Inside an air-conditioned tent on a recent steamy Florida evening at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes, the who’s who of Florida’s culinary scenes in three major cities gathered at an invite-only event to learn which Florida restaurants would be lauded with stars during the state’s first ever Michelin Guide Miami, Orlando, and Tampa selections. 

The champagne flowed, the goat cheese macarons and caviar cups were passed around on pretty platters and, all up, 15 restaurants in Miami and Orlando (sorry, Tampa, maybe la prochaine fois) were awarded Michelin stars—all receiving a single star, with the exception of L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Miami, the only restaurant in the state to claim two of the French tire company’s maximum three coveted stars for the quality and consistency of food served. 

Among the four Orlando restaurants that received a star was Kadence, which Michelin’s anonymous chef inspector for North America told Islands stood out for its “really interesting and personal take on an omakase menu” featuring stellar quality raw bites and nigiri as well as cooked plates, with items like grilled lion’s mane mushroom and Japanese sea scallop with cauliflower pure and pine nut crumble. 

Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide, said the range of cuisines at the Florida restaurants that were nominated was impressive. He called the 15 stars handed out (and the additional 29 restaurants earning Bib Gourmand designations from Michelin for “great food at a great value”) a “great beginning” as the state is welcomed into the high-falutin French fold, whose U.S. list had so far only included restaurants in New York, Washington D.C., California, and Illinois.

“(Florida’s culinary) diversity is quite mature in terms of culinary offerings,” Poullennec told us, adding that 35 different cuisines—among them Japanese, Floribbean, French, Italian, and Indian—were represented among the 118 restaurants nominated for the Michelin Guide in Florida. 

Perhaps even more exciting than some of the restaurants that were awarded stars were the Bib Gourmand listmakers, including excellent Little Havana Cuban sandwich spot, Sanguich, in Miami, which serves only a handful of ridiculously good sandwiches and batidos (milkshakes), and Orlando’s Bombay Street Kitchen, with flavors as transporting as anything on the Subcontinent. 

For a complete roundup of all the Miami, Orlando and Tampa restaurants to earn Michelin stars and Bib Gourmands in 2022, visit Michelin’s official listing. If you’re wondering why only these three cities went under the eye of inspectors for this year’s Florida awards, it reportedly has to do with the roughly $1.5 million spent by tourist boards in those cities to bring Michelin’s restaurant inspectors their way. 

And if you’re wanting to try any of the nominated restaurants out for yourself, you might want to get there sooner rather than later, since they’re surely on the verge of getting even more popular now.

The post Florida Restaurants Land 15 Stars in the State’s First Ever Michelin Guide Nominations appeared first on Islands.

When it comes to National Margarita Day, we have a lot of ways to celebrate our favorite tropical cocktail. A lot. Like, so many recipes we’ll be well into August before we stop celebrating. Not that we’re complaining. But this year, this wonderful holiday falls on a Tuesday (February 22), so giving multiple cocktail recipes a shot (pun intended) means that Wednesday might be a little tougher than usual.

Fortunately, for those of us who do most of our celebrating on weekends, there’s a creative solution that allows us to have our margs and drink them, too. The fine folks from Ritual Zero Proof—an alcohol alternative created not to completely do away with spirits, but instead to find some all-natural replacements that still taste like the real things for when we can’t party hard—have developed these special alcohol-free and low-alcohol recipes for anyone still looking to enjoy a great National Margarita Day, but without the Wednesday morning headache.

The Classic Margarita

Ingredients (Non-alcoholic):

• 2 oz. Ritual Tequila Alternative
• 1 oz. orange juice
• 1 oz. fresh lime juice
• 0.5 oz. simple syrup
• Lime slice or wedge

How to Make It:

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake, shake, shake. Pour into a cocktail glass, garnish with a lime slice or wedge.

The Heat Wave 

Ingredients (Low-ABV):

• 2 oz. Ritual Tequila Alternative
• 1 oz. fresh lime juice
• 1 oz. triple sec
• 0.5 oz. agave nectar
• Half jalapeño pepper
• Basil Leaf
• Tajin or Valentina Seasoning (for rim)

How to Make It:

Pour Tequila Alternative over jalapeño and basil, sliced lengthwise, in a cocktail shaker. Let sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes. The longer, the spicier. Add lime, triple sec, agave and ice. Shake, shake, shake. Pour over ice into a Tajin-rimmed glass. Garnish with jalapeño slices and basil.

