IWNA 2019 Issue 2

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INTERVAL WORLD ■ Issue 2, 2019 53
AREA RESORTS
Located on the beach with spectacular views, the
resort features four tennis courts, six swimming
pools, a kiddie pool, health spa, fitness center,
casino, four restaurants, a minimarket, gift shop,
and water sports center. Explore the island’s
Dutch and French duty-free shopping areas, and
sample the cuisine that has earned St. Maarten its
reputation for outstanding dining.
Situated on a private peninsula between two
crystal-clear bays, Divi Little Bay Beach Resort
offers stunning white-sand beaches, proximity
to popular sights, and plenty of amenities. Enjoy
water sports, tennis, or a spa treatment, or read
a book by one of three beautiful pools. Also on
hand are three fabulous restaurants, beachside
dining, and a lively atmosphere every night.
Shop for Caribbean-style
homemade sauces and
dressings at the local
markets and roadside
stands. LEFT: You can never
go wrong in your choice
of dessert when dining in
Grand Case’s restaurant
row, the crème de la crème
of the island’s gastronomy.
and prosciutto, and several loaves of French bread (and some of
those macarons) for a nice charcuterie board. Before we got to the
beach, though, we had to make one more stop.
“There’s a little produce stand up here on the right,” Michelle said
from the back seat. “I want to see what they have.”
What they had was homemade hot sauce packaged in a recy-
cled, pint-size bottle of vodka. There was no label, no ingredients — just
a friendly warning from the woman who was selling it that it was
the “hottest hot sauce you’ve ever tasted.” Turns out she was right.
When Michelle made guacamole later, she added barely a teaspoon
for a staggering amount of kick.
SHRIMP DOUGHNUTS
The charcuterie picnic on Dawn Beach was a success, but I can’t
claim it matched our week’s final open-air meal. We were on the
shore in Grand Case, a town on the northwest side of the island that’s
renowned for its concentration of outstanding eateries. If there’s one
place on this Caribbean gem responsible for its culinary reputation,
this is it.
Our plan for the day was to relax on the beach and then, finally,
after a week of keeping it casual, sit down to a first-class feast at
either L’Auberge Gourmande, La Villa, or Spiga.
We never made it. Instead, with lunchtime approaching as we
read our books and splashed in the ocean, we ordered a shrimp
tempura appetizer from Captain Frenchy. Shawn took one bite and
informed our server that we were going to need another plate. “Just
keep ’em coming,” he said, not even half-joking.
In all, we consumed four orders of the shrimp tempura that after-
noon. It was Valeria who finally came up with what we decided was
the best description. Midway through our third plate, she paused and
said, “They’re like shrimp doughnuts.”
The label stuck and we’ve been searching for our next round of
“shrimp doughnuts” ever since. Happily, I think it’s going to require a
return trip to St. Maarten. We’ve yet to find anything that compares
to the on-the-beach alfresco dining that’s available seemingly
everywhere on the island. n
Culinary Adventures
If you’re serious about your sustenance, consider joining an
organized food tour. Flavors of St. Martin runs one of the most
popular jaunts and offers two main excursions: Culinary Road
Trip and Philipsburg Foodie Walking Tour. The guided driving
journey visits both sides of the island, making multiple stops
at some out-of-the-way places where you’ll taste homegrown
specialties ranging from appetizers to entrees to desserts. If
you’d prefer to stay a little active between samples, the walking
tour focuses on some of the best spots to eat like a local along
the Philipsburg boardwalk.