Steve Meets Colin Hunte...

ST: 'So how come the sudden volte face, Colin, it’s quite a radical change of profession?'

CH: ‘My grandfather Hamilton Gidharry was a pioneer of tourism running a small colonial hotel on Morne Fortune overlooking Castries and some cabanas and restaurant here at Choc, which was established in 1958 and was later managed by my parents, so it was a sort of natural family progression into the hospitality industry.’

ST: ‘There was a seismic shift in the country’s economy in 1986 when the preferential EC banana marketing arrangement was lost, was that the watershed moment for St. Lucia’s tourism expansion?’

CH: 'It certainly had a massive impact, bananas were the mainstay of the economy and 15,000 farmers were reduced to 3,000 almost overnight; a strong professional middle class had been created and local entrepreneurs like the Barnard Family invested in tourism (the Sunswept chain) developing all inclusive properties like Le Sport and Rendezvous, and then the regional hotel chain, Sandals with their brand of inclusive properties further added to the product mix. Recently more local people like the Destang and Glace families with their Bay Gardens and Palm Haven properties and Nick Pinnock with Ti Kaye on the west coast have had a great impact on the tourism industry on the island.’

ST: ‘What has been the main effect of this injection of new hotel plant and burgeoning cruise ship industry? (Tourism employs over 9000 people at present, earning around EC$ 1.7 billion)’

CH: ‘Primarily in the major infrastructural changes necessary to keep pace; the road system obviously, which has improved beyond all recognition with the four lane highway between Castries and Gros Islet, the airport and seaports development and Vieux Fort Highway, and two new sports stadia at opposite ends of the country.’

ST: ‘There are the inevitable negative concomitants of growth and expansion, how is St. Lucia coping in that respect?’

CH: ‘Well, like every other developing country we have our social problems, but these have never been tourist related, and our two primary assets remain our internationally renowned scenic beauty and the great resource of our people—they are warm and welcoming, and everyone who has ever been to the island can testify to that fact. Essentially tourism is the tool which has fired our economy but it must be sustainable and environmental health is paramount. I think we are now dealing with the challenge quite well in both public and private sectors.’

ST: 'As a man renowned for your insider knowledge on where to eat and drink, where should I be heading on my next visit to the Helen of the West?'

CH: ‘Coal Pot Restaurant is still top quality and in Rodney Bay there’s the Big Chef Steakhouse; in the same area The Bay Walk Mall opens within the next couple of months with new exciting restaurants and a casino. Themed places are all the rage now too with the Rehab Bar named after Amy Winehouse (the singer enjoyed an extended stay on island last year), Delirius Bar and Tequila Joe’s are also found on the Rodney Bay strip. The Rainforest Hideaway is very good under Chef Verity at Marigot Bay as are the Windsong at Calabash Cove, Marisule and the Cliff at Cap Maison.’

For more information see our Definitive Caribbean Review of Villa Beach Cottages.

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Hard on the heels of its perennial Hike Fest, Dominica launches its seventeenth consecutive Scuba Diving Festival next month which will run for nine days from July 9th. Nowhere in the Eastern Caribbean has as great a variety of onshore and underwater natural attractions as the Nature Island which Scuba diving magazine recently accorded as "Number 1 for Healthiest Marine Environment and Number 3 for Top Dive Destination in their annual Top 100 issue. That's some accolade, and at a time when so many reefs worldwide are degraded by pollution it's a tribute to Dominica's remaining in largely spectacular pristine condition, brimming with vibrant sponges and wildly colourful crinoids.

The Watersports Association also run photography seminars and workshops within great value discounted packages. State of the art underwater "sealife" cameras are available to capture stunning scenes relatively close to shore where walls plunge to over 1500 feet and rare sea life like frogfish, flying gurnards and seahorses are readily observed. Water temperatures average around 27 degrees with visibility normally over fifty feet and…another major attraction…no crowds. Pull that wet suit on!

We are currently updating our Definitive Caribbean Guide to Dominica so if you have any suggestions of what we should look at or where we should go, please email us your thoughts or alternatively leave your suggestions on our Definitive Caribbean Blog.

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Twenty odd years ago I had cause to land in a flimsy plane at Lauriston airport, an outpost of civilisation in the southern Grenadines. Actually “airport” was stretching it some, because the landing area was fairly roughly hewn from what appeared to be a strip of pasture and dry scrub and the arrivals hall wasn’t much to write home about either. A battered sign hung at a crazy angle off an old wooden fence. “Welcome to Carriacou”, it proclaimed, while underneath was scrawled the raison d’etre of its very existence : Population: 5,000. Area: 13 square miles. Cultural Interest: Big Drum Dancing, Parang. National Dish: Cou-Cou and Okra. Occupation: Fishing, Farming, Boat Building and Trafficing (sic).

Yes, you read that right. The image and wordage is indelibly burnt into my consciousness. No bluff or bluster, attempts at a cover up, just a straightforward statement for all the world to see, or at least the madcaps washing up on these backwater shores. This is who we are, this is what we do, like it or lump it. Trafficking. I was hooked. No one seemingly questioned what was being trafficked, or even cared, and today there would be a wholly different connotation of course. Back then though it related more to crates of illicit Jack Iron rum, fiery enough to power an outboard engine, a few goats rustled from nearby Petite Martinique, and any other contraband that hardy sailors could smuggle over from Grenada.

