In the last 33 years I have never seen St. Barth as busy this early in the fall. The island was hopping! It was so much fun. Of course, I was there to work and had lots of villa inspections to do, meetings to attend and restaurants to try. I’ll bet many of you would love my job. I sure do.
Coincidentally, our wonderful gérant (head honcho of my two St. Barth Properties Sotheby’s International Realty rental and sales offices), Benoit Meesemaecker married Anne Picard, the owner of Venus Health and Beauty Spa on November 8, 2019. Weddings in St. Barth (as well as in France) are different from those in the USA. Any couple must be legally married during business hours at the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) first. Therefore, legal wedding ceremonies do not take place on the weekends. Like many other couples, Benoit and Anne planned their wedding at the end of the day on a Friday. This couple is very special because the President of the Collectivité, Bruno Magras performed the ceremony, instead of an underling. Steve and I were there to watch and we went out to the terrace on Gustavia Harbor for a toast with a coupe de Champagne.
Benoit is a champion sailor and is very much involved with St. Barth Yacht Club where the children of St. Barth learn to sail. So, he and Anne hosted a wonderful reception at the SBYC which is on the beach in Public. It was a perfect night.
The St. Barth Gourmet Festival took place November 06-10, 2019. It was a huge success. Every participating restaurant was booked. We were a party of eight who thoroughly enjoyed our meal at L’Esprit by Jean-Claude Dufour whose guest chef was Philippe Jourdin, MOF One-Star Chef at Terre Blanche in Cote D’Azur. If you would like to attend next year’s Gourmet Festival, the dates are November 11-15, 2020. Let me know if you would like to book your villa or hotel now.
The 70th Anniversary of Le Select did not disappoint. Three days of events culminated on the actual date, November 11, 2019. It was a pleasure to spend time with 96 year old Marius Stakelborough who founded Le Select in 1949. It was a privilege to be able to explore his Back Street Gallery near his home by Shell Beach. There is so much of St. Barth history to discover there.
We were thrilled when Jimmy Buffett took us by surprise and jumped on the small stage at around 6:15 pm – just Jimmy and his guitar -and sang many of his songs that relate to St. Barth. Jimmy and Marius have been friends for years and years and that is how Le Select was able to name its spot Cheeseburger in Paradise.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION IF YOU PLAN ON TRANSITING TO ST BARTH VIA SINT MAARTEN (SXM) THIS WINTER:
From Winair: To ensure your experience at SXM Airport is as pleasant as possible we advise you to check in at least 3 hours prior to your scheduled departure. This advice is for all flights departing SXM Airport to your home airport between 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM. During these hours they do expect congestion at check-in, security screening, immigration and customs. If you have booked one of our villas or hotels and would like us to arrange VIP transfers for your arrival and/or departure in SXM, let our Concierge, Julia Hurd know, [email protected].
Where should you dine when there is a full moon in St. Barth?
The all-new Al Mare restaurant at the 5-star Le Sereno hotel in Grand Cul de Sac! Located by the sandy beach and near the water’s edge, the restaurant has added feet-in-the-sand tables to dine under the stars. (You can have lunch there, under the palm trees, too.) Professionals from their hotel Sereno Lago di Como restaurant on Lake Como, have taken over the kitchen and the floor to serve you and delight you with their all-Italian menu. Steve and I had the pleasure of dining there. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was romantic, the service was impeccable, and the view was breathtaking. If you are vacationing in St. Barth during a full moon, we can book your table for you. Be sure to bring your camera with you.
What’s New on the St. Barth dining scene? Le Carré! This open-air sidewalk café sits smackdab in the middle of Le Carré D’Or where there are boutiques and an art gallery. The café presents a nice casual menu that is sure to delight your palate. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (Monday through Saturday 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. (Closed Sunday)
Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season. I hope to see you on St. Barth very soon.
