Untitled Document Home
Chef & Hotel Profile
Publisher's Page
Gift Guide
Travel Adventures
Epicurean Events
Health Minded
Spa Baby Secrets
Sips
Book Bites
Culinary Coup
Sense of Style
Kids Kaleidoscope
Tinsletown Tidbits
Wheels
Radio Show & Links
Contact Us


CHEF/HOTEL PROFILE    .   .   .

VILLA DEL PALMAR LORETO RESORT & SPA 'TASTE & SIP' GASTRONOMIQUE IN PARADISE

by Bonnie Carroll

The beauty and serenity of Villa del Palmar at Loreto are difficult to portray in words, and photos are just a teaser to how unique a destination this resort located on Danzante Bay truly is. I was delighted to make a second visit to partake in a haute cuisine and wine experience presented by the Villa Del Palmar staff and two outstanding vintners, one from Seattle, Washington and one from Guadalupe, Mexico.

Only a two hour flight from Los Angeles, Villa del Palmar at Islands of Loreto offers a wonderful weekend escape for vacationers. The short airport ride to Villa del Palmar provides views of outer Loreto, and countryside with lovely seascapes leading to the private resort sitting regally on Danzante Bay, featuring a serene private beach for guests enjoyment.

The suites at this venue are simply gorgeous, and include fully equipped kitchens for guests who are traveling with children or guests who prefer to cook meals and enjoy them on their private patio. The resort has a fully stocked grocery store to purchase food and beverages. The suites are quite large and room service keeps everything perfect during your stay, as well as delivering room service meals in your room if requested. The rooftop suite has five bedrooms and a private patio jacuzzi that would be ideal for a large family reunion/vacation. Upon check-in I was greeted with a beautiful welcome dessert and fruit display and a welcome message created with colored stones on my bed that was beyond thoughtful. The staff at this resort cannot be beat, they are fantastic. From Sixto Navarro the General Manager to the grounds keepers everyone is polite and helpful.

Activities are numerous and include a bevy of water and beach activities of  kayaking, snorkeling, scuba, paddle boarding, fishing or just relaxing on a beautiful beach enjoying fruit bowls and margarita's. The Sabila Spa offers a blissful area with jacuzzi pools, steam, sauna, a variety of wonderful treatments by skilled therapists and hair/nail care. For folks who need to maintain a daily exercise regimen there is an outstanding workout area with state-of-the-art equipment in the spa overlooking the golf course. I truly enjoy this spa and director Claudine Reimer who always strives to meet guests individual needs. The Danzante Bay Golf Course has an amazing driving range, awesome views, clubhouse, club rentals, slick carts and is one beautiful golf course designed by Master architect Rees Jones. I was lucky to have a personal introduction by skilled golf professional Danny Gomez and spent some time on the renowned 17th hole overlooking the ocean.

Breakfast at the Market Restaurant is a cornucopia of delicious surprises, including special egg requests, freshly made pancakes paired with wonderful meat items, fruits, freshly baked goods, Mexican sides of beans and vegetables along with hot and cold cereals, juices or smoothies and a variety of coffee drinks. They serve an amazing green drink that is outstanding in the morning. I looked forward to chatting with Maria the chef who prepared my perfect omelets each day.

Casa Mia Restaurant has flair and a varied menu. I so enjoyed lunch there on two occasions. The first day was a a fresh shrimp salad with spinach, lettuce, avocado, peppers, onion and a creme dressing paired with a refreshing Arnold Palmer. My second lunch at Casa Mia was a magnificent fajita of shrimp, peppers, onions, and cheese perfectly prepared by Chef Mauricio to savor with a unique Guanavana Margarita cocktail. This cocktail is made of fresh mulched guava juice, triple sec, syrup and tequila and is such a semi-sweet and delicious beachside cocktail.

Following dinner each night guests are treated to live outdoor performances in the Market patio. While enjoying the best chicken enchilada of my life I was totally entertained by a Mexican version of “Cats” that includes a very talented cast of performers. The children watching the performance with their parents were captivated while savoring treats from the endless dessert bar.

 Danzante Restaurant is an elegant venue overlooking the ocean, where I enjoyed one of two special Taste & Sip five-course haute cuisine dinners prepared by a team of Villa del Palmar chefs that was paired with Chateau Ste. Michelle and Rondo del Valle Wines. It was a pleasure to meet Joe Aschbacher, celebrity wine expert and national director of global accounts for Chateau Ste. Michelle and his wife, as well as Arthur and Olivia Cruz from Rondo del Valle Wines during a delifghtful food & wine pairing at the golf club overlooking the TPC Danzante Golf Course as the sun was setting. The sunsets at Villa del Palmar are of the best I've seen anywhere in the world.

The first Taste & Sip Dinner featured an Italian inspired menu and was held in Casa Mia. The sensational menu was paired with Chateau St. Michelle Wines including their outstanding, Rose, Mimi Chardonnay and delicious Erath Oregon Pinot Noir 2015, along with several Rondo wines. Both Taste & Sip dinners were magnificent and kudos to the chefs and sommeliers who made such an outstanding team effort. It was also a pleasure to meet Mr. Owen Perry Co-Owner of the Resort who was in attendance at the dinners during my visit.