Carriacou is still of another age, a deeply rustic authentic Caribbean suffused with a somnolent air and a devil may care attitude to the rest of the world. An endearing place to while away some time. There’s a decent ferry service now though, the Osprey running a round trip daily from Grenada to the capital Hillsborough, and onwards to Petite Martinique. Seafaring then is in the blood and, by extension, boatbuilding too. Douglas C Pyle in his eponymous Clean Sweet Wind had it right; “Is Boatbuilding you want, is Carriacou you Goin”. Four decades ago most people on the island were involved in the trade but now only the remarkable Master Shipwright Alwyn Enoe and a handful of others are employed. In a quite magnificent twin limited publication and photographic essay recently, Vanishing Ways, Sailing on the Last Carriacou Sloops, and Genesis, Building a Traditional Carriacou Sloop, Alexis Andrews captures perfectly the history and artistry of another era.

The tiny village of Windward is the focal point, the beach the traditional workplace where the West Indian White Cedar is used for framework and, unusually, is not steam bent but cut from natural shapes in the timber. It’s not actually a cedar either, more a deciduous oak which is tough, rot resistant and holds fastenings well. The launch of one of these painstakingly constructed vessels is something to behold, when half the island turns out in celebration. And yes, there’ll be big drum dancing and cou-cou too. It’s a pretty rare event these days but Carriacou still has much to commend it and the Osprey has brought a wonderfully quixotic island that much closer. There are several guest houses around Hillsborough, although we would recommend hiring out a villa with Down Island Villas, but for a closer look at the boat building action there is none better in the Windward area than Dave Goldhill’s Bayaleau Point Cottages.

He’s a sailing man himself and a disciple of Alwyn, “the best father and friend you could ever have,” he affirms, “a real genuine human being”. And a true craftsman of the old school lest we forget.

For more information about what to do on Carriacou and where to stay, please see our Definitive Caribbean Guide to Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

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Summer in the Caribbean is considered low season…so how does the accommodation attract its much needed visitors? It puts its prices down, produces great offers for rooms and packages and then keeps the service at a high level, full of smiles to pander to your children's every needs whilst you relax by the pool or sleep in the shade!

There are two well-tried options when thinking about a summer holiday with the kids. First and most obviously, find a hotel with all the facilities and activities you can possibly imagine, base yourself there for a couple of weeks and once the kids are distracted in a Kid's Club or other suitable programme you can slip off and get some alone time. The other option can actually work out a little cheaper and be much more intimate, which is to rent out a villa, complete with cook and maid and enjoy home life with a little help! Imagine lounging by your own pool, watching the kids play whilst sipping cocktails as your dinner and all the mess is cleaned up around you!

When traveling with children you probably need to find an island which is served with direct flights from your country of residence so aim for Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia or Tobago. Barbados is the natural choice as lining its west coast are a multitude of staffed villas and hotels that sit right on the beach. Villa resorts also provide a good option combining central facilities with the privacy of your own villa and kitchen - Plantation Beach Villas on Tobago and Settlers Beach on Barbados stand out from the crowd. For a full list of our recommended spots for a Caribbean summer with the kids, have a look at our Special Interests section.

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We’re currently putting together our research for an update trip to Trinidad and then Dominica. We will be doing our research in person of course, but it would be great to hear recommendations as well, to see what our users enjoy about the islands and – because we haven’t been there for a couple of years - to discover the latest hot spots.

We would very much appreciate any comments or advice you can give on the following subjects:

Beaches - which are your favourite strips of sand currently? And why?

Scuba – which are the best scuba diving operators?

Sailing – and the best yacht charter companies?

Spas – which are your favourite spas - hotel spas and day spas?

Yoga, Complementary Health – which individual practitioners or services would you choose?

Weddings - If you were to get married in Dominica or Trinidad, which wedding organisers would you trust to make your day memorable?

Finally, if you’re a Caribbean regular, or you live in the islands – are there things you feel that Dominica or Trinidad are particularly good for?

Do please email us your thoughts or alternatively leave your suggestions on our Definitive Caribbean Blog.

We look forward to hearing from you.

The editorial team at Definitive Caribbean.

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Suzanne was born in Grenada and has promoted the beauty and wonder of Grenada through its striking abundance of exotic flowers and exotic spices. Her success is evident in the Grenada team winning silver at the Chelsea Flower Show in 1998, 1999, and 2000 as well as Gold in 2001-2005, 2007, 2009 and again this year! Not bad for an island that was pounded by two hurricanes in as many years from 2004.

On the garden tour you will be able to explore the sights of heliconias, ginger lilies, anthuriums and immortelle trees all in their natural setting around the island, as well as taking in the smells and textures of nutmeg, cinnamon, gloves and ginger. Beyond the flora and spices, all your senses with be awakened as you experience the tastes of the island's award winning chocolate, it's richly flavoured honey and unique take on international cuisine using local ingredients.

