As I do every morning, I get up before 6:00 AM, put a pot of coffee on and answer my work emails. While concentrating at the computer, I feel a nudge at my elbow. Surprised I didn't spill my coffee as a large friendly Akita had entered the gated villa we got him water and scrambled up some eggs as he was hungry but called our concierge to have security pick him up Low and behold, about the same time this morning he returns, I assume they didn't find his home. My friend who is staying with us takes in pets in need, so he is welcome but we know he needs to return home as he is a wonderful dog someone cares for. Our house keeper should be in around 10:00 AM and may know where he belongs
This is our first time renting a villa and it is incredible, I hope our friends will want to return as we need to fill at least two bedrooms Not sure it comes with the villa, but we have seen Saba clearly everyday and rainbows as well Today we have Brain from touch of hands coming for massages and a private chef (Franc formerly of Le Pressoir) preparing a four course lobster dinner for us As I do catering back home, the cost for tonight is less than $100 pp (including chef) which is very reasonable considering there are only 4 of us I have purchased some caviar (cocktail period) from Bacchus along with the upgraded adult beverages, champagne, white burgundy, sauterne
Yes it is just under 30 minutes to Grand Case or Orient Village and the travel has been unusually light There have been check points every night just exiting Marigot at the bottom of the big hill and also at the circle in Mount Hope heading towards Orient We have not been stopped and I assume they are checking for illegal vehicles While I dislike traveling through Sandy Ground, it has been fine with the crazy scooters Absolutely no worries going through There are definitely less scooters on the road at night
Dinner was at Mario's new restaurant at the cliffs in Porto Cupecoy A much smaller spot with little atmosphere Our server / bartender has been with Mario 26 years and said it was time for both of them to "slow down" Service was attentive as expected
along with the normal menu there were some interesting additions my lovely wife started with daily addition of a seafood combination ($24), Mahi ceviche, tuna tataki, shrimp tempura and a mini crab cake with a nice red cabbage creole coleslaw , this could almost be an entree I started off with the foie gras trio ($24.00), it tasted as good as it looked, foie gras terrine, sauteed and incredible duck tacos with shaved "foie gras snow", this as was entree size a half bottle of sauterne ($24.00) paired nicely with my first course along with my dessert
one of my wife's Mario favorites is his scallops over risotto which was substituted with eggplant raviolis, as always, delicious and we enjoyed the remainder for the next day lunch My special was a large red snapper filet served pigeon peas and garnished with fried plantains, an extremely large portion. I could barely eat half For those of you who consider the price, it was like getting two portions I would say that this meal has been one of our favorites so far and fairly priced considering the quality and quantity of food I could not resist the profiteroles with coffee ice cream for desert despite being full
I would not hesitate to recommend Mario's at the cliffs
we thanked Mario on the way out and mentioned how wonderful the meal was and our thoughts on portion size which he said they are not big