The Pineapple Margarita

Ingredients (Low-ABV):

• 2 oz. Ritual Tequila Alternative
• 3 oz. pineapple juice
• 1.5 oz. fresh lime juice
• 1 oz. triple sec

How to Make It: 

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake, strain into a glass with ice and garnish with pineapple fronds and/or segments.

The post Three Alcohol-free Recipe Alternatives for a Happy National Margarita Day appeared first on Islands.

Despite being a perennial Spring Break destination that has served as the setting for such cinematic classics as Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise and the much more simply named Spring Break, Ft. Lauderdale is so much more than a party destination. The 23 miles of beautiful South Florida beaches offer all kinds of excitement, from relaxing in the sun to snorkeling, and don’t worry—you can still party.

But if you’re looking for something charming that combines the vivid nightlife with style and sophistication, head over to Lauderdale Beach, where you’ll find the Pelican Grand Beach Resort. Between the fine dining at OCEAN2000, relaxing treatments at PURE Spa and the lazy river, this property is a favorite for families and Instagram models alike.

So, what kind of cocktail is best for an afternoon spent on the private beach at Pelican Grand Beach Resort? General Manager TJ Pierri highly recommends the Tropical Tease, which looks so good you might want two—one to drink and one to tweet about. And now you can do both from home, because this recipe is yours.

Pelican Grand Beach Resort’s Tropical Tease

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Patron Silver
• 0.75 oz Lemon Juice
• 0.75 oz Cane Syrup
• 3 slices of kiwi

How to Make It:

1. Muddle the kiwi, lemon juice, cane syrup and add tequila.
2. Shake and strain over ice in a double old fashioned glass with a sugar rim.
3. Garnish with kiwi slice.

The post How to Make Pelican Grand Beach Resort’s Tropical Tease Cocktail appeared first on Islands.

While it doesn’t have the name recognition of neighboring Hilton Head Island, the town of Bluffton, South Carolina, has quietly and deservedly developed into a classic Southern vacation destination. Thanks to its deep history and celebrated arts scene, Bluffton has evolved from playing second fiddle to Hilton Head and Savannah to the perfect place for a weekend road trip or even a week spent enjoying local festivals and the area’s vast natural beauty.

Set right in the heart of Bluffton, Montage Palmetto Bluff offers guests world-class accommodations with vintage Southern charm, and a bevy of water-based adventures and activities on the May River. This includes water skiing, paddleboarding, private beach tours, trips to Daufuskie Island, and, of course, salt- and fresh-water fishing. And land lovers don’t need to worry, because there is also the May River Golf Course, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.

With so much to do, unwinding will undoubtedly be on the day’s itinerary, so we asked the resort’s bar staff to name a cocktail that pairs well with putting your feet up and/or sitting next to a fire pit in the backyard as the sun bids farewell. Undoubtedly, they said, it is the River House Lounge’s Peaches and Bourbon, and they were kind enough to share the recipe.

Montage Palmetto Bluff’s Peaches and Bourbon

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. Maker’s Mark
• 3 oz. lemonade
• 3 oz. peach cider
• Garnish: peach or lemon wedge

How to Make It:

1. Combine all ingredients into a shaker and mix vigorously.
2. Pour ingredients into a Collins glass filled with ice, and garnish with a slice of peach or lemon wedge.

The post How to Make Montage Palmetto Bluff’s Peaches and Bourbon appeared first on Islands.

The thing about Tahiti is once you visit, you never stop thinking about it. The stunning natural beauty, interesting and charming people and, of course, the romance—it’s almost as if this “bucket list” destination becomes a part of your DNA. You don’t want Tahiti off your mind because it is the kind of place that you’ll want to visit again and again, as it always feels like it is your place.

That’s a testament to Tahitians, as they are legendary for their generosity and warm embrace. So much so that when it comes to their cuisine, they will insist that you take the recipe home, so you’ll always have a piece of Tahiti in your pocket… or cookbook.

One of the most popular Tahitian dishes is Poisson Crû, and we are extremely pleased that the Islands of Tahiti shared this recipe with us, to share with you, because it is a meal that has the magical ability to make you feel like you just finished scuba diving in Rangiroa, even when you’re really just relaxing on a hammock in the backyard.

