...Dining!

To continue with our tour of the best St John restaurants...Grande Bay Resort recommends La Plancha Del Mar.

Located on the second floor at the entrance of Mongoose Junction, La Plancha Del Mar offers thoughtful European-fusion cuisine. Their menu is inspired by the South of France and Spain and highlights fresh, local ingredients wherever possible. The space is airy and impressive, boasting very high ceilings and a handsome wrap-around balcony for dining al fresco.

On a particularly rainy day last week, I took two guests to La Plancha for happy hour. St John is replete with happy hour destinations and as entertaining as some other more racous venues may be, La Plancha offers a welcome reprieve. Kevin, our delightful mixologist, makes every visit a pleasant one. He greeted us with La Placha's generous happy hour menu which includes a Passionfruit Sangria that should not be missed. While straining some fresh cucumber puree for one of his refreshing creations, Kevin recommended we try one of their bar bites, as we were in need of sustenance after a long day at the beach. Each item on the happy hour menu is priced at just five dollars, and for such quality fare, La Plancha is my new go-to. Each item is wonderful, however, I highly recommend the Grilled Sirloin Sliders with Cheddar and Horseradish Creme Fraiche and crisp Fried Calamari with Lime Cilantro Aioli. The dinner menu offers an eclectic mix of options, from Paella a la Plancha to the oh-so-delicious Argentinean Churrasco Steak. La Plancha offers virtually every type of protein, including roasted chicken, seafood linguini, tuna steaks and ribeye. Their Eggplant and Red Pepper Risotto is a fine choice for vegetarian diners.

Do not neglect the drink menu during your visit to La Plancha Del Mar. With two spectacular mixologists on staff, La Plancha's libations are a refreshing reprieve from the typical coladas and rum drinks one may abuse while on a tropical getaway. La Plancha is one of the few places on-island where I don't fear asking for something traditionally served in a martini glass, or any glass for that matter. (Try ordering a Sauvingon Blanc at Woody's and you'll understand my point.) Kevin must have noticed my beach-induced fatigue and suggested I try a Vietnamese Iced Coffee. Coming from Metro-Boston, I know not to order anything resembling an espresso martini on St John. It being laughable one of the chief reasons, but secondly, because I have become accustomed to the icy fresh brewed espresso treats I had indulged in more than once in the North End. Kevin assured me that it would be a perfect replacement for my stateside signature drink, but more suitable for the island lifestyle. Of course he was right and my eyes lit up as he shaved dark chocolate over the frothy concoction.

Point being: Do go to La Plancha with your fellow vacationers for a break from mahi burgers and drinks in plastic cups. Do visit happy hour from 5 to 6 pm. Do ask the bartenders to surprise you.

Stay tuned for more verbose accounts of island fare from yours truly,

Catherine

Island Happenings - St John Blues Festival!

Don't forget to buy your tickets to the St John Blues Festival!

Multiple different bands and artists will be rockin' St John, beginning Friday March 18th and Saturday the 19th in Coral Bay. Dance your way to Cruz Bay for the festival closing party on Sunday the 20th. Tickets are on sale at both Connections stores and Chelsea Drug Store for $25 if purchased in advance. ($30 night-of) Shuttles will be running all night from Coral Bay to Cruz Bay, so bring a beach chair, blanket and your

dancin' shoes and get ready to party island-style!

http://bit.ly/STJBlues

Grande Bay Answers...Dining!

Another FAQ at Grande Bay Resort...which restaurants do you recommend?

One cannot answer this query in a single post, so like our beach survey, Grande Bay will offer our best dining advice restaurant by restaurant...beginning with a St John favorite...Zozo's Ristorante.

Zozo's is currently in it's 13th year of operation, one of the handful of restaurants that you might call an "institution" on St John. Zozo's reputation and culinary offerings have secured their position in the ever-changing St John restaurant scene. With a foundation of Italian cuisine combined with local ingredients, Zozo's offers a finer dining experience with a relaxed island attitude.
As the self-proclaimed unofficial Grande Bay Restaurant Critic, I took the liberty of dining at Zozo's yesterday evening with a group of ten raucous vacationers. Always gracious hosts, John and Ben were able to accommodate our group without hesitation, at a lovely round table in the center of the dining room. The dining area is a long narrow space, allowing for a spectacular view of the ocean from any table in the room. It is open-air, with tables lining the railing that over looks Pillsbury Sound.

Our knowledgeable server led us through the menu and the wine list. I placed my fate in his hands and ordered as per his suggestions only. From appetizer to aperitif, the experience lived up the reputation. Though many dishes were passed, a few of them stood out from the rest. Do not miss their fresh house-made papardelle with wild mushrooms, pecorino and white truffle cream. Perhaps skip the bruschetta and instead, indulge in the decadent potato gnocchi with Caribbean lobster, sweet corn and shellfish butter. Entree features included a fresh caught grouper, "pulled in around 1:30 that afternoon", and their signature dish, pistachio crusted local mahi with warm goat cheese, sweet peppers and arugula salad. For the very carnivorous, there are porterhouses and New York strip steaks to suit your palette as well.

As the last drops of our white Burgundy fell from the bottles, the group decided to celebrate their last night on-island with some prosecco and too many chocolate tortes. The kitchen sent out a platter of chocolate covered strawberries for the ladies of the table, as if we could accommodate another morsel. A hush fell over the room as the last tables of the evening retired to their guest rooms. Our chatter evolved into scattered whispers as we sipped port and watched as mast lights bobbed in the swell, St Thomas glittering orange across the sound.

