~ Old World Style meets New World Cuisine ~
There is no escaping the facts of our situation – and yet, life goes on, and hope springs eternal.
Hurricane Irma took some of our island’s natural beauty and richness, but she spared a few pockets where one might almost forget what happened on September 6. If you want a refuge from the stress and mess, Porto Cupecoy offers this and so much more.
The anchor of Porto Cupecoy’s Mediterranean style plaza remains the famous Mario Bistrot which serves exquisite cuisine to the highest standards, all the while keeping the atmosphere fresh and friendly.
We took the opportunity last Tuesday to escape into this dream-like world for a wonderful meal that did much to restore our sense of normalcy and peacefulness. The breeze kept us cool and comfy as we settled in for our starters and wine. A few tables filled up with groups of friends around us, and a few couples seeking privacy found tables off to the side. Music set the tone of calm melody harmonizing with the lapping sounds of water against the docks. Our wine arrived with tall goblets, delicately proportioned and perfectly chilled – Chardonnay for me and Cote de Provence for my friend – and a listing of specials for the evening was presented by none other than Mario himself.
Our starter was an amazing display of four culinary creations, each a marvel of flavour and food engineering. Nibbles of roasted duck meat on tortilla crisps topped with green onions and seasoned to perfection adorned one corner of the platter. Another corner held a mahi-mahi ceviche bursting with freshness and popping with colour. Tuna tartar and shrimp tempura filled out the quartet with diversity and deliciousness. I can recommend this starter platter as a meal in itself; and the ceviche in fact stole the show for me and I would order that alone if I wanted to eat light or save room for desserts.
Well, then, onto the main course selections, which we found was not an easy choice to make as everything on the menu sounded like heaven. In the end, we opted for shrimp in coconut milk with Red Thai Curry, Baby Bok Choy and Asparagus. This was rich and slightly spicy, served with basmati rice. My friend ordered the Lamb Chops. She reported that they were tender and juicy, perfectly cooked, plated with garlic mashed potatoes topped with a grilled head of garlic. Mario stopped by to chat and mentioned that the Lamb Chops came from New Zealand and he shared some of his special techniques, then took our order for dessert, a cappuccino and crème brûlée to share.
The night couldn’t have been nicer, from the enchanting setting to the great food and service, personal attention from the owner and all of that shared with a good friend. Find your reason to go out with that someone special, and take them to the most memorable spot on the island, Mario Bistrot in Porto Cupecoy.
