THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 21
Travel & Resort
Eat, play your way around the U.S. Virgin Islands By DWIGHT BROWN NNPA
(Dwight Brown photos)
Visit the United States Virgin Islands and your foodie experience will be as pleasurable as your playtime. This tropical archipelago has three main and 50 smaller islands. It was originally inhabited by Native Americans— Ciboney, Caribs, and Arawaks. Spain, France, Britain, the Netherlands and Denmark once claimed VI and Africans came during the slave trade. In 1917, the U.S. bought the territory and these days the USVI’s historical mix of cultures is still everywhere.
Must play: Magens Bay Beach—Sit in sun, swim in sea and walk around 56-acre park. Downtown Charlotte Amalie—Fort Christian, 99 Steps, Blackbeard’s Castle. The VI Cat—Glide on catamarans to Turtle Cove or take a sunset dinner sail. Coki Beach—Swimmable, popular neighborhood beach. DJ music. Meet locals. Must stay: Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham—On Water Bay, over hill from Coki Beach. Large rooms, balconies, quality service. Mellow Jimmy Buffet vibe. Ritz Carlton St. Thomas—Very lux. View turquoise blue waters of Great Bay. Secret Harbour Beach Resort—Plush boutique resort on sequestered cove.
ST. CROIX It’s the largest of the three main islands and flatter than the rest. So, driving coast to coast (28 miles) is easy and eye-catching. Christiansted, the capital city, anchors the northeast coast. Frederiksted, the quieter city, is on the west coast. On St. Croix, everyone says hello and treats others like family or friends. Wilt Chamberlain and President Joe Biden have homes on St. Croix. You’ll feel welcomed too. Dinners in St. Croix Must dine here: The Galleon at Tamarind Reef Hotel— Chef Charles Mereday offers an informal atmosphere and seaside location. Eat indoors or outdoors by the yachts. Sip on a Passionfruit Pisco Sour. Start with crabcakes. Main course it with paella, mango mahi mahi or a 16oz. ribeye. End the night with key lime pie. Too. Chez.—Set in downtown Christiansted. French-inspired American cuisine in openair courtyard. Casual but tony crowd. Drink a French 75 (Tanqueray gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, prosecco). Begin with baked shrimp scampi. Try the parmesan crusted breast of chicken entrée. Finish with cheesecake. Taste of St. Croix—Chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, and fishermen show off their ware in an outdoor soiree. Feast on Braised Lamb Charlotte and red-tailed boa and stuffed johnny cakes. Drink oatmeal stout and Veuve Clicquot.
duty-free port since 1724. Rolexes, designer bags, perfume and electronics. Tour in and around the capital city.
Caroline’s—Breakfast eatery. In historic King Christian Hotel on Christiansted boardwalk. Bananas Foster, chicken’n waffles, blueberry pancakes. Virgin Islands Food Tours—Stroll on downtown Christiansted’s cobblestone streets. Eat local cuisine and meet eatery owners on an enlightening, guided tour. Polly’s at the Pier—Frederiksted’s top brunch/lunch place. Build your own burritos. Chocolate chip Belgian waffles. Steps away from the cruise ship pier. Playing and staying on St. Croix Between meals, sip vodka, commune at outdoor markets and tour the island.
Must play: Mutiny Island Vodka Tour at Sion Farm Distillery—Chef Todd Manley makes vodka from local breadfruit. Sip on his hibiscus passion fruit vodka. Yum. Farmer’s Market—Shop dawn to midday at Rudolph Shulterbrandt AgriculturBreakfast and lunch in St. Croix al Complex for fresh vegetables, fruits, Brunch and lunch at: juices, bread, honey and local liquors. La Reine Chicken Shack—The governor, Rainbow Beach—Bohemian party beach students, truckdrivers…everyone eats at scene. Popular Rhythms restaurant. this open-air restaurant. Crucian cuisine. Sorbetiere Ice Cream Parlor and CreamSignature dish is succulent, slow-roasted ery—Tamarind and soursop sorbet. Vanilla rotisserie chicken. Dig into stewed oxtail, bean and ginger Thomas ice cream. Yummy! conch in butter sauce and sweet plantains. Drink cold sorrel juice with its hint of ginger. Must stay: El Flamboyant—Puerto Rican chef Yvonne The Buccaneer Beach & Golf Resort— Villegas learned to cook from her grand- Christiansted’s most elegant resort. Three mother and infuses that love in her home- beaches, 18-hole golf course, 8 tennis style Latino dishes. Try the carne guisada courts, a spa and seaside suites. and tostones de pana or stewed red snapThe Fred—Frederiksted‘s top boutique per filets. Goat roasts on Sundays. hotel. Six buildings, Miami style design.
ST. JOHN The smallest of the big three isles. Half-hour Sand Castle on the Beach—In Frederikst- ferry boat ride from St. Thomas. Nineteen ed. Intimate adults-only, gay-friendly. Suites square miles and 60% of the island is protectand villas include kitchens, living rooms and ed U.S. National Park land. Pristine, swimmabedrooms. Two pools. ble, gorgeous beaches. Bohemian life. Cottages By the Sea—Family-owned. 27 unique, beachfront cottages with private Rum tasting, lobster dinners and beautiful patios. Full kitchens. Kayaking, bike riding. beaches In Frederiksted. Quiet retreat. Dine around town. Explore the restaurant scene. Mingle with friendly folks. ST. THOMAS St. Thomas, with its USVI capital city of Must eat and drink at: Charlotte Amalie, has just as many people Morgan’s Mango—Extremely popular as St. Croix but is half the size. Hilly ter- restaurant. Creole, Bahamian, Cuban, Jarain—like the Hollywood Hills—and wind- maican, Haitian, Puerto Rican and Mayan ing roads. A shopping haven, restaurants influenced food with modern neo-Caand constant cruise ship debarkations make ribbean twists. Start with a Bushwhackthis a bustling island. Day and night. er cocktail. First course: lobster bisque. Main course: Caribbean lobster. Dessert: Dinner and dining on St. Thomas passionfruit semifreddo. Must eat at: Rum Bar Tasting at Bajo El Sol—Hybrid Indigo 4—Located in Marina at Yacht Haven. gallery, bookstore, café. Curator Priscilla The upscale eatery is the magical creation of Hintz Rivera guides you through rum, tea Chef Benji. As you dine on Fried Ole Wife Fish and cocktail tastings. & Eggs at Sunday brunch, with folks who’ve come from church, view the boat basin. De- Must play: lectable dinners include local lobster, tomaBeaches—Start with the famous and hawk steaks and donut bread pudding. very swimmable Trunk Bay Beach. Then Sunset Grill at Secret Harbour—Overlooks visit Cinnamon Bay Beach, Maho Bay a private beach. Fine cuisine. Guzzle local Beach, Caneel Bay Leather Back Beer. Feast on appetizers (lobGo Boating —Book a boat tour to exster & shrimp tostadas), entrees (miso Chil- plore some of the destination’s unique ean sea bass) and sweets (mile high mud pie). spots. Snorkel, swim and go sightseeing Ashley’s Restaurant—Tiny popular res- to places only accessible by boat. taurant on St. Thomas’ Cyril E. Airport grounds. Ask for the tender flaky and Must stay: sweet Fried Ole Fish or the conch. The West St. John Resort Villas—Villa resort conveniently located near ferry Playing and staying on St. Thomas dock. Pools, tennis courts, fitness center. Shop till you drop in Charlotte Amalie, a Daycare for kids so adults can play.