Poisson Crû from the Islands of Tahiti

Ingredients (Serves six people):

• 500g of red tuna
• 2 tomatoes
• 1 small cucumber
• 2 green limes
• 1 onion
• Coconut milk
• Parsley
• 1 green onion
• Salt
• Pepper

How to Make It:

1. Cut the fish into small pieces and soak it in seawater or saltwater for 5 minutes. 
2. In a salad bowl, combine diced tomatoes and cucumbers, thinly sliced onion, cut green onion and chopped parsley. 
3. Add lemon juice, salt and pepper and let soak for a few minutes. 
4. Drain the fish, add to the bowl and mix well with other ingredients. 
5. Add the coconut milk at the last minute.
6. Serve immediately.

The post How to Make Poisson Crû from the Islands of Tahiti appeared first on Islands.

When it comes to learning how to make cocktails, it’s never a bad idea to start with the classics. And when it comes to learning Caribbean cocktails, it doesn’t get much more classic than a Bahama Mama. So, when it came time to collect a recipe for this special drink, we asked the experts in the Bahamas Out Islands to give us the ingredients being used at resorts from the Abacos to San Salvador.

Whether floating on a giant inflatable swan in your pool or sitting in the backyard with your feet in a kiddie pool, this Bahama Mama recipe pairs nicely with closing your eyes and imagining that you’re taking a stroll on Ten Bay Beach in Eleuthera.

Bahamas Out Islands’ Bahama Mama

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. of dark rum.
• 1 oz. of coconut rum
• 4 oz. of pineapple juice
• 2 oz. of orange juice.
• A sprinkle of Angostura aromatic bitters.
• A dash of grenadine (for a Bahamas sunset orange color).

How to Make It:

1. Combine ingredients in a shaker.
2. Shake and pour over cracked ice.
3. Garnish with an orange or pineapple slice, sip and then listen to the imaginary lapping of the waves.

The post How to Make a Bahama Mama from the Bahamas Out Islands appeared first on Islands.

There is a lot to love about JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa. The location, beach, views, stylish and comfortable rooms, tranquil Mayan spa, that amazing pool—we could keep this going for hours. But one of the most impressive things about this property is the incredible creativity and ingenuity on display with the margarita menu. Yes, I am comparing a list of margz to one of the nicest stretches of beach in Cancun and a pool so long you’ll feel like you could float for days.

Why is this margarita menu so special? Because it features 150 different margaritas. I know, that’s a lot of margz, friends. In fact, that is so many margaritas that even if your vacation was 150 days long, you still might not finish the entire menu, because sometimes you just need a break. And if you only visit this resort once a year, well, you’ll probably never be able to try them all. Basically, your best bet is to trust your gut and pick those margaritas that seem like they fit your style.

So, when I asked for just one recipe, I told the resident bar wizards at JW Marriott Cancun to give me a crowd favorite. “Give me a real people pleaser,” I told them. In return, we received this recipe for the Mezcalina. Enjoy!

JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa’s Mezcalina

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz tequila (preferably Tierra Noble Reposado)
• 1 oz Cointreau
• 1 oz mezcal
• .5 oz simple syrup
• 1 oz orange juice
• .75 oz lemon juice
• Tajin seasoning for rim

How to Make It:

1. Pour all ingredients in a shaker glass and muddle together.
2. Add ice and shake.
3. Line the glass rim with Tajin seasoning (if available).
4. Pour ingredients into the glass, and garnish with an orange slice.

The post How to Make the Mezcalina from JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa appeared first on Islands.

The one thing that Excellence Punta Cana does not lack is views. In fact, when I visited recently, it wasn’t so much a matter of “Where will I sit today?” but instead, “Will I be able to enjoy every amazing angle of the stunning ocean before I leave?” Coincidentally, if your preference is to enjoy sunsets, crashing waves and natural Caribbean beauty with a frosty cocktail in hand, this resort serves so many different drinks that it might have every view covered. (And if you want something non-alcoholic for sunrises, or any time of day, the juice bar is also stocked with every delicious flavor you can imagine, and I implore you to pick two or three and mix them.)

First-time visitors will probably want to grab a freshly cracked coconut from the beach bars, but recurring guests know that bartenders are waiting, all over the property, to serve something fresh and unique—cocktails we know by name, but made with the attitude that every drink must be better than the last. And Excellence Club members know they have even more choices, especially with a private margarita bar tucked away next to a private pool. (Seriously, I cannot stop thinking about that marg bar.)

One of my favorite beverages is the Citrus Mango Cocktail, which is so packed with amazing flavor that it almost feels like a teleportation device. Now, thanks to the crew at Excellence Punta Cana, we can share this quick and simple recipe.

