Friday, August 26, 2011

Room And Board

I love the furniture in our hotel room. It's all by Tommy Bahama. The bed is beautiful; dark wood, lots of detail, covered in stark white linens. It's the kind of decor I'd like for a house. It's a pretty comfortable room.

The bed is okay, a little too soft for my liking but comfortable. The couch is a pull out bed, which we haven't had a need for, and not extremely comfortable if sitting on it for a long period of time. At night, we've been hanging out on either the patio, or inside watching TV. Or eating.


Last night, Ed grilled chicken breast and I made a salad for it to be placed on. With one of my favorite Hawaiian Sweet Rolls on the side and a glass of wine, it was a perfect dinner. Not the best picture, but I can assure you it was yummy. There is a small dining table in the room, which with the kitchenette allows us to have breakfast and snacks and even a full meal or two on our own.
We are not ones to skimp when dining out, and the restaurants here are very expensive. We went to a great place the other night called the Coco Bistro - the place was gorgeous, nestled in a grove of palm trees on an outside patio - photo from Coco Bistro's website, not taken by me.The food was pretty good too. We started with the Grilled Shrimp Satay on Sugar Cane Skewers with Banana Chutney, Jamaican Curry Dip and a Spicy Asian Hot Sauce.

For dinner, I had the Pan Seared Diver Scallops with a Macadamia Nut Crust served on a Creamed Parmesan and Leek Infused Polenta and a Balsamic Reduction and Ed had the Blackened Mahi Mahi on a Papaya and Mango Salsa, Sauteed Ripe Plantain and a Lime and Ginger Beurre Blanc.

For dessert, I had the Coco Bistro Coconut Cream Pie and Ed had the Chocolate Pecan Pie. Everything was delicious. With wine and tip, the bill came to $190.00. That's about the same you'd likely spend in any nice restaurant, and we usually don't drink so if we had nixed the wine we would have gotten out of there for about $157.00.


There are cheaper restaurants, of course, but even a burger will run you about $14.00. There is no burger, in my opinion, that's worth $14.00, but you have to take into account the fact that everything is flown onto the island. This isn't Texas, there aren't any cows on the island. They have no farms here. They don't grow anything. I met a British woman today who has been living here for sixteen months and she said in North Caicos they grow tomatoes and peppers, but the prices are the same as if they came from the states.

The grocery store prices are outrageous. Our first day we spent $114.00 and came away with basically nothing; instant oatmeal, some fruit, yogurt, a loaf of bread, milk.

And although it's pricey (and arranged nicely), most of the stuff is cheaper than eating in the majority of restaurants. I love eating out, and I love good food. But I don't like it when I feel the prices are crazy exorbitant, as if they're "taking me" because I happen to be on an island, even though I know it's pricey precisely because it is an island. Conundrum.

I've looked at a lot of the menus for the restaurants in the area and a steak, ranging from a strip loin to a six ounce filet mignon are anywhere in the $41.00 to $60.00 range. Growing up in a family who owned a steak house, I cringe when I see high steak prices. Because I know. It's not Kobe beef, people, it's regular 'ol cow. We bought two ribeyes from the grocery store last week for $19.00. I made mashed potatoes and steamed some broccoli in the microwave and we had a great, inexpensive dinner. Yes, I rock.

I still plan on trying a few of the other restaurants on the island since that's what one does on vacation. Tomorrow I think we'll try windsurfing or the Hobie Cat at Club Med. Ed is dying to get on the open water with something that is attached to a sail.

Hopefully, it'll be smoother than our sailing adventure in Long Beach.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO: Filler And Fluff
2 YEARS AGO: Ghost Town
3 YEARS AGO: Second Only To Feet
4 YEARS AGO: I’ve Been Everywhere Sunday
5 YEARS AGO: Heading South With One Wayward Goose
6 YEARS AGO: Red Texas Sunrise

No comments: