Enrico Rodati is the executive chef of the Heritage Resorts on the unspoilt south coast of the island, as his names implies of italian original and this has obviously influenced his staff. Last night chef Carl Rheeroo invited us into the kitchens of Annabella’s at the Telfair resort to experience the chef’s table. He prepared a pasta fest, step by step, right before our eyes, using local ingredients with a very italian twist.

Chef Carl starts the preparations

Pumpkin and potato gnocchi with scallops in a turmeric sauce, raviolis stuffed with local vegetables, papardelle with the beautiful local Camarons (giants prawns) and vielle rouge mal tagiatti.

Preparing the ravioli.

Et voila !

All this in the buzzing atmosphere of the kitchens during the dinner service and accompanied by italian wines chosen by sommelier Olivier Gastal-Pinach and tasted in the quieter tasting room just off the kitchens.

Jean Claude Baissac was born in Mauritius but has spent his life in South Africa and Europe creating a fusion art of African and Indian ocean influences and is always keen to use his talent to denounce social injustice. He has now returned home to Mauritius where his brother, Vaco Baissac is perhaps more well known for his bright and more commercial depictions of island life. A similar nomadic story can be told of Simon Back who started life in Zimbabwe before moving to Mauritius where he now works in paint and ceramics creating eclectic abstract designs which he exhibits all over the world.

An untitled work by Jean-Claude Baissac

Not forgetting the ladies, two up and coming international artists recently established on the island are Suzy Tanji Flynn a Peruvian and Sarah Manoukian from France, both of whom use vivid colours and texture in their art.

Auros de Fuego by Suzy Tanji Flynn

So how did Bordeaux blonde find all these artists? Thanks to Gallery owner Christian Mermoud, at 3A The Excellence of Art Christian is Swiss, having lived and worked in art in France has now settled in Mauritius and represents a range of international and local artists over the island. The art world on the island would seem to be a reflection of just what a international melting pot Mauritius really is.

Mauritius is a land of 5 star luxury beach hotels, so an authentic local cuisine experience is a rarity on an island where most visitors concentrate on their tan. The local cuisine is a wonderful melting pot of indian, european and creole and the 5 star resort Shanti Maurice, , more often associated with their ultimate Ayurvedic spa, is also known for the asian fusion cuisine of chef Willibald Reinbacher.

Willibald Reinbacher BBQ’s on the beach

Situated on the unspoilt southern coast of the island their passion for sourcing local ingredients includes working with local farmers and fisherman. They have now taken a step further offering a more authentic experience of Mauritian creole cuisine in the home of a local resident, the grandma of the hotel manager’s PA. Small groups can try the local dishes with the family in their kitchen with dynamic 75-year-old Grandma Goindoo who grows most of the vegetables and herbs in her tiny back garden and then take away the book of ‘Grandma’s Secret Recipes’ to try at home – if you can find the ingredients. In the pipeline, for those who want to take things a step further than the kitchen garden, is the possibility of going out at dawn with a local fisherman to bring back the catch to prepare for a beach BBQ.

This year’s Worldwide Hospitality Awards gave ‘Grandma’s Kitchen’ from the Shanti Maurice the award for ‘Best Initiative in Clients Experience’.

Bordeaux blonde even tried a few of the Moroccan wines on the menu, they were made by Bordeaux wine makers Yvon Mau – perhaps why I enjoyed them so much!

In the past decade, Harlem has been rebuilt and transformed and now belies it’s previous rather dodgy reputtaion. New apartments, new restaurants and new galleries have come to Harlem, and I was lucky enough to sample some of these amazing changes a couple of weeks ago with the New York Wine and Food Society invited by friend and president Greg Hurst, this was to be a day out to remember.

Prosecco and Spoonbread’s modern take on traditional Southern Soul Cooking accompanied a live Gospel recital by Bethel Gospel Church, one of the largest Pentecostal churches in Harlem. All this in a newly built panoramic apartment on the 27th floor with views of Harlem all the way down 5th avenue to Central Park.

The view down town

Then for the culture, onto Renaissance Fine Art where owner Curator Paula Coleman gave us the low down on the Harlem visual arts scene – with more wine. Followed by a Backstage Tour of the historic Apollo Theater which aught me all about Harlem musical history; this theatre helped launch the careers of such musical greats as Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Gladys Knight, and so many others.

