The Rainbow Cafe in Grand
Case
At the very end of “Rockstar” Restaurant row on the Boulevard De Grand Case sits The Rainbow Cafe, the ‘premier’ choice if you’re looking for the full beach, lounge, bar, restaurant and chic boutique French Creole escapade!
The perfect retreat, Rainbow’s small beach club feeling and lounge ambiance overlooks picturesque Anguilla, a perfect spot for an all-day lunch. Sunbathe, swim or lounge in Grand Case's protected bay, Rainbow provides a perfect serene Caribbean Cafe Del Mar atmosphere.
Greeted by gracious manager/owner Douglas Gobert we chose our seats on the new lanai overlooking the beckoning red beach chairs (with optional sun visors, yes!) basking and relaxing in red colored luxury and sun. Soft sexy jazzy music adds to the scene, complementing our ‘specialty house drinks.’
The Mojito Royal (w/champagne instead of club) and Vodka Mojito, both unique departures from the norm and the Strawberry Margarita, a refreshing and exciting blend of flavors with a lime touch. The frozen Rum Runner was perfect for the warm beachy afternoon.
While a lively beachside restaurant nightly, on Monday, Rainbow livens as the most happening after work and evening weekly destination! Both beautiful white interior lounge and surrounding porch boast fantastic glowing light shows while DJs’ Master G and Pat swing meaningful sunset tunes to Anthemic classics and beyond. Don’t be surprised if you also see a Fire show, belly and go-go dancers as the entertainment changes all the time.
Our meal of course was recommended specialties, appetizers Duo de Tartare De Thon and Saumon, (Salmon and Tuna tartar) unparalleled and packed with so much flavor we didn’t need to squeeze a lemon, and the Baked Camembert Roti, hiding diced pineapple with a crisp calvados flare presented excitingly, separating it from all others on island.
We tried the beloved Mille Feuilles De Mangues Thon Sauce Exotique too, (a thin layer of mango sandwiched by tuna and bed of fresh spinach and sided sweet soy, a perfect beach side dish begging for a sunset and a bottle of rose.
Shared as well was the salmon stuffed with sea scallops special, topped with creamy bacon sauce blending flavors and textures of the crisp salmon and smooth baby scallops, dissolving in the mouth and pleasing with the creamy drizzle topside.
Presentation as equally charming as handsome Douglas, desserts a carnival variety; baked oozing chocolate cake sided with caramel butter and homemade vanilla ice cream and the specialty of the day, strawberry mousse cake "Financier" with raspberry sorbet, convincing your stomach you can have another bite.
Dishes we can’t wait to return for perhaps, the 39Euro 3 course meal (starter, entree & dessert) the Cassolette de la Mer Sauce Safrane'e (Scallop, shrimp and daily fresh fish) the Brochettes de Gambas et St-Jacques grille'es a' la pistche et son quinoa tomatoes cerises (Prawn and Scallop brochettes, grilled with pistachio and tomato quinoa) and of course their famous L'assiette cre'ole, (Creole plate of salt fish dumplings, stuffed crab & plantain banana.)
With breakfast served on the beach from 7-12 and specialty kids menu, RAINBOW in Grand Case is our first and only choice for an amazing French side beach club experience; we’ll see you this Monday!
Rainbow Cafe
176 Boulevard De Grand Case
Grand Case, SXM, FWI
Reservations and contact: douglas.gobert@gmail.com
www.rainbowcafe.fr
Panlaan Secret Dinner Review
Finally, an authentic Thai owned and operated restaurant here in St. Maarten! Internationally renowned Executive Chef Sarusha Kullapadechanon, a 4th-generation Thai Chef and successful restaurateur hits the nail on the head with all our favorite flavors; Thai basil, galanga, kefir lime and of course, the curries!
Arriving at Panlaan, we were quickly greeted and seated by our friendly waitress after a welcome into the ambiance of the clean and open ‘mod’ orange, brown and white setting. Glowing daytime and night, the wooden deck situated directly on lagoon waters is furnished with beautiful white lounges, beckoning luxury and relaxation.
Drinks ordered, (and a Thai iced tea!) each dish questioned was carefully explained. To experience an extensive and varied flavor profile, my guests and I ordered as appetizers...
The MOO TOD SAMUN PRI (Local favorite aromatic crispy pork with Thai herbs and piquant chili sauce) It was a large portion of pork, flavorful and sweet!
The SASHIMI PANLAAN (Healthy Thai Salmon Sashimi with fresh lime, fried shallots & special herbs) So tender, it melted in my mouth; fried shallots added texture and sweetness with additional red chili flakes and fresh crushed garlic; I could eat that every day.
The PANLAAN HO CHEESE boasted as the (“Must-try” crispy cheese wontons made with real crab and prawn, served with sweet chili and plum sauce) One can never miss this “Crab Rangoon” of Thailand...
