Restaurant Pacri opens in new oceanfront location in St. Barths

From long-time St Barth restaurateur, Pascal Ramette.
Welcome to PaCri, A magic feel of Italy in St. Barths.
This year, Pascal Ramette is proud to welcome you in his new unique location – right on the Ocean at Hotel Manapany where he will take you to a fantastic voyage to the south of Italy.

PaCri has been the first restaurant in St. Barths to start importing fresh products and hiring its staff directly in Italy. This is how the owner, Pascal Ramette, succeeded in giving his clients such a strong message of authenticity that you will find not just in the Decor and the ambiance, but mostly in the favors of the dishes served at PaCri.

Chef Vincenzo Architravo from Naples, who has worked beside the best Italian Chefs in Italy, has managed to preserve the simplicity and authenticity in his recipes which gives all its value to Italian cuisine.

The Menu at PaCri changes on a daily base, assuring the freshness of the ingredients used for the elaboration of the dishes. The menu has a large choice of antipasti where the buratta from Puglia and the “Grandmother’s Parmigiana’ have won their success. You will also find a daily selection of fresh seafood with local fish, carpaccios and tartars as well as warm octopus salad or “Mussels alla Marinara”.
At PaCri all the pastas, breads and desserts are home made, and it is very pleasant to stop by the restaurant in the morning to watch the chefs make all of these fabulous breads, such as olive bread andfocaccias, as well as pastas including gnocchis, tagliatelle and, of course, PaCri’s famous truffle ravioli.

Chef Architravo, who has always lived near the ocean, expresses a great interest and talent for working with all sorts of fish and seafood on the grill in the tradition of southern Italian cooking.

Reservations are highly recommended
Serving Time:
Opened everyday for lunch and dinner
payments:
Visa, amex, mastercard.

Bagatelle, St. Barths opening weekend testimonial

Breaking news – testimonial from St. Barths vacationer who dropped in to the new Bagatelle, St. Barths on its opening weekend: Looks like it is off to a good start.

“This stylish, hip, trendy bistro located on Gustavia harbour (next door to Baz Bar) will likely be a hit restaurant of this year’s season. At a time when the island is generally quiet, Saturday night’s opening brought out a beautiful crowd and the place was packed and rocking.

Great bar, great music, excellent food and a staff that was clearly accustomed to providing the very highest level of service. World class.

When we arrived, we had several cocktails at the comfortable and well laid out bar. Later in the evening, people were several deep and clearly having a great time. The DJ was set up neatly behind the bar and the music was very now and hip. The bar staff was right there and were on top the needs of the well heeled clientele.

Dinner was super. We started off with tuna tartare and gazpacho soup and our mains were the salmon and scallops with endive. Clean, nice, well presented and perfectly cooked. We split a caramelized apple pie-ish creation with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream – very nice. We were having so much fun that we didn’t want to leave.

Net, net, if Bagatelle St. Barths was a stock, I would be long (like 13D long). Great experience, excellent & professional service, solid food and a real scene. This place gets all our stars. Can’t wait to come back here in February. Make your reservations early – you’ll need to.”

Reservations can be made in advance through WIMCO Villas’ offices in St. Barths or the US. WIMCO villa rental clients get a complimentary glass of champagne when they say “WIMCO”.

St. Barths Welcomes Bagatelle

WIMCO St. Barths is pleased to announce the opening of a new restaurant in St. Barths:  Bagatelle, which is located on Rue Samuel Fahlberg on Gustavia Harbour, in the former Le Bistro location.

Bagatelle, a lively French bistro from NYC, is excited to introduce its signature dining experience to St. Barths’ locals and tourists just in time for the holiday season. Bagatelle’s new international location will feature decor and cuisine influenced by the French Mediterranean, specifically the glamour and allure of Saint-Tropez. Bagatelle’s patrons will be treated to signature and seasonal menu items as well as a selection of hand-crafted, refreshing cocktails. In perfect South of France fashion, guests can gather at sunset for an aperitif to wind down after a long day at the beach or shopping. Staying true to its roots, Bagatelle St. Barths will also feature renowned DJs from all over the world, as well as unexpected surprises, giving guests the energy and ambiance that will keep them coming back for more.

The décor pays homage to the original location in NYC, infusing touches of elegance, paired with bold and eye-catching artwork, all set against a luxurious yet comfortable backdrop of white, beachy tones. At Bagatelle, comfort and excellent service is paramount. We want our guests to feel at home every time they dine with us.

Bagatelle will be open Monday through Friday from 12-11pm and Saturdays from 6-11pm, and will offer both indoor and outdoor dining. The restaurant seats 85 inside and 20 outside, with a relaxing additional bar area for 30. The outdoor patio offers magnificent panoramic views of Gustavia Harbour, complete with 4 slips for those arriving by boat, making it the quintessential vacation dining destination.

SPECIAL OFFER TO WIMCO CLIENTS:
To toast the opening, Bagatelle will offer WIMCO clients a complimentary glass of champagne/rose when they visit.
Please mention “WIMCO” to redeem. Valid through January 3rd, 2012

For reservations, call the WIMCO office at 0590-51-07-51, or contact the restaurant directly:

• Phone – 59.059.027.5151
• E-mail – sbh@bistrotbagatelle.com

My first trip to St. Barths – metamorphosis into bien-etre

METAMORPHOSIS

On my piano in my New York apartment, Jeff and I display photos of the many trips and vacations we’ve taken, both as a couple and with our kids as they’ve grown: skiing in Deer Valley, spending a week in a Tuscan villa with another family, spring time in London…all the photos that tell stories of enjoyment, fun, pleasure. Then there’s the photo of Jeff and me in St Barts, at lunch at La Plage, which tells a more unique vacation story. You can see something on our tanned faces that is different from other happy vacation photos; we are totally at ease and serene, feet in the sand, sipping a glass of chilled Rose Champagne from Taittenger. The French call it bien-etre, and on our recent first St. Barts vacation we achieved that sublime state of well-being.

