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Trip summary: Days 9-13

Posted By: cruzer

Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/25/2016 11:18 AM

Composing these reports isn't too difficult, but overcoming sand gravity enough to enter my thoughts becomes more difficult with every passing day. I started this over 24 hours ago, but kept getting distracted. Or sleepy. Or thirsty.

Over the last 5 days we seem to have hit our optimal dining stride, starting the day with the small croissants that GCBC provides, followed by an earlier lunch and then dinner. We tried Grain du Poivre last trip for lunch and returned this trip for dinner. The menu is limited in low season, but very tasty, including the main course accompaniments. I finally got my duck confit. I have added this to my list.

Other restaurants included another lunch special at Le Taitu; goat stew at Le Ti Coin Creole (my favorite goat on the island); a conchless lunch at recently-back-from-vacation L'Escargot; our standard dinner of appetizers at Bistrot Caraibes, whose smoked salmon was better than ever; lunch at Champagne Bistro, accompanied by a bottle of Chardonnay we picked up next door at Select Wine Cellar because Sylvain didn't have a bottle of Pinot Blanc chilled down; Piazza Pascal, and the always excellent grilled squid appetizer; Our standard excellent beef filet with blue cheese sauce and tasty vegetable accompaniments at L'Auberge Gourmand; and, finally a Sunday lunch at Hercules, where they had a guy playing a steel drum and I had the Haitian specialty, Griot, along with accras made with tania instead of flour and a pair of Ti punches to wash it down. If you notice a preoccupation with food and dining, well that's my main reason for coming to this island (Shirley's favorite reason is in the next paragraph, perhaps).

After spending 10 days within a 7 klick radius of Grand Case, we finally ventured over to Philipsburg for the afternoon. Shirley, somehow, found something she didn't already have from Blanc du Nil. Then stopped for some always delicious Guavaberry Coladas, and wondered if they can't fit in another jewelry store on Front Street. Oh, and I thought it would be safe to visit Vince at Royal Jewelers. It wasn't, but Shirley is happy, so who am I to complain.

We decided to visit Carole at her grocery store in Oyster Pond but the store was closed. I hope everything is ok with her, but we'll try to stop by again this Thursday.

Our usual cast of characters gathers one day for wine tasting with Sylvain at Select Wine Cellar. This time we had a bubbly, 3 whites, 3 reds, a dessert wine, and an Armagnac with a selection of cheeses, pates, sausages and breads. IMO, this was the best one yet, even if we didn't start until 6:30.

We still haven't ventured beyond Petite Plage and Grand Case Beach, and probably won't until we relocate next week for 3 nights to Mary's Boon.

Peeve: Cars who pass you, only to take the next turn. Then again, why not?

This is probably a good stopping point.
Posted By: ruralcarrier

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/25/2016 11:28 AM

Thanks for the update.
Posted By: GaKaye

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/25/2016 12:26 PM

Thanks for the report; you mentioned some dining spots that we haven't yet tried, and while I say now that we'll try them this year, it probably won't happen. It's hard to break out of the routine.

Carole's been posting photos from appears to be her vacation, so I'm sure she's fine and just taking a well-deserved break. That's one hard-working lady!
Posted By: pat

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/25/2016 12:26 PM

Sounds like a perfect trip doing what you want when you want and hitting all the high notes but with no particular agenda. Very nice and thank you for taking us along.
Posted By: SXMNorm

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/25/2016 12:39 PM

Thanks for the update. Have a great time.
Posted By: SandS

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/25/2016 12:52 PM

Love reports. Thank you. Vince & Harry are the best. Few people ever mention Royal Jewelers.
Posted By: Carol_Hill

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/25/2016 12:57 PM

Sounds like some lovely dining experiences! Looking forward to the rest of the story
Posted By: milo911md

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/25/2016 03:10 PM

Thanks for the Restaurant updates.
Just wondering what happened to le ti provencal. I know it has been closed for past couple of years. Any other restaurant opened in its location. I remembered when they were in their original smaller place ( where L 'Effet Mer is now)
Posted By: ib4ut1

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/25/2016 05:44 PM

I believe you are the guy who ordered the last Griot so that I didn't get any!!!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> The gentleman who played the steel drum was really good. We thoroughly enjoyed Hercules and are glad we discovered this neat place. My wife had grilled snapper and I had the ribs. Excellent!
Posted By: cruzer

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/25/2016 07:45 PM

Guilty as charged! But, I did offer you an accra as a consolation prize. At least they had more for you. You now have something to look forward to on your next trip.
Posted By: cruzer

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/25/2016 07:50 PM

I do remember they moved down the street some years ago, but not sure where. I looked today on our way to Marigot and think maybe Le Temps des Cerises took over that space. I don't know anything about that restaurant, though.
Posted By: TravelHat

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/26/2016 02:10 AM

Do they serve it with pikliz?
Posted By: cruzer

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/26/2016 02:26 AM

I had to look up pikliz, but no they didn't. I'll ask about it next time, though, as this dish dish sounds really good. Is it similar in taste to kimchi?
Posted By: TravelHat

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/26/2016 02:31 AM

Depends what peppers they use. If they kill you with scotch bonnet it is like Jamaican jerk you can't eat, if that makes sense. You need to get it balanced between the pepper, garlic and vinegar. I love anything pickled.
Posted By: RonDon

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/26/2016 12:18 PM

Sounds like we have the same tastes, from wine to restaurants. I remember when we first discovered Le Taitu & Hercules....so good we didn't want to tell anyone for fear we'd find them too crowded.

Where is Champagne Bistro?

We'll be at GCBC next March and we can't wait!
Posted By: DukeMom

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/26/2016 12:25 PM

As people who love all things Grand Case, I have really been enjoying your trip reports. I'm especially happy to see someone mention Le Ti Coin Creole as Carl and his family are special to us. Where is this Select Wine Cellar you speak of?
Posted By: cruzer

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/26/2016 02:26 PM

Champagne Bistro and Select Wine Cellar are adjacent to one another in the Orange Grove shopping center, immediately on the left as you make the right turn at the Harley shop on Union road to get to Simpson Bay.

Champagne is open for breakfast and lunch only, M-F.
Posted By: cruzer

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/28/2016 02:50 PM

TravelHat, thanks for the pikliz suggestion. I asked Hercules and he had it for me the next night. By itself, it is a fiery dish but somehow loses the heat when eaten with griot and creates an excellent tasting meal. I doubt I'll ever eat griot without it again.

Hercule seemed to indicate you can order it from him on the spot.
Posted By: RonDon

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/28/2016 09:10 PM

Quote
cruzer said:
Champagne Bistro and Select Wine Cellar are adjacent to one another in the Orange Grove shopping center, immediately on the left as you make the right turn at the Harley shop on Union road to get to Simpson Bay.

Champagne is open for breakfast and lunch only, M-F.


Oh thanks soon much! We had eaten a lunch there a couple of years ago and couldn't remember the name or location (probably because we go to SXM to eat great food at too many places). I remembered it was sort of a shopping center and it was on the left side. Thanks to your help we can now return.
Posted By: TravelHat

Re: Trip summary: Days 9-13 - 10/29/2016 02:08 AM

Quote
cruzer said:
TravelHat, thanks for the pikliz suggestion. I asked Hercules and he had it for me the next night. By itself, it is a fiery dish but somehow loses the heat when eaten with griot and creates an excellent tasting meal. I doubt I'll ever eat griot without it again.

Hercule seemed to indicate you can order it from him on the spot.

That's great, glad you enjoyed. Does he have Barbencort Rum to wash it down?
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