And the POH PIA TOD (Crunchy vegetable spring rolls served with sweet chili and plum sauce) a delicious healthy spring roll made with vegetables which had fantastic interior texture.
For our main course, we split...
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The PAD KEE MAO (Chef’s signature stir fried big rice noodles with bird’s eye chilies, Thai basil, bell peppers and onions) As I love noodle dishes and wanted to try something different than my beloved Pad Thai, this country style noodle dish had all our favorite Thai flavors and ingredients; a true cultural gastronomic victory!
And the KHAO PAD KEAW WAN P (Their famous green curry fried rice with Thai basil, coconut milk, bell peppers, bamboo shoots and green beans) As with all their curries and dishes, we had the choice of chicken, beef, tofu fried or soft, seafood, crab, prawns, etc.; we added chicken and asked for “medium.” It was received perfectly; had the perfect “heat” without being too spicy. It was absolutely delicious; we ate until we couldn’t stand up.
Customizable dishes with your favorite Thai ingredients, prepared mild, medium, hot, Thai spicy, for children, vegetarian or even vegan; outstanding Chef Sarusha was able to tend to all our dietary quirks.
Dishes we can’t wait to return for:
The COCONUT PRAWNS (Prawns in a light tempura batter and sprinkled with coconut and succulent deep-fried shrimp served with sweet chili and plum sauce), SARUSHA’S SUMMER SALAD (Refreshing Asian greens, strawberries, toasted coconut, mandarin oranges, green apples, fried shallots and galanga, drizzled with shallot oil and lime dressing), the YUM NUEA (Traditional Thai grilled beef salad with tomatoes, red onions, spicy lime dressing and herbs) and the GANG PHED PED YANG P (Roast duck with pineapples, coconut milk, carrots and tomatoes drenched in a creamy red curry and spiced with Thai basil)...
And of course, all the different curries offered!
With genuine, veritable customizable Thai flavors, easy extensive parking, an interior air-conditioned dining option, speedy service, affordable meals, outstanding food quality, a clean appearance, radiant romantic ambiance and a staff friendliness and professionalism only seen in high end establishments, Panlaan has it all!
Panlaan Thai on the Bay
Laguna View Building
(Behind First Caribbean Bank)
Welfare Drive, Simpson Bay
Reservations/Delivery/Take out
T: +1-721-559-2811
Open Everyday
Lunch - 12pm-3pm Monday-Friday
Dinner - 6pm-10pm Sunday-Thursday
Dinner - 6pm-11pm Friday-Saturday
The Red Piano
Nestled on the hillside of Pelican, just beneath the Hollywood Casino is the Red Piano, the best live piano entertainment on the island of St. Maarten, hands down.
First of all, the Red Piano is probably NOT what you’d expect to find in the Caribbean - an absolutely beautiful, sleek ultra-cool lounge, with an amazing leather lined mahogany bar, top rate bar staff, really good air conditioning, nightly live entertainment and a friendly atmosphere. It may sound too good to be true but it isn’t, head over to the Red Piano any night of the week, and you’ll find a great variety of patrons, from the tourist, to the local, the college kids to the retirees, and for some reason the party never stops. The Red Piano opens its doors around 7PM and usually closes…when they feel like it.
Proprietors Jason “Jay-Jay” and Drew have taken the best aspects of the Live Piano Bar, the Lounge, and the Caribbean lifestyle, and blended them into a truly winning recipe. The proof is in the customers who come back night after night to sample the award winning cocktails, or just have a beer and watch the show. Each month the Red Piano has a new piano player come to the island to perform, keeping the entertainment fresh and fun. The piano player is live every night of the week, save Monday. Monday is reserved for a very special time that they like to call Monday night Church – however don’t be fooled, it’s not a religious service, that is, unless your religion is rock and roll. The Monday night Church Band is a live rock and blues jam session that lasts all night. Things have been known to get a little crazy on Monday nights, in fact, the management has been known to keep the party rolling and take it over to the TUESDAY morning show called Fresh Air in the Morning with Dr. Soc on Island 92, the local radio station.
In addition to being the island’s number one piano bar, the Red Piano also has a pool table in the back and some semi-private seating in the lounge area, in case you want to enjoy some intimate chatting time and a nice cocktail. And when the piano player finishes up the night, the DJ comes on and the dance floor opens up.
Whether you are on the Dutch side or the French side, plan on visiting the Red Piano for an evening of fantastic entertainment and memorable moments. To get to the Red Piano, break off Welfare Road in Simpson Bay, or just follow the signs to the Hollywood Casino. There are plenty of speed bumps as you head up the hill into Pelican, once you reach the top of the hill, you will see the Hollywood Casino, then you will head down the hill, just two stone’s throws on the left is a very large parking lot and the epicenter of evening fun, the Red Piano, See you there!