But this photo tells so much more. We both look so natural, content, and relaxed. There are qualities of bien-etre that come to you in St. Barts that are so subtle and seductive that you don’t realize how the island’s sweetness fundamentally changes you until you are well into the metamorphosis.

Months earlier we had struck up a conversation about St. Barts at a dinner party, and a friend suggested we visit the French Caribbean island to tap into something that we unconsciously craved on so many levels…renewal. I learned that the island has few hotels, so renting a villa is the norm. Our friend suggested we contact WIMCO, a company that pioneered villa rentals on St. Barts. Our reservationist, Glennie, made planning the vacation easy and fun, and we ended up booking a modest two bedroom villa with ocean views.

Villa WV SAS

My transformation began upon boarding the Tradewind Aviation flight in San Juan with direct service to St. Barts. You feel yourself going into downsize as the water below gets bluer, the islands get smaller, and the tiny St Barts airstrip reaches up to the hillside to embrace the Tradewind’s perfect landing. Tropical, clean air enveloped us as we entered the tiny terminal and glided through friendly French Customs. Time to discard the first of many layers of clothes and urbanity we brought from the States.

After checking in at WIMCO’s cool offices across the street from the terminal, where keys, a gift bag, and a welcome iced towelette helped remove more layers of the city, our Wimco guide, Zora, who doubled as our concierge for the week, led us in a Smartcar to nearby St Jean where we wound up a short hill to Villa WV SAS, our airy, modern home for this week. Clearly the look and feel of St. Barts is classy yet unpretentious, reflecting a European design ethic and the best quality of imported woods, tiles, furnishing and appliances. Immediately we felt that we were some place different and exotic. The need for “outfits”, makeup, accessories, fixed hair and even shoes just melted away. Into the pool! Au natural, of course.

Our week was enchanted and as each day passed Jeff and I both felt this metamorphosis into a more natural and even sexy bien-etre. In lazy mornings we explored Gustavia and St. Jean, or drove to discover special coves and neighborhoods, each feeling distinct from others. We would often hit the beach for a lingering French lunch, such as our afternoon at La Plage on St. Jean beach, or La Gloriette on Grand Cul de Sac beach.

Other days we’d shop in local markets for baguettes, saucisson sec, chevre and a bottle of wine, pack a picnic and head to Gouverneur or Saline Beach, where no commercial buildings or restaurants spoiled the pristine cliffs and dunes of these spectacular grande plages. My one-piece bathing suits quickly evolved into bikinis with pareos and soon into just bikinis…and I felt confident, rather than self-conscious…we’d become part of the scene, not on-lookers, and it felt so natural and simple and right.

Nights out offered dining superlatives, starting with sunset drinks and tapas at Gustavia’s Hotel Carl Gustaf, over-looking an array of sailboats and yachts docked colorfully side by side in the picturesque harbor. Afterwards we strolled to Bonito, where breathtaking views, yellow and blue banquettes and unbelievable lobster risotto awaited. One night, seeking Italian perfection, we discovered the sumptuous veal and pasta dishes at L’Isola on the upper road heading out of Gustavia. Another night, looking for something more casual, we visited Andy, the gregarious British owner of Andy’s Hideaway where we savored thin crust pizza, goat cheese salad, and a bottomless carafe of Rhum Vanille. We bumped into others we’d seen at the beach, and chatted with locals we’d met at the market earlier in the week. St .Barts felt like a cozy French village in Provence, and we didn’t want to leave.

On our last romantic celebration at the end of our idyllic holiday, we headed to the iconic Maya’s, a sophisticated yet understated waterfront spot run by husband and wife team Randy and Maya that has set the standard for dining excellence on St. Barts for over 20 years. There we enjoy a Chambertin from Louis Jadot with roasted chicken and grilled asparagus, and were thrilled when Randy sat down at our table after dinner, sharing local news and talking about life as a restaurateur

On so many resort islands there is a dramatic chasm between locals and visitors; one is there to serve, the other to be served. On St. Barts, the visitor finds himself wanting to become local, to shed the trappings of home in favor of this easy going, relaxed, healthy lifestyle. In about a week the metamorphosis started to happen, and that is the bien-etre I see in our faces in this photo. Of course I’ll go back…who wouldn’t? How soon?

Nantucket Restaurant Week 2011: A Culinary Event Not To Miss

It’s not too late to make travel arrangements in order to make the most out of Nantucket’s renowned Restaurant Week(June 6th-12th 2011). Over 30 of the islands most prominent restaurants are participating, offering a variety of pre fixe three course options and specials. One can be sure to find a delicious and satisfying meal in a unique environment that only Nantucket can provide.

With quality dining ensured, the only way to solidify a flawless Nantucket vacationing experience is by staying in one of WIMCO’s pristine summer homes. Whether traveling with a large family, or looking for a romantic getaway, there is a WIMCO vacation home sure to fit your needs.

NAN POC

Situated in Surfside, NAN POC offers extensive privacy but maintains easy access to town. The breathtaking ocean views will not disappoint and the opportunity for outdoor activities is limitless. A large pool, outdoor shower, jacuzzi tub, and excellent wine cellar are just the surface of this property’s exquisite amenities. Supreme comfort and relaxation await.

For rates, availability, and additional photos, visit NAN POC

A complete listing of available Nantucket homes can be found here