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Dining in a French-Dutch Paradise
By : Donald Rodrigue
Photos J. Kevin Foltz
The dual-nationality island of Dutch Sint Maarten and French Saint Martin is synonymous with fine dining. Although a lot of Caribbean islands serve delicious native foods, few can claim a cuisine flavored by two distinct European cultures and traditional Caribbean influences. Not even Europe can claim such close proximity of Dutch and French culinary influences, giving St. Maarten/St. Martin a unique gastronomic advantage. In fact, many people plan their vacations here precisely to enjoy the ultimate dining experience.
The island's restaurants never lack for fresh ingredients, thanks to an abundance of local seafood and gourmet ingredients hailing from Europe to Latin America. You'll never have to worry about the wine or cheese list being limited either, thanks to the daily Air France flights. But even the freshest of ingredients need capable hands to turn them into culinary masterpieces, and the island is home to many renowned chefs, some of which came back with top honors from the 2005 Taste of the Caribbean competition held in Miami. Come along with us as we take you on a delectable tour of a few of this dining mecca's incomparable restaurants.
Haute Cuisine in the Dutch Lowlands
Located at the Atlantis Casino in Cupecoy, Montmartre (lemontmartre.com) evokes boisterous Paris bistros at the turn of the 20th century. Named one of the Caribbean's top restaurants by Bon Appétit magazine, Montmartre is a delight to every one of the senses. The waiters here will expertly filet your fresh Chilean sea bass or carve your Cote de Beouf for two, right at the table. You might choose to begin with a ravioli filled with ricotta cheese, porcini and basil, or a special brioche with sausage and sautéed oyster mushrooms in a tangy tomato sauce. For entrees, consider the plateau de fruits de mer (crab, shrimp and winkles), tournedos Rossini (filet mignon topped with foie gras) or the roasted veal chop that's flambéed with cognac and bathed in a morel mushroom sauce. To accompany your entree, you can choose from more than 100 wines, including Champagnes, rosés, flavorful white Burgundies and much more. For a decadent treat, try the house specialty dessert: a peach crumble with red fruit on a gingerbread biscuit topped with hot fudge.
Beach Casual in Philipsburg
After their huge success with the Kangaroo Court next to downtown Philipsburg's picturesque courthouse, owners Su and Norm Wathey launched their latest culinary adventure, Taloula Mango's, (taloulamangos.com) on the Great Bay Beach boardwalk in what they refer to as "one delicious slice of paradise."
The Watheys have compiled a creative Caribbean menu of entrees ranging from Caribbean conch, dumplings and roasted jerk chicken to Argentinean churrasco and zucchini stuffed with Portabello mushrooms. For a lighter lunch or dinner, order one of the savory thin-crust pizzas, and for dessert, be sure and try Su's secret recipe for her ultimate chocolate nut tart. Diners can choose from the upstairs air-conditioned dining balcony or the open-air terrace, where the sounds of live jazz or raggae are a constant lure for people passing by on the boardwalk.
Bon Appétit
Dining in French St. Martin is tantamount to jetting to the south of France. Here the appetizing options range from sidewalk cafes serving up the freshest of French pastries and crepes for breakfast to intimate French bistros serving elegant dishes with marked Caribbean influences. Most true gourmands head straight to Grand Case, a tiny city packed with exquisite dining experiences. Here you'll find more than two dozen elegant eateries housed in historical Creole houses that serve up everything from regional French cuisine to Caribbean and Italian fare. For something truly different, head to Le Ti Coin Creole (grandcase.com/ticoincreole), where Chef Carl Philips prepares his Caribbean Creole dishes- such as his lobster bisque and curried goat-using quality ingredients. The rice dishes here change according to his moods, varying from simple Caribbean rice and peas to the more exotic vanilla-infused rice. Seafood lovers will also relish his whole snapper and shrimp scampi. Philips' creations aren't spicy though; for that, he relies on his homemade hot sauce, a truly unique treat. You'll find an adequate wine list here, a good variety of after-dinner liqueurs and some of the coldest Beck's beer on the island. Chef Carl's colorful place is easy to find, located right on the main street of Grand Case.
For a delicious meal while enjoying the island's famous sunshine, you'll do no better than Bikini Beach Tapas Bar & Grill (bikinisme.com), located in the heart of the Orient Bay action. Here diners can choose from a huge variety of tapas, or appetizers, such as steamed edamame with coarse salt, fried Thai shrimp and baked garlic mussels, along with a huge variety of salads. Entrees include bouillabaisse Antillaise (snapper, grouper, shrimp and scallops cooked in coconut milk and seasoned with sweet peppers), grilled whole freshwater shrimp Provençale and chicken breast with homemade massaman curry. Breakfast is also served, and The Fresh Squeeze juice bar offers a plethora of smoothies and frozen drinks.
So, no matter which side of the unique island of St. Maarten/St. Martin you find yourself on, you'll never be far from a tantalizing meal.
Book your trip today! Visit www.aa.com, call American/American Eagle reservations at 1-800-433-7300, or call your travel agent for more information.
For addditional information on the beautiful island of St. Maarten, visit www.experiencestmaarten.com.
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