In need of a much needed dose of the sunshine and renewed inspiration for innovative food creations, I kidnapped SRJ for a long weekend in the Republica Dominica.
We are at times creatures of habit and travel to the comfort zone, but in my search for a deal to the DR at this time of the year was found in La Romana. Easy to get to with the fewest of Delta Skymiles required, I did a bit of exploration and found a fabulous bargain on www.Cheapcaribbean.com
at the Wyndham Dominicus Palace. The downside of things was the 2+ hours of travel from Santo Domingo for 72 kilometers. The upside was everything we happened upon once we arrived. Rest, relaxation, a bit of solitude, very little access to the outside world and a bounty of fabulous food.
No bones about it, if you are not adventurous when it comes to food you may be a bit dismayed. Don’t come to the Dominican Republic with expectations of American food that is all too familiar. Their pizza is delightful but light on the sauce, heavy on the cheese. Their meat although flavorful tends to be tough. Their eggs are delicious but a different color. Their cheeses are abundant but soft. They tend to use a bit too much liquid smoke on their meats (the use of ANY liquid smoke it too much) BUT their pastries are fabulous, their breads are to die for, their fresh seafood is amazing and their cocktails are amazing. SJR asked me at breakfast “why do you think their food color is so different than ours?” My only guess and response was that our food is loaded with preservatives, who knows what the farmers feed the chickens and what we are eating this weekend is fresh off the farm, out of the sea and artfully created from scratch.
From sunrise to beyond sunset we have enjoyed a vast amount of culinary treats that one would never find in the United States. Breakfast with everything from organic eggs, salumi’s, cheeses, fresh fruit, broiled potatoes, grilled meats and sausages to every delicious pastry imaginable under the sun.
Every fresh juice one could ever dream of, a selection of teas, café or espresso.
Ready to get your groove on at the beginning of the day? One can even get a cerveza or fully loaded cocktail!
If you’re inclined to lunch, there is an overwhelming amount of epicurean delights to be found with pasta any which way; an extensive salad bar complete with a variety of greens, vegetables, prepared salads, fruits and light yet flavorful dressings; grilled pork, chicken and fish. Sweet tooth got you in the middle of the day? Treat yourself to any one of the delicious offerings from pineapple cake, caramel pudding or SJR’s favorite – chocolate ice cream!
Dinner service is a bit more structed unless you prefer the buffet – which in itself is plentiful. A vast array of beef, chicken, pork, seafood, rice, potatoes, soups, fresh baked breads and a smorgasbord of desserts.
A la carte dinner at La Roca began with a fresh vegetable salad followed by a delicious seafood risotto and grilled beef, onion and pepper kabobs. SJR enjoyed spaghetti Bolognese and the flavorful mixed grill of pork, beef, chicken and sausage served with grilled potatoes and chimichurri. Justifying my over indulgence of desserts for work discovery, I sampled the chocolate mousse cake, thick rich chocolate rolled in puff pastry, citrus cake, sugar and crème four layered Napoleon, Viennese crème filled puffs and a light strawberry filled layer cake.
A pre-Valentine’s Day dinner under the stars on the dock at Viva Grill was absolutely fabulous and provided the perfect ending to our weekend getaway.
The creatively presented Caprese salad with fresh mozzarella stuffed into a plump tomato drizzled with basil oil was the perfect beginning to our meal.
I enjoyed a flavorful fresh Mahi and Grouper roulade served with chunky smashed potatoes with a sherry brown butter sauce. SJR’s dinner of grilled roast beef served with a beautiful salad with tomatoes and julienne strips of fresh Parmesan. We both agreed that the meal and service at Viva Grill was by far the best on the resort.
The abundance of beverage options makes things interesting allowing you to keep it light, stick to the everyday norm of ice cold El Presidente cerveza, fresh and fruity rum cocktails and the famous Mamjuana of the Dominican Republic.
Regardless of your mission or expectations, your are certain to find your self happy, fulfilled and most likely a little bit sunburned.
Peace Love Food
YBC
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