Anguilla - CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa; Violet with Sutton Foster

Anguilla

Just returned from Anguilla. We stayed at the CuisinArt Resort.http://www.cuisinartresort.com/index.php?catID=33 We had a great time. The weather was perfect. 80's and no rain. We had some amazingly clear days.We booked the trip through Luxury Link.luxurylink.com . Everything was handled well and we had a very nice package that included full breakfast, 2 messages and a dinner at Santorini, which was close to $200 without wine.

The picture of the beach says it all. The swimming was great, water temperature was perfect and there were some small waves to keep you awake. The hotel provides chairs, umbrellas and water. The beach attendents are helpful. They have small sailboats to use and one of the beach staffers took me out for a ride one day.

Bankie Banx,http://www.bankiebanx.net/ the Anguilla reggae legend has his bar and restaurant 100 yards down the beach.

 

We did not have a drink there but people seemed to enjoy the place and Bankie is a character. Just be careful if you go since the prices can be steep and Bankie charges a cover charges at times.

The food at the hotel was very good. They have a new chef and they have a hydroponic greenhouse where vegetables are grown. We ate at the main restaurant the Bistro at Santorini. We were very impressed. We had poached lobster and red snapper. The flavors were subtle and the presentation stunning. The salads are not to be missed. Lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers from their greenhouse.

Dessert was awesome. We had mango soup that was jelled and a passion fruit complex dessert plate. Also had a chocolate dessert (above) another night.They then had small after dessert chocolates and jellies. Then the waitress told us about their ice creams so she brought out a chocolate and caramel scoops. The chocolate was really good. The restaurant is not cheap but none of the restaurants on the island are cheap and I doubt that any top Santorini. They have a very big wine list that is expensive. You can find some wines in the $40 to $50 range. They had a Hugel dry riesling that we enjoyed at the manager's cocktail party. I was impressed that they served good wines at the Manager's party.

The room was large and well set out. The view from the room wasn't bad. The beach was 30 feet straight ahead.

The hotel has a beach grill where they grill lobsters and fish. They don't highlight the grill but is a bargain for Anguilla. Lobster was $25 per pound. My wife and I shared a 2 lb. lobster for lunch. Yummy.

Another place to eat for lunch is the Sunshine Shack. It is on the beach in the opposite direction from Bankie's. Great ribs and chicken for a reasonable price. The plated the food nicely and  they have no electricity.

The hotel has a  golf course which was fun to play. The views were great. I had the course to myself. They have a driving range which is free to guests of the hotel. The provide clubs as well.

Another good restaurant on the island is E's Oven. A small local spot off the main road. Reasonable and good with some interesting fish.

BTW we tried to eat at one of our favorite restaurants  On Da Rocks again for the weekend special of $5 crayfish.. Strangely, it seemed empty. We sat down and ordered beers. Then the waitress came over and told us it would be 30 minutes until the fisherman came with crayfish. By this time we were familiar with island time. After 30 minutes I asked the waitress if there was any progress. She said no. We paid and left. I think that they have new ownership. The place just seems different.


Recent Wines

2010 Château de RicaudBordeaux Supérieur Red Bordeaux Blend 

5/3/2014 - I like this wine: 90 points (Edit)
Good solid 2010 Bordeaux. Paid $14 in Anguilla. Fruity almost grapey but good balance and medium bodied. Enjoyed and would drink again. An excellent value. There is some confusion on this wine. A wine with the same name was reviewed by the WS but it states that the appellation was Cadillac Cotes de Bordeaux. The wine I had was Bordeaux Superieur. WS review was 91.


  Rosé  2013 Château Sainte Roseline Côtes de Provence Cru Classé Lampe de MeduseCinsault

5/8/2014 - I like this wine: 90 points
Bought at wine shop in Anguilla for $25; complex rose with mdeium body and good flavor; dry and drinks easily, would drink again.


  White - Sparkling  NV Jacques Cartier BrutFrance White Blend

5/8/2014 - I like this wine: 90 points
Drank at restaurant in Anguilla with fish; $59 on wine list; $40 in local store; yeasty, lots of flavor; enjoyed; will drink again depending on price in US;

  Red  2013 Tiburzi Montefalco Colle ScancellatoSangiovese Blend, Sangiovese 

5/7/2014 - I like this wine: 90 points (Edit)
VG fruity but with tannin wine; great value; recommended by DiPalo; 13% alcohol; would drink again; drank with pizza and salad but would drink with any meal.

  White  2013 Valley Vineyards Chenin Blanc The RoyalSwartland

4/30/2014 - I like this wine: 90 points (
Fruity white but good acidity and some complexity; great for the price or any price;refreshing wine drank with salmon.



  White  2012 Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc Sonoma Countymore

4/30/2014 - I wrote: 83 points
ot my cup fo wine; oaky and not balanced; did not enjoy; will not drink again.


  Red  2008 The Winemakers' Collection Stephane Derenoncourt Cuvée No. 4 Château d'ArsacHaut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend
4/29/2014 - I like this wine: 90 points
Good bouquet; nice medium bodied wine; good fruit with balance and complexity; For an 08 Bordeaux, not bad. Enjoyed the bottle and will drink again

  Red  2011 Cardwell Hill Cellars Pinot Noir Estate BottledWillamette Valley

4/25/2014 - I don't like this wine: 83 points
We are fed up with the WS reviews of Oregon PN's. This wine is not a good wine. Light, no finish, not much fruit, just no characteristics of a good wine; If a reviewer is looking for PN that is not a fruit bomb but not a good wine, then this is it, WS had the same problem with A to Z. I have no problem with a reviewer being partial to certain types of wine but the WS reviewers aim for impartiality. There is no way that their score on this wine is comparable to scores of other wines from other areas. Avoid this wine. If you need recommendations on some good wines of this ilk, drop me a note. Try a 2011 Cru Beaujolais, preferably old vines.

