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Dinners for lovers in Nassau
WELCOME BAHAMAS - NASSAU, CABLE BEACH & PARADISE ISLAND - 2006
Dinners for lovers in Nassau
Restaurateurs can help create a romantic mood
Whatever else it may be, The Bahamas' premium package - powder-soft beaches, beautiful water and warm sunshine - makes the perfect setting for a romantic getaway. New Providence and Paradise Island are great places to become engaged, or renew your vows to a loved one.
And what better time to do that than in the course of a romantic dinner? You could make a reservation at any one of Nassau's fine restaurants and rely on candlelit ambience and good service to provide the magic touch you seek.
But if you want everything to be perfect, you've got to plan ahead, say five of Nassau's top restaurateurs. Welcome Bahamas asked the experts to tell us the main elements of a memorable meal for lovers. To a person, they suggest that you call ahead and let the restaurant know what you want.
Planning is the key
Greg Curry, owner and manager of Cafe Matisse, encourages anyone looking for a romantic dinner to plan ahead. "Let us know when you make your reservation," he says. "When we know someone wants something special, we'll help. Matisse's outside dining area is particularly nice for couples wanting a bit more privacy, and when we know what they want in advance, we make sure they get one of our more secluded tables."
"As long as we know the details, we will go out of our way to make it special and memorable," says Frederick Lightbourne of his popular Poop Deck west restaurant. "We have a lot of fun doing it because it's out of the norm. We're happy to accommodate."
Atlantis senior food and beverage director, Oral Jones, suggests the Cafe Martinique and The Cafe at the Great Hall of Waters as two of the resort's most romantic restaurants.
Cafe Martinique is the remake of a famous restaurant of the same name that was once a location in the 1960s James Bond flick Thunderball. The decor is sophisticated and the food is haute cuisine, with special touches provided by Jean-Georges Vongerichten, the famous New York chef. The setting alone inspires a romantic mood, says Jones.
Meanwhile, The Cafe at the Great Hall of Waters, with its view into the huge aquarium, stocked with a myriad of tropical fish, has been the site for dramatic marriage proposals.
"We place the couple next to the window so they get a great view," says Jones. "I have a diver plunge into the water by their table and act like he's cleaning the tank or feeding the fish directly in front of their table. When the gentleman gives me the cue, I signal the diver who swims away and then returns with a waterproof sign saying: 'Will You Marry Me'" A videographer or photographer records the event as a vocalist sings an appropriate tune for the lovers.
Planning is vital, agrees Susan Lawrence, sales manager for Luciano's of Chicago, across the harbour on East Bay Street. "I've orchestrated a lot of engagement dinners... [and] the parties vary with the individuals. Some like to make a public show and others want it understated; we respond to what they want."
While it's the men who usually do the proposing, Lawrence has worked with women in planning engagement parties. Most people, men and women, ask for a bit of space from other diners, and flowers on the table, she says.
Setting the mood
"The setting must be right," says Villaggio owner Chris Herrod. "The slightest detail out of place can ruin the mood... almost perfect doesn't work." Villaggio's staffers have been trained "to make sure your special night goes without a bump."
Along with the perfect meal and attentive service, people like space, says Lawrence. "Luciano's is a very romantic place. Even though there are other diners, you have a lot of space for yourself."
Alfresco dining sets an elegant, casual mood and, if that's your preference, Luciano's has a wonderful deck overlooking Nassau Harbour. In a restored mansion, the restaurant makes a wonderful setting for a romantic dinner.
Graycliff brings nearly 300 years of old-world charm to the table. In one of Nassau's older buildings, the hotel rests on one of the highest points in the downtown area, across the street from Government House. The dining room is a five-star restaurant with elegant, old-world charm.
Ranked one of the 10 best restaurants in the world by Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Graycliff has a menu to match its 250,000-bottle wine cellar.
At Poop Deck west, with advance notice, the staff will set up a table for you on the beach.
"All we ask of the guests is that they provide the weather, preferably with a full moon," laughs Lightbourne. "I'll do the rest."
He recalls that a man who proposed on the beach returned later to marry his bride on the same spot.
Dinner on the beach includes a personalized menu printed especially for the couple and, if you like, the restaurant will conclude your evening with fireworks.
Indoors or out, Cafe Matisse's carefully crafted decor creates a romantic mood. If you dine outside in the courtyard, "you don't feel
like you're in The Bahamas at all; you're in a European city with all of its ambience."
Over at Villaggio, Herrod rhapsodizes about the atmosphere he can create for a romantic couple, which includes flowering hibiscus and bougainvillea, the splash of a fountain and Ella Fitzgerald singing in the background.
Enjoy the food too
With all of this romance in the air, it's good not to forget the meal itself.
Says Lightbourne, "My personal favourite is stone crabs on our beach... but if you really want to splurge and have some fun, let us plan your menu." One of the favourites is a plate offering a medley of chef-selected morsels appropriate for the occasion.
To Cafe Matisse's Curry, the meal should go with the mood. Food shouldn't be ordered just because it's considered romantic. Instead, guests should pick what they want to have that night. Enjoying the meal makes the evening far more special than eating something for its reputation as the right food for love.
As for the right wine to "pop the question," most of the experts recommend champagne or a champagne-based drink.
"Sparkling wine has always been the wine for celebration," says Eloy Roldan of The Poop Deck east, and "unless the lady is into very special wines," he believes champagne is the right choice.
At Atlantis, Jones also suggests wine, but for non-drinkers, he arranges to have a sparkling fruit juice made for the couple.
"If you like to offer a hint of unpredictability, then the Bellini would be my choice," says Villaggio's Herrod. "The Bellini is made with fresh white peaches pureed and complemented with French champagne."
Curry also recommends the Bellini as a wonderful "remember the moment" drink. "Everyone likes it and it's an unforgettable drink for an unforgettable evening."
"I am not a champagne drinker, and I know there are women who don't care for champagne," says Lawrence over at Luciano's, adding that some "would prefer a great red wine." She recommends a Tomassi val Policella.
Whatever the romantic occasion, remember that planning is important and the restaurants want to help you make your special evening special.
Good food, good atmosphere, good music and, above all, good planning, will ensure that your romantic dinner is a memorable one.
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