Next level
LIVING Set in St Lucia’s hills, Jade Mountain is a gem of a place
Words: Chris Jones
W
hat does lionfish taste like? In truth, this isn’t something I’d ever previously considered. It’s not a menu item on any of the London restaurants I regularly visit. A recent stay at the spectacular Jade Mountain resort in St Lucia, however, gave me the answer. Reader, it’s delicious. First, a bit of background. Lionfish, although stunning to look at, are generally bad news. Carnivorous, venomous and invasive, they have moved in from the Pacific and multiplied rapidly in the Caribbean Sea. The chefs at Jade Mountain resort, then, are mounting a defence by turning the tables – so the hunter is hunted – and serving up their flaky, buttery fillets as a succulent alternative to the more traditional snapper and other reef fish. And so, as my partner and I enjoyed an impressive lionfish tasting menu at this stunning resort, we could comfortably say that we were doing our bit for the ecology of the planet. This kind of armchair activism seemed entirely inkeeping with the laid-back nature of the island of St Lucia itself. The hotel is the realisation of the vision of owner architect Nick Troubestkoy, who’s created something that I’d wager is unlike any other hotel you’ve ever stayed in. Found at the end of an unassuming track on the outskirts of the archetypal St Lucian seaside town, Soufriere, even the approach is captivating. »
