LOEWS Summer/Fall 2011 - (Page 36)
with a surprise amuse bouche and basket of four breads with four differently flavored butters. Once you delve into the menu, it’s easy to taste why it’s received so many accolades throughout the years, including a top five rating from Zagat, being named “Exceptional Restaurant of Florida” by Gourmet magazine and a ranking among the top 10 seafood restaurants in the country by the Gayot Guide. Our culinary journey here included a tantalizing and beautifully presented seafood sampler appetizer of tiny oysters with bacon, scallop and pineapple ceviche, minced tuna in fried nori and more; yellowtail snapper prepared sous vide (vacuum-sealed) in an earthy bonito broth; cast-iron griddled shrimp where the veggies and pureed cauliflower nearly stole the show; an ice cream sandwich of vanilla, almond, and cashew flavors with chocolate cremeux; and another visual and gastronomic masterpiece of banana ice cream, almond wafers, caramel, crème anglaise and orange spun sugar. Finish it all off with truffles made by a man whose last name is love. I’m not kidding: Revered Florida chocolatier Norman Love creates exquisite bites with a tropical flair. Passionfruit truffle anyone? ALTHOUGH IT IS THE PINNACLE of dining delight at the Don CeSar, Maritana Grille, open for dinner only, counts as but one of the resort’s diverse culinary offerings. We enjoyed starting our day at the bright, cheery Sea Porch Café, where I became absolutely stuck on the black pastrami hash with cheese grits and Dijon cream. That said, I still played the field a little, sneaking in tastes of the signature cast-iron bacon, spinach, shiitake and asiago egg soufflé, as well as the sinful cinnamon-custard French toast. From there, a day at the Don can shape up as activity-filled or luxuriously lazy as you desire. Work off breakfast together in the state-of-the art fitness center or with a hand-in-hand stroll down the morning beach alive with feeding birds, the occasional grinning dolphin and determined shell-seekers. Settle in for a sunny nap gulfside or poolside, or head to the spa for a sideby-side couples massage with a view of the beach or rooftop in the open air. The 90-minute Spice Island massage is guaranteed to put your vacation on a downshift fast-track and unravel any knot that you forgot to leave home. For lunch, head back to the pool deck, with your choice of two swimming pools—one with underwater music—and a jetted pool. Order from the Beachcomber Grill’s selection of fresh salads, creative sandwiches, juicy burgers and fruity drinks, perhaps the “Tickled Pink”: a mix-up of Sauza Hornitos Tequila, Chambord, agave nectar and cranberry juice. Sink into your cushioned lounge chair and make like it’s your honeymoon even if it’s your second or third (who’s counting?) or simply a prelude to a life together.
LOEWS MAGAZINE
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of LOEWS Summer/Fall 2011
The Great Outdoors
Shore Things
Carmen Herrera
The Right App-Titudes
Spice Routes
Futiles Fixes
Music City Sampler
The Future of Flying
The Stories Behind the Songs
Romantic Pleasure in the Pink Palace
Philly 2.0
The Breakfast Club
Local Living
News and Notes
LOEWS Summer/Fall 2011
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