The Citrus Mango Cocktail at Excellence Punta Cana

Ingredients:

• A highball glass
• 1.5 oz Absolut vodka
• 1/2 of a natural mango
• 1 oz grapefruit juice
• 1 oz orange juice
• 1/2 oz lime juice

How to Make It:

1. Add all the ingredients to a shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake it, strain and pour into the highball glass over ice.
3. Garnish with an orange slice, a small watermelon ball and two pineapple leaves.

The post How to Make Excellence Punta Cana’s Citrus Mango Cocktail appeared first on Islands.

With properties in 10 countries, from the Czech Republic to Costa Rica, Occidental Hotels & Resorts goes to great lengths to ensure that the experience at each destination is authentic, but always with a little extra to please guests of all ages, and from all corners of the world.

For example, guests at Occidental Costa Cancún likely expect authentic Mexican cuisine and fresh seafood, and naturally they’ll get that at México Lindo and La Claraboya, respectively. However, there’s also Italian cuisine at La Trattoria and a full buffet at Albatross. After all, when it comes to breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts and snacks, not every guest has the same cravings.

This is especially the case for young travelers, as children tend to be—how do I put this nicely—the pickiest people on the planet. Fortunately, the Occidental culinary team is as creative as it is generous with its cuisine, and so the chefs are even thinking of the little guests when developing their menus. They’re so generous, in fact, that they’ve shared with us this delightful recipe for Ladybug Canapé, which even doubles as an art project.

Occidental Hotels & Resorts Ladybug Canapé

Ingredients:

(Amounts vary based on need.)

• Cherry tomatoes (amount varies)
• Salty crackers
• Cream cheese
• Black olives
• Chives
• Balsamic vinegar

How to Make It:

• Wash the tomatoes and cut them into four parts.
• Spread the cream cheese over the crackers.
• Assemble the tomatoes on the base to form the ladybug’s wings.
• With the olives, form the head, and with a piece of chive make the antennae.
• Add a few drops of balsamic vinegar for the dots as a final touch.

The post How to Make the Ladybug Canapé from Occidental Hotels & Resorts appeared first on Islands.

There’s so much to love about the Guadeloupe Islands that it’s difficult to name just one thing that takes the cake—or maybe the Tourment d’Amour. But since we’re talking about food now, let’s just say that the French Caribbean archipelago’s cuisine is so creative and cherished by its people that you can plan an entire vacation around the local food and drinks.

This is especially true for foodies who can’t get enough of fresh seafood dishes, because almost every restaurant in the resorts on Grande-Terre and around the beaches of Basse-Terre—and especially the quaint little walk-up shops beyond the ferry terminal on Terre-de-Haut—serves something that is sure to leave guests wanting, maybe even demanding, more. In fact, if I close my eyes and think about it, I can still taste the Chicken Colombo I inhaled at one of the most adorable little beachside spots.

But this is about fresh seafood, and one of the most popular dishes you’ll find here is Caribbean accras, or codfish fritters. Packed with flavor, this dish will do the trick as an appetizer or entrée, and now you can master it with this recipe that comes directly from the Guadeloupe Islands.

Guadeloupe’s Caribbean Accras (Codfish Fritters)

Ingredients:

• 200g salt fish
• 100g flour
• Water
• 1 bay leaf
• 30g garlic
• 100g onion
• 40g scallion
• 50g soft pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 eggs

How to Make It:

1) Prepare the Codfish:

• Rinse the salt under cold running water.
• Place the fish in a large bowl and cover it with cold water to desalt.
• Refrigerate for 24 hours, changing the water three times in the process.
• Drain.
• Put the fish into a small pan, cover with cold water, add a bay leaf and poach the cod 10 minutes over heat.
• Drain it in a sieve.
• Crumble the fish into very small pieces with olive oil.

2) Donut Batter:

• Put the flour into a large bowl, mix with water in order to obtain a smooth paste.
• Let the paste stand for one hour.

3) Prepare the Herbs and Spices:

• Wash and peel the garlic cloves, onions, scallions and soft pepper.
• Chop the ingredients finely.

4) Make the Batter:

• Combine the flour paste, crumbled fish and finely chopped ingredients.
• Separate egg yolks from the whites and add them to the cod mixture.
• Beat the whites into a firm peak. Add carefully to the paste.

5) Fry:

• Heat the frying oil at 180C.
• With a tablespoon, take the batter and drop it directly into the oil. Fry the accras until the color turns brown on a side, then flip it over.
• Drain on a baking sheet and serve immediately.

The post How to Make the Guadeloupe Islands’ Caribbean Accras (AKA Codfish Fritters) appeared first on Islands.