The Italian Night Dinner included a spectacular menu of cannoli with “pastor” style salmon over corn tortilla with coriander and sauce with corn kernels, followed by ravioli with grape veronica sauce and Granna Padano cheese crust. Entree of rib eye medallion and pork belly in purple basil sauce, and beef medallion with foie gras and porccini mushroom in baked phyllo pastry on a bed of risotto was prepared and served perfectly. The sweet ending dessert was Zuccotto with hazelnut cream and amaretto cream, passion fruit ad crystallized mint paired with Frepe Catilli & Cognac.

 

The final gala dinner at Danzante Restaurant included an appetizer of tuna 'tiradito' with guava sauce and sweet soy over cauliflower and radish and roast beef roll with fire roasted poblano chili pepper, fontina cheese over sweet almond mole, paired with Rondo Chardonnay Valle de Guadalupe. Course one was an outstanding mini-salad with gazpacho shot of clams and scallops with hint of bacon and black bean crouton. Sorbet was served before the main course of lamb shanks slow cooked in a charcoal hole and banana leaf with accompanied by adobo sauce of three chile peppers, baked potato and organic vegetables, paired with Rondo Rose. The astounding sweet ending dessert was baked Alaska with artificial snow and it was cleverly presented and deliciously paired with Rondo Travesi Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot.

Villa del Palmar Chefs

I was so sad to leave this 'heaven on earth' destination and all the staff members I've come to know, as well as the wonderful wine experts from Chateau Ste. Michelle (Bob Bertheau Head Wine Maker), Greg & Stacy Lill, Albert Cruz, Rondo del Valle, and the incomparable Oscar Torres, Resident Sommilier/Food & Beverage Director Villa del Parlmar Loreto and GM Sixto Navarro. Cheers to an amazing respite where one can enjoy the best in life - Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto. For information visit: www.villadelpalmarloreto.com.

Villa Del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa

Danzante Bay at the Islands of Loreto, Mexico

52 (613) 1341010

www.villadelpalmar.com


2008
March 08 | April 08 | May 08 | June 08 | July 08 | August 08 | September 08 | October 08 | November 08 | December 08 | January 09 | February 09 | March 09 | April 09 | May 09 | June 09 | July 09 | August 09 | September 09 | October 09 | November 09 | December 09 | January 10 | February 10 | March 10 | March | April 10 | May 10 | June 10 | July 10 | August 10 | September 10 | October 10 | November 10 | December 10 | January 11 | February 11 | March 11 | April 11 | May 11 | June 11 | July 11 | August 11 | September 11 | September | October 11 | November 11 | December 11 | January 12 | February 12 | March 12 | April 12 | May 12 | June 12 | July 12 | August 12 | September 12 | October 12 | November 12 | December 12 | January 13 | March 13 | February 13 | April 13 | May 13 | June 13 | July 13 | August 13 | September 13 | October 13 | November 13 | December 13 | January 14 | February 14 | March 14 | April 14 | May 14 | June 14 | July 14 | August 14 | September 14 | October 14 | November 14 | December 14 | January 15 | February 15 | March 15 | April 15 | May 15 | June 15 | July 15 | August 15 | September 15 | October 15 | November 15 | December 15 | January 16 | February 16 | March 16 | April 16 | May 16 | June 16 | July 16 | August 16 | September 16 | October 16 | November 16 | February 17 | December 16 | March 17 | January 17 | April 17 | May 17 | July 17 | August 17 | June 17 | September 17 | November 17 | October 17 | December 17 | January 18 | February 18 | March 18 | April 18 | May 18 | June 18 | July 18 | August 18 | August | September 18 | October 18 | November 18 | December 18 | January 19 | February 19 | March 19 | April 19 | May 19 | June 19 | July 19 | August 19 | September 19 | October 19 | November 19 | December 19 | January 20 | February 20 | March 20 | April 20 | May 20 | June 20 | July 20 | August 20 | September 20 | October 20 | November 20 | December 20 | January 21 | February 21 | March 21 | April 21 | May 21 | June 21 | July 21 | August 21 | September 21 | October 21 | December 20 | November 21 | December 21 | January 22 | February 22 | April 22 | May 22 | March 22 | June 22 | July 22 | August 22 | September 22 | October 22 | November 22 | December 22 | January 23 | February 23 | March 23 | April 23 | May 23 | June 23 | July 23 | August 23 | September 23 | October 23 | November 23 | December 23 | January 24 | February 24 | February 08 | January 08

2007
December 07
| November 07 | October 07 | September 07 | August 07 | July 07 | June 07 | May 07
April 07
| March 07 | February 07 | January 07

2006
Dember 06
| November 06 | October 06 | September 06 | August 06 | July 06 | June 06 | May 06
April 06 | March 06 | February 06 | January 06

2005
December 05
| November 05 | October 05 | September 05 | August 05 | July 05 | June 05 | May 05
April 05 | March 05 | February 05 | January 05

© 2008 Bonnie Carroll, All Rights Reserved