Finally a well earned dinner at Red Rooster, named after the legendary Harlem speakeasy, this is rightly touted as the hottest restaurant in Harlem with live music, dancing and even cooking classes using local produce. Harlem resident Chef Marcus Samuelsson serves traditional American comfort (the corn bread was to die for). His cuisine was accompanied by South African wines from importer Cape Classics

That corn bread

Altogether an eclectic day that perfectly reflected the energetic atmosphere of this part of New York that really took me by surprise.

Having sung for my supper it was on the road again to Houston and to one of the of the many Pappas Bros establishments.The restaurant chain started in the 70′s but is based on the original idea of Greek Pappas and this restaurant empire has spread across Texas offering everything from Steak to BBQ from Burgers to seafood.

We were lucky enough to dine at the Houston Flag ship Pappas bros steakhouse – spectacular! The steaks were large (see below) and delicious, the service impeccable and the wine list was a sight for sore eyes, and deep pockets.

That night they were serving, by the glass, a 1982 Salamazar (9l) of single vineyard Beringer (the last year before they blended apparently?) the sommeliers are not just knowledgeable but strong too!
We honored Bordeaux too with a wonderful Laville Haut Brion 1995 (which has now changed it’s name) and an Armaillac 2005, which, decanted, was much more approachable than I would have thought. I’m not surprised their wine list is an award winner.

No this is not a butchers display but the choice of steaks and lobster at Pappas

I still had a day to go and I hadn’t even scratched the surface. I was not allowed out of town until I’d experienced a real Texan BBQ so it was of to Goode Company BBQ and I was in good company. At lunch time, straight from the office in suits and ties, Texans were queuing for ribs, burgers, beans and dirty rice, eaten at tressel tables all to the sound of country music – I could leave happy knowing I had eaten my way through some of Texans finest even though I didn’t catch a show at Armadillo across the road!

Apologies to my friends at the Back Street cafe which I enjoyed so much on my last visit I just didn’t have a free meal. Salt Lick BBQ is on the list for next year, only in Texas would you find a name like that – I’ll be back

Art on a plate

However in this restaurant the stars are not just for the cuisine.
The floor to ceiling windows offer a view over the sparking New York sky line reflected in the beautifully lit wine cellar that surrounds the diners.

The Mandarin Oriental hotel restaurants definitely have a way of making their wines part of the decor see a previous post from Geneva

The new premises, opened in January in down-town Miami are spectacular. Bordeaux Blonde was there to presenting a range of Medoc wines from the Southern Wines and
Spirits range – major players in the state – during an educational seminar to the students and professional restaurant staff. The state of the art wine and cuisine theatre was the perfect venue with a fully functioning professional kitchen with screens overhead so one missed a sniff or a swirl!

But the affordable quality education is only part of it. As with many culinary schools students have change to practice their skills on the public in the school cafe open for breakfast and lunch but in the evenings this cafe will be transformed into a wine and tapas ‘ Root Cellar’ bar.

However the big news for local gourmets is the recruitment net of top Chef Norman Van Aken, known for his innovation in creating ‘Floridean’ cuisine, for the opening of a panoramic professional restaurant later this month. The intimate, 60 covers, restaurant over looks the Freedom tower and the Miami Heats arena as well the cruise ships sailing into port. The Tuyo restaurant will open Tuesday-Saturday evenings and it echoes the green ethos of the whole facility with its own urban herb garden.

Should you fancy something more hands on, classes from the top chefs at the institute are also open to the public, from Chef Sarah Izquierdo, master sommelier Charles Arturaola and of course Norman Van Aken himself as well as the neighboring celebrity hangout Canyon Ranch’s ‘Integrative Life Lessons’ series. Check out www.miamidadeculinary.com.

This community college is a wonderful opportunity for about 100 young people every year following a 2 year associate programme these students are hungry to learn. Hungry students should go to culinary school – right – a perfect match.

If you prefer your champagne chilled in a more traditional way – try the Veuve Cliquot fridge – a cute mini american 50’s style fridge the perfect size for one bottle of brut or rosé (pink fridge for that one if you please) guaranteed to keep your Veuve chilled for a least a couple of hours – that’s one for the beach then.