  Red  2010 Chalone Vineyard Pinot Noir Limited release Founder's Club 

4/27/2014 - I like this wine: 90 points (Edit)
Good wine with fruit and acid; high in alcohol which I think generates some the spiciness; not as complex as I would like; drank with lamb chops;will drink again but I think one can get more flavor and complexity from some lower alcohol PN's.

  Red  2008 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private ReserveNapa Valley
4/26/2014 - I like this wine: 92 points
Tough wine; good flavor but so high in alcohol, 15.1%; a 3 person bottle; some complexity, not totally balanced; good mouthfeel; drank with veal chops; you want to drink more but you can't because it is so big; we can appreciate the wine but not our favorite; what is the purpose of wine; what role does it play in a meal? Should we try to be impartial or should we have a bias when we review a wine; do wine writers consider whether one can drink several glasses of a wine when the write glowing reviews after 1 sip?

  Red  2003 Château MonbousquetSt. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 

4/19/2014 - I like this wine: 92 points
Nice bouquet, good color, medium bodied with vg mouthfeel; nice balance although it it could have had a bit more fruit; drank with a steak; wine needed some oomph but overall lots of flavor in a 13% alcohol wine; would drink again.

  White  2008 Melville Chardonnay EstateSta. Rita Hills 

4/18/2014 - I like this wine: 93 points
VG white wine; Oak was beautifully integrated with the fruit; great balance and complex; nice nose and beautiful color - golden; only downside is very high alcohol of 14.9%; enjoyed wine with lobster tails; would drink again; the wine has aged well;

  Red  2005 Château LarrivauxHaut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend

4/18/2014 - I wrote: 84 points
OK this time; not much fruit just some character. I have had very inconsistent bottles of this wine. I have 1 more bottle to drink.

  Red  2012 Meiomi Pinot Noir MeiomiCalifornia

4/16/2014 - I wrote: 88 points (Edit)
OK wine but no pizzaz; fruity with some acid; drinks easily but not what I want from a PN; medium bodied but lacks complexity. would not go out of my way to drink again.



  Red  2011 Continuum Proprietary RedNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend 

4/16/2014 - I like this wine: 92 points
Wine has potential; somewhat delicate for a Napa cab; 2011 was an interesting year w/o superripe fruit; good fruit but still somewhat disjointed especially on the finish; would try again;


  Red  2012 YasoSpain Tempranillo

4/16/2014 - I like this wine: 90 points
Nice wine; not heavy good fruit with some terroir; will try again; WA 93 is somewhat over the top but a great value at Costco for $10.



  Red  2010 Domaine Chante Cigale Châteauneuf-du-PapeRed Rhone Blend 

4/16/2014 - I like this wine: 91 points (Edit)
Interesting wine; nice fruit, some funk, complex, medium bodied with nice mouthfeel; drank with rack of lamb; would drink again;



  Red  2012 Bergström Pinot Noir Gregory RanchYamhill-Carlton

4/16/2014 - I like this wine:
Nice Oregon PN; was expecting more from this 2012 vintage; good medium bodied with some fruit but the wine did not come together; Have had some other 2012 PN's from Willamette Valley and this was not as good. Would try again.



  Red  2010 Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia SassicaiaRed
4/15/2014 - I like this wine: 94 points (Edit)
Delicate, complex wine. Good flavor, still needs some time for balance. Enjoyed with rack of lamb.



  Red  2011 Château Grange Cochard Morgon Côte du PyGamay 

4/13/2014 - I like this wine: 93 points (Edit)
This wine rocks. Tastes like a vg Burgundy PN. Delicate fruit with nice tannin and structure; beautiful bouquet; medium bodied and just a great balanced wine; A top Oregon wine could taste like this; will drink again; not a cheap wine but worth the price; 2011 was a vg year in some of the Cru Beajolais'.



  Red  2005 Ferrari-Carano Prevail West FaceAlexander Valley Red Blend
4/11/2014 - I like this wine: 87 points (Edit)
Wine has seen better days but we have been drinking half bottles; lots of sediment and a bit grapey; nice bouquet; drink up.


  Rosé  2013 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Édition RoséDundee Hills

4/12/2014 - I like this wine: 90 points
Nice rose of Pinot Noir; maybe could have a bit more acidity; wine drinks very smooth; medium bodied wine with nice fruit but dry; Not a light wine; beautiful color and decent bouquet; will drink again; DDO makes really nice wines.



  Red  2008 Americo Dão Nunes SeabraTouriga Nacional 

4/5/2014 - I don't like this wine: 80 points (Edit)
Rough; not sure about the reviews; will not try again/



  White - Sparkling  NV Berberana Brut Bodegas BerberanaSpain Champagne Blend

4/10/2014 - I wrote: 84 points
OK cava. Drank with bbq ribs. Could be fresher.



  Red  2007 Mauro Molino BaroloNebbiolo 

4/11/2014 - I like this wine: 92 points (Edit)
Big wine; high alcohol 15%; good mouth feel, medium bodied but somewhat

Violet; Sutton Foster

Sutton Foster is back on Broadway in Violet. http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Shows-Events/Violet.aspx?gclid=COP7t6-mqr4CFaNj7Aod-EcArw Offbeat, good music,entertaining, a must for Sutton Foster fans such as myself. Check it out.

My garden is planted. We will see how things progress. The Summit Farmer's Market is back on Sunday's. Fiiish! We had tuna, clams and flounder this week. Heaven, I'm in Heaven.

Enjoy.