Mr. Mister
Once upon a time, a wise old island sage was quoted as saying, “It’s always mosquito season in St. Maarten”. He knew a thing or two, and you can see for yourself, if you’ve spent any time out in the tropical bush, or close to the low-lying lands that surround the lagoon, as soon as dusk approaches, those little demons come out in droves. In residential areas around St. Maarten, the mosquito has been known to interrupt many an evening’s dining under the open skies, causing a quick retreat to the kitchen. Some say the secret is to spray everyone in the dinner party with bug repellent, use an insecticide that kills the bug (and maybe your family) or burn giant kerosene torches – creating an ambiance of, well, dinner on the hood of a diesel truck.
Over the years, mosquitos have posed a myriad of difficult problems to the residents of the Friendly Island. Unfortunately, now more than ever, the little mosquito is also a health threat, carrying the tropical disease known as Dengue Fever or locally as “Break Bone Fever” due to the muscle and joint pains caused by this infectious virus. Dengue comes from the same family of viruses as Yellow Fever and West Nile Virus, and is transmitted by the mosquito. Within the last couple decades, Dengue outbreaks have grown exponentially, especially in tropical areas that have reasonable precipitation rates. These statistics put St. Maarten in the high-risk zone of both increased mosquito population and increased Dengue Fever outbreaks.
In steps Mr. Mister – the heavy-handed, proven effective, discreet and environmentally friendly way to combat mosquitos and other biting insects. Sounds too good to be true? Well it’s not. Mr. Mister utilizes a scientifically proven, unique and novel approach to eliminate the mosquito threat when employed at any location from a backyard to a restaurant or marina. The secret to their success is the mixture of science, technology and the study of insects. Mr. Mister has a specially formulated spray made from the Chrysanthemum flower, a Pyrethrum-based bio-degradable solution. With the use of a computer and a high-tech “misting system”, Mr. Mister calculates certain key breeding times for mosquitos and other biting insects, and then sprays. From day one you see an instant drop in mosquitos, however as the days progress, they become less and less. The environmentally friendly mist interrupts the mosquito’s breeding cycle, and also repels the mosquito, a one-two punch that eventually knocks the mosquitos out of your yard. Mr. Mister’s mantra is “With the Mist, they don’t Exist”.
Truth be told, anyone can go out and write up a glowing review for a product, based purely on statistics and literature that the company provides – but at St.Maarten.com we always take the skeptical, persnickety and narrow view. SO before writing the above, we went out and tested the product ourselves and then interviewed other clients who were free to say whatever they liked. As a result, we stand by our review, and have included some snippets from the interviews:
“We have had seasonal mosquito issues for several years here in Cole Bay, especially after the rainy season. We tried using insecticide and burning lots of citronella candles, which helped temporarily but the mosquitos would always find a way into the house. At one point I went to Ace and purchased a mosquito net for over the bed. When we heard about Mr. Mister, we were really looking for a long-term solution for a long-term problem, and that is what they offer. We installed the system, it took half a day, and it is completely automated. The things that I particularly like about Mr. Mister is that they use environmentally friendly spray which will not in any way harm myself or my animals, it actually works and the mosquitos disappeared, AND the company partners with you, they come and refill the machine and make sure it’s working. Any issues, you call them and they respond immediately. So far, I am extremely happy with the Mr. Mister system and would recommend it to anyone looking to get rid of the mosquitos, it also keeps wasps (Jack Spaniards), centipedes and believe it or not cockroaches away, and does not bother all the birds that sit in the trees overlooking the yard.”
Bob from Cole Bay
"Mr. Mister utilizes proven technology applied in a safe and knowledgeable manner. As an expert in the fields of entomology and pest control, I highly recommend Mr. Mister. Based on their level of professionalism and specialized knowledge regarding mosquito control, the safe use of chemical compounds, and the proper functioning of misting systems, I will attest that Mr. Mister is the most effective and trustworthy choice for mosquito control in a tropical environment such as St. Maarten/Martin. Proper mosquito control is essential in St. Maarten/Martin, where high numbers of mosquitos pose a public health threat."
Dr. Jill Gordon
PhD Entomology & Leading Urban Pest Control Expert
"We are very happy with the results. We have our porch back."
Tom
Cole Bay, SXM
"I stay at Caravanserai every year, and every year I come home with mosquito bites ruining my tan! This year I noticed the lack of mosquitoes and commented about it to the front desk. They pointed out a small green sign from Mr. Mister by the pool saying "mosquito-free zone". Its great because I didn't even notice the misting system, only the lack of bites!"
Sarah
Guest, Caravanserai Resort
"Another bonus you may not be aware of is that our dog used to have clouds of midges and no see ‘um’s etc., constantly buzzing around him, with all kinds of weeping eyes and skin issues.
Since we have had the system install this seems to no longer be an issue.
We are in the process of removing mosquito screens off our doors it is that effective.
Very happy with it."
Gary, Cupecoy
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