          

The special week long tour sets off with a Monarch Airlines flight from London Gatwick on 6th October and takes in eight private and public gardens, nurseries and plantations. Of particular interest are Hyde Park Gardens - home to dozens of rare orchid species and The Bay Gardens - populated with over 5,000 plant species spread across garden and forest level. There is also a morning dedicated to looking round St George's, one of the prettiest harbour towns in the Caribbean, and exploring its local history.

Golden Caribbean has teamed up with Caribbean Horizons to offer this tour, flights and accommodation at The Calabash Hotel for £1259pp. To enquire further or to make a booking, please call 0845 085 8080 quoting DefinitiveCaribbean.

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Nisbet Beach Plantation and Spa Signature Dish Recipe 
Created by Executive Chef Antonio F. Piani II

Roasted Plantain wrapped Snapper Fillet with Virgin Salsa and Tomato Coulis

Nisbet Plantation has three restaurants, Sea Breeze, more of a beach bar really set right on the sand that serves a simple lunch, Coconuts, slightly raised from the beach and overlooking the pool that offers a superb breakfast and the weekly seafood BBQ, but it is The Great House that we turn our attention to for this recipe. Set in an old plantation house that dates from 1778, The Great House is an incredibly romantic and elegant option with polished wooden floors and reproduction antique tables. Like most recognised restaurants in the Caribbean the cuisine is international with a Caribbean twist. There is a Table d’hôte menu six nights a week with four or five choices that change each night.

Our Signature Dish this month comes from Chef Tony…Born in the Philippines, he grew up in the shadow of his grandfather who served in the US Navy as Chief Cook. Chef Tony received his initial culinary training at the Mandarin Hotel in the Philippines then held various chef positions for the next 15 years at hotels, resorts and restaurants around the world, including Jordan and UAE. Prior to joining Nisbet Plantation as Executive Chef in 2002, Chef Tony was the Executive Chef at Sonesta Beach Resort and Spa in Anguilla.

Chef Tony brings his experiences with different nationalities into the kitchen, creating fusion cuisine at Nisbet’s three dining venues on menus that change daily. The following dish has been created by Chef Tony, and combines snapper which is widely available locally with a salsa and tomato coulis which makes the most of fresh local ingredients.

Roasted Plantain wrapped Snapper Fillet with Virgin Salsa and Tomato Coulis
Ingredients for 2 servings 

Snapper
2 Snapper fillets, 170g each
1 Lemon or lime, juiced
Fish seasoning (any brand)
Salt and pepper
1 -2 Plantains, thinly sliced horizontally
Olive oil or butter

Virgin salsa
75g Diced tomatoes
75g Sliced spring onions
2 tbsp Diced sweet red peppers
½ tbsp Chopped basil
½ tbsp Chopped mint leaves
1 Lemon, juiced
2 tbsp Virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Tomato coulis
75g Diced tomatoes
75g Diced carrots
2 tbsp Diced onions
½ tsp Italian herb seasoning
½ tsp Sugar
250ml Water
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation
Marinate the fish in the citrus juice, seasoning, salt and pepper for 30 minutes. Wrap it with the sliced plantain. Sear it in a non-stick pan on both sides until golden brown with a little olive oil or butter. Bake it in a moderate oven 180C, 350F or gas mark 4 for 10 – 12 minutes until done.

To make the salsa, combine all ingredients and season with salt and pepper to taste.

To create the tomato coulis, combine all ingredients in a small pot. Cook until nearly thickened. Puree in a blender and pour through sieve.

Plating
Serve cooked snapper atop rice and tomato coulis, top with salsa.

READERS’ OFFER
The Signature Dish above is available to guests staying at Nisbet Beach Plantation and Spa as part of a complimentary two-course dinner for two at their acclaimed The Great House restaurant. Please see this month’sReader Offer for more details.

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The Nisbet offer is available to guests that stay at Nisbet Beach Plantation for a minimum of seven nights and consists of a complimentary two-course dinner for two, that includes their mouthwatering SIGNATURE DISHES.

Nisbet’s roasted plantain wrapped snapper fillet with virgin salsa and tomato coulis created by Executive Chef Antonio F. Piani II is their first course Signature Dish, which you will be able to enjoy as part of a complimentary two-course meal. When you stay at Nisbet Beach Plantation & Spa, you can arrange to meet Chef Antonio personally, or one of his staff and get insider tips on how to prepare this popular dish.

To claim your complimentary meal, all you need to do is to send us an email requesting a Coded Voucher. For full terms and conditions and to read about the hotel, please see our Review of Nisbet Beach Plantation & Spa.

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In keeping with our theme for this month, Caribbean Family Holidays, we have chosen one of our favourite properties as an example of what to do and where to go…

Coyaba Beach Resort in Jamaica is offering two connecting luxury rooms for 4 nights, daily breakfast and afternoon tea, a welcome family gift, ten hours nanny service (per stay), unlimited children’s movie rentals throughout the stay, unlimited tennis, watersports, access to the fitness room, and reduced greens fees at nearby courses.

The price is an amazing US$2,450 until 15 Dec 2010.

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