If you could not gather from my verbose review, the point at hand is that Zozo's should not be missed. Ideal for couples looking for a romantic evening with a spectacular view, or a group of adult vacationers looking to invest in fine fare and cocktails. Feel free to don your resort finery as Zozo's boasts a less casual atmosphere than some other St John spots. Do arrive around 5:45pm and enjoy a drink upstairs at Jack's Lounge for a phenomenal view of the sunset.

Tips to consider:
~Large parties are offered two seatings; a 5:30 sunset seating and an 8:30 moonlight seating.
~Vegetarian dishes can be created upon request.
~Children under the age of 5 are not permitted.
~Reservations are strongly encouraged.
~Full menu available for viewing on Zozo's website ~ http://www.zozos.net/

Many more posts to follow as we tour St John with our tastebuds,



Catherine

Grande Bay Answers...Which is the best beach on St John?

St John is replete with stunning beaches, making it difficult to determine a favorite. Of all questions asked by Grande Bay guests and tourists alike, this is one of the most frequent. Fortunately, there are a plethora of choices for the St John wanderer to explore, each with it's own unique character. To keep it simple, and to allow for material for subsequent posts, we'll begin with the go-to, the fan favorite; Trunk Bay Beach. Some readers may disagree, but when pressed to name the one quintessential St John beach, Trunk Bay immediately comes to mind. Grande Bay Resort encourages guests to consider this world-famous spot as their "beginner" beach. "Beginner" meaning, it caters to all possible needs, is easy to access and manages to be breath-taking at the same time.

Trunk Bay offers a generous stretch of pristine white sand, with more usable beach space than it's narrower neighbors. The water is immaculate, nothing but an occasional silvery needlefish cutting through the surface, over the powdery bed of sand below. Not a rock, shell or strand of seaweed will disrupt your dip in the comfortably cool Caribbean Sea.

That is...unless you opt for a little adventure and circumnavigate the small island that sits only a few feet off shore. As mentioned previously, Trunk Bay offers a little of everything you might want from a tropical beach, including an underwater snorkeling trail! Full snorkel sets are available to rent for the day, along with beach chairs and lockers.

There is also a beach bar and grill for quick island snacks and drinks. There are several picnic tables and grills situated on a covered platform for a comfortable lunch spot, perfect for large groups. For those with safety concerns, fear not, Trunk Bay has two to four lifeguards on duty every day, and is usually very calm depending on the weather.

The most convenient benefit of Trunk Bay for families especially, are the full restrooms and shower facilities that are available until 4 pm, when the guard house closes. This is one of the National Park Service's largest beaches with the most convenient amenities, so there is a $4 charge during operating hours to off set the cost of the facilities and staff. For those who aren't able to rent a car, transportation is a breeze, with taxis coming and going all day until after 5 pm, for only a few dollars per person.

Depending on the number in your party and your taste for adventure...Trunk Bay may not end up being your favorite...however it would be tragic for a guest to have come and gone without at least stopping by to languish in the perfection of a late afternoon lap...

Few can deny that Trunk Bay is spectacular and very accessible, therefore, it can be the most crowded beach on St John during high season. Do you prefer seclusion? Do you prefer to hike your way to the reward of a deserted oasis? Stay tuned for Grande Bay's survey of St John beaches, along with more of your frequently asked questions!

Wrap Up of St. John's First Relay for Life

Well, we have now completed the first of what will hopefully be many successful Relay for Life events on our phenomenal little island! St. John stepped up big time! When St. John rallies like it did, it makes me so proud to be a part of this island!

If you happen to forget why we all live here or vacation here, events like this truly make you remember why. St. John is a special place. All walks of life and all age groups were involved in the event. No community I have ever been a part of comes together like this small one for events of this nature.

Our goal given to us by the National Cancer Society was $35,000. As of Friday we had raised $122, 000! And the funds were still trickling in! Not bad for a first go at things and an island of 4500 people! I cannot say enough about our sponsors, teams and volunteers. Everyone poured out so much time and effort and it showed. We set the bar high for the following years but I would not have had it any other way.

The event, which lasted from 4pm to 10am, featured entertainment all evening long from all over the world. There were also food vendors, massage tents, a dunk tank and many other events that helped keep people there through the night! The survivors dinner, which honored cancer survivors and their caretakers took place right in the middle of the ballfield as well. We had a four course meal for 80 people from some of the best chefs on the island. Mathayom Private Chefs, Ted's Super Club, Zozo's and La Plancha each provided courses for the outstanding candlelight dinner.

Grande Bay Resort sponsored a team known as the Grande Seahorses which helped to raise almost $2,000 in donations. I would like to say thank you to the select Grande Bay owners who helped to contribute to the cause! Grande Bay, along with sponsoring a team, also housed one of the musical artists who traveled in from Tampa, Florida.

Overall, we could not have been happier with the way it turned out. Considering the success of our first year, we are already in preperation for next years event! It's never to early! I will update everyone when we have a date for the Relay for Life in 2012 as well as when we have our final tally from 2011! Check out www.stjohnrelayforlife.org for pictures of the event, links to facebook and how to become involved next year!

Brian

Grande Bay Resort: Luxurious Rooms and Enhanced Website

GBR-Press Release

Soggy Dollar Bar: A Grande Bay Favorite Destination

Take the boat to Jost Van Dyke and spend the day soaking in the sun and drinking the house specialty : The Painkiller cocktail.