I
think it was a proverbial French
kiss between France and the
Caribbean that made Martinique
an alluring and romantic island.
With rolling hills, fancy cars and
the accent that rolls off the
tongue…it’s the perfect French
connection, without having to cross
the pond. My escape to Cap Est
Lagoon Resort and Spa made
Martinique even more appealing.
Situated on the east side of the
island in Le François, Cap Est boosts
an intimate fifty suites throughout
eighteen villas. I found it to be a
playground for the sophisticated,
with a quiet ambiance that oozes
romantic getaway beach retreat. It
may not be at the top of your travel
hit list, but it should be. It’s a
five-star resort that goes beyond
stars to meet the needs of their
clientele, with attention to detail and
impeccable service that translates to
repeat visitors year round.
My introduction to the resort came
as my driver pulled up to a giant
wooden privacy gate; my name
was on the list, they were expecting
me. As the doors slowly opened,
we drove the windy path to the
reception area. Greeted with a cool
refreshing towel and a glass of the
sweetest fruit tea that had been
sweetened from the region’s pure
sugar cane. I was visiting for lunch,
but an impromptu mid-day rain
shower forced me to wait in the
reception area briefly until the
weather cleared.
I had time to stroll the covered
grounds and bar, and was struck by
the architecture and design. The
furniture and style had a strong
Creole and Asian feel which was
calming and relaxing. I wandered over
to an enclave set apart from the
reception area to do a little windowshopping. Encased behind sliding glass
were available essentials, in case one
forgot to pack something important
for a French-Caribe escape -- like a
silk scarf, designer sunglasses or
evening apparel.
When there was a break in the rain,
Nicholas, a staff member, escorted
me to the water’s edge and Le
Campêche, for lunch served by
Executive Chef Guillaume Bregeat.
As I took in the serene scenes of
the lagoon, I was entertained by a
one-woman fashion show. A model
pranced through the restaurant in
fashionable swimsuits and cover-ups.
As I sat there, she probably did ten
wardrobe changes.
The Le Campêche menu was full of
locally sourced ingredients and fresh
seafood; all tempted me, but I decided
on the grilled sea bass with vanilla and
vegetables. It’s not often I eat sea bass
and this reminded me of best meal I had
on my first trip to Paris, so I kept with
tradition. The fish was grilled just right,
flaky and succulent with the vanilla on
the side, which I used to occasionally
heighten the flavor palette. I didn’t
walk away until I experienced the
Caribbean fresh fruit salad and guava
sorbet for dessert. I’m a pushover for
dessert and this flavorful combination
did not disappoint.
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