Serving up spiny lobsters at the CuisinArt Anguilla
DAY TWO: WHAT’S WRONG WITH A LITTLE PAMPERING?
Especially on a girls’ getaway. Especially at a luxe resort.
We’re ensconced in a sprawling villa at the unique CuisinArt Resort in Anguilla that is known for its mile-long beach, its hydroponic greenhouse that provides 75 per cent of the vegetables the resort restaurants use, and its gargantuan spa where they use some of the herbs from the hydroponic greenhouse in the treatments. Think a scrub with fresh mint or lavender or lemongrass; a cucumber and hydroponic wrap or a coconut pineapple scrub—the property is filled with coconut trees.
I indulged in a facial (anti-aging of course) and a soak in the “healing waters” pool that offers a combination, I’m told, of mineral sea salt and fresh water that is supposed to help my aching knee. And any other aches and pains. Does it work? Who knows? I just know I feel great when I leave–relaxed and smiling.
Isn’t that what a getaway is about? Especially when you are with your three oldest friends from grade school. They indulged themselves too—two at the 18-hole Greg Norman Signature Design Championship golf course, the only one on the island, and one at the spa with me where she tried a warmed seashell massage—think hot stone massage with seashells.
There are treatments for teens as well as younger little princesses at the Venus Spa, which features views of the Caribbean from the relaxation rooms and 16 treatment rooms. Here with your honey? Opt for a treatment in its couple’s suite.
Tonight we’re indulging ourselves some more with the resort’s famous Tuesday night Barbeque “World Delicacies” at Le Bistro that includes grilled lobster, local music, and more. There is all-you-can-eat grilled lobster, seafood pasta made to order, steak and chicken, shrimp dumplings, fried wontons, conch chowder, and salads galore—a lot from the hydroponic greenhouse—roasted red and yellow peppers, grilled eggplant, tomato salad, cucumber salad, along with roasted pumpkin, tuna carpacio, cheeses, potato salad, hearts of palm salad. There was grilled shrimp and tuna, conch chowder, ratatouille and au gratin potatoes, rice, and more veggies.
Did I mention the desserts? Everything from bananas foster to crème brule to coconut cake, chocolate tarts, meringues filled with cream, fruit tarts, pecan tarts…I take a bite of everything. Locals say the $95 all-you-can-eat Tuesday night buffet draws visitors from all over the island, and it is easy to see why.
Another meringue?
I don’t feel a bit guilty. Just relaxed.