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TURKS & CAICOS:
DINING
With the high number
of both American visitors and expatriates, you'll find many
cuisines represented on the islands. For a real taste of island
food, sample the conch, served as fritters, salad, and sandwiches,
as well as grouper, hogfish, soft-shell crab, and spiny lobster.
Anacaona
Grace Bay Club, Providenciales
649-946-5050
Dress Code: dressy
Reservations: suggested
$$$
Save one night for
a special dinner at Anacaona, an Indian word that translates
into "feather of gold." This open-air restaurant is
true gold, a gem of a property that combines European elegance
with Caribbean tranquillity. The two of you can enjoy an elegant
meal beneath a thatched palapa which rests on Roman columns.
The menu is complemented with an extensive wine list and Cuban
cigars. Reservations recommended.
After dinner at
Acacoana one night, we walked back along the beach to our room
at Turquoise Reef, carrying our shoes. With the sound of the
surf and the light of the moon, we remember this as one of our
most romantic walks in the Caribbean, a treat that we could
fully enjoy thanks to the low crime rate on this peaceful island.
Call 809-946-5757 for reservations.
Gecko Grill
Ocean Club, Providenciales
649/946-5880
Dress code: casually elegant
Reservations: suggested
$$-$$$
Start with a drink at the bar then choose and indoor or outdoor
table. We always dine outside beneath the ficus trees, lit with
small, white Christmas lights. The Gecko Grille is one of our
favorite dining spots in these islands thanks to the creations
of Chef John A. Brubaker. "Guests are raving about the
Gecko Grille," says Tom Lewis, General Manager. "With
over 30 restaurants on the island, we are getting quite agreeable
attention not only from Ocean Club guests but from guests of
other resorts and local people. I believe our success lies in
our inventive approach. We believe the rules were made to be
broken. We prefer to entertain and please our guests with affordable
and imaginative creations rather than just feed the hungry.
The proof is in the Shredded Island Pork pizza so to speak --
visitors say they feel like they've discovered the culinary
pulse point of the island after their first meal at Gecko Grille."
Brubaker's menu puts a gourmet spin on Caribbean favorites.
Recently we started with Ocean Escargot, tender young conch
served in a garlic herb butter. We've also enjoyed the spicy
conch chowder served in a bread bowl as well as the Italian
meat and Provolone quesailla with red onion served with homemade
tomato salsa. Entrees include such favorites as Grouper Macadamia
(our favorite) encrusted with avocado and macadamia nuts served
over pineapple tomato salsa, fire roasted pork chop presented
with a grilled banana papaya chutney, papaya marinated chicken
breast cooked over an open flame and finished with a black bean
and melon salsa, and grilled tenderloin of beef cradled in a
nest of grilled leeks and carrots with a tri-color peppercorn
sauce.
Especially impressive
at the Gecko Grille is its extensive wine and champagne list.
Favorite champagnes include Mumm Cordon Rouge and Moet &
Chandon Dom Perignon. Chardonnay choices range from Pine Ridge
Knollside Cuvee to Chimney Rock to De Loach. White burgundy
options include a 1993 Corton Charlemagne from Joseph Drouhin,
a 1994 Puligny Montrachet from Joseph Drouhin, and a 1994 Pouilly-Fuisse
from Josephe Drouhin. From Australia comes Lindeman's Bin 65
while from California comes a selection of Sauvignon Blanc and
Cabernet Sauvignon. Bourdeaux, Merlots, and Zinfandels round
out the list along with Pinot Moir and Red Burgundy such as
Chianti Classico from Villa Antinori and Rosso di Montalcino
from Banfi.
Gilley's Cafe at
Leeward
649/946-5094
Dress code: casual
Reservations: optional
$$
This delightful eatery, located just steps from the marina at
Leeward, serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner. We dined here
on cracked conch, fried to tender perfection; other options
include lobster salad, sirloin, seafood and broccoli quiche,
and more. The restaurant is simple but indoors, with long tables
that encircle a central bar.
Tiki Hut
Turtle Cove Inn, Providenciales
649-941- 5341
Dress code: casual
Reservations: optional
$
This casual restaurant starts the day with Gran Marnier croissant
French toast, Belgian waffles, tropical pancakes, and it gets
better from there. We enjoyed an excellent lunch here and sampled
the conch fritters, made from the Conch Farm's own product,
fish and chips and jerk chicken sandwich. Friday through Monday
you can also enjoy dinner at this excellent eatery.
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