Bonne Année!

St. Barth was really hopping over the holiday period. The weather was fantastic.  Gustavia was bustling as usual on New Year’s Eve and the myriad of yachts both on the quai and moored off the harbor sounded their horns as the fireworks display began at the stroke of midnight.  Many of our clients had such a fantastic holiday that they have already rebooked their villa for next year.

Bonne Année!

I met some of you at our weekly cocktail party at Bonito restaurant and it was fun to see the “regulars” who come every year as well as meet first timers who have also fallen in love with St. Barth. I look forward to seeing those of you who will be here over the next few months at our cocktail party too. (Tuesday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m.)  As usual Jimmy Buffett was here. I happened to be at the Baz Bar one evening when he stopped by, picked up a guitar and began singing for us!

Jimmy Buffett entertains us at the Baz Bar

I left the island for a few days to attend Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s Specialist Summit in Grand Cayman.  I am very fortunate and honored to have been chosen to receive the Villa Rental Specialist award for St. Barth since the award’s inception in 2006.  Director of Consumer News and Digital Community Editor Wendy Perrin carefully vets the top Travel Consultants and Villa Rental Specialists each year and the magazine hosts this conference for the winners.  It can be just as difficult to stay on The List as it is to make it in the first place so I am indeed thrilled to be on it.

Villa Specialists Marilyn Pulito St Martin, Julie Byrd Cabo, Conde Nast Editor Wendy Perrin, Peg Walsh St Barth, Gail Boisclair Paris Apartments at the Summit in Grand Cayman

I am happy to be back in St. Barth and pleased to let you know that the fabulous Café Victoire on rue Général Charles de Gaulle in Gustavia has reopened! Owner Bertrand Larregain and his chef Simon are back at the helm and they have created some wonderful dishes.  The prices are refreshingly reasonable.  We love the sidewalk café ambiance. It is so French. Do try it. Open every day but Sunday for lunch and dinner with the exception of Saturday lunch.

Café Victoire rue Général de Gaulle Gustavia

Carré d’agneau jus romarin (rack of lamb)

Risotto St. Jacques (Scallops)

I am trying out a few new places and inspecting some new villa listings. Stay tuned…