Cuckoo for Coconuts!



 

In another pop culture reference, kids may go cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, but last Saturday night Eileen and I were cuckoo for Coconuts!  It was just such a gorgeous day that after leaving La Serena spa we decided we just couldn't pass up the view.  The obvious place to go is just down the stairs past the infinity pool to Coconuts.


There was just no reason to pull ourselves away from the view at the Reefs so we decided to stay

 

Coconuts is one of the few outdoor air restaurants right on the beach in Bermuda.  For guests of The Reefs, it is a convenient place to grab munchies and drinks when you need a break from suntanning, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking or paddleboarding.  It is also a nice place to dine in the evenings if you want to watch the sun set and listen to the waves slosh up onto the beach a few metres away.  The one downside, is that like many places in Bermuda, the kitchen is closed between lunch and dinner, so you cannot order until after 6 o'clock.  We were out of the spa before 5, so decided to grab a couple of selfies, a glass of wine, and wait it out. 

Post-spa selfie -- i think i look relaxed
 

Most of the tables are right along the edge of the balcony so that you have an unobstructed view of the beach.  We cozied into our spot with some complimentary peanuts from the bar and soon discovered that it was Coconuts Saturday happy hour and all drinks are buy one get one free.  For all that Bermuda has to offer, generally a bargain is not one of them.  And while I loathe the myth on the island that Canadians are cheap, I latched onto that second and free glass of chardonnay with an unabashed glimmer in my eye and the glow of having won a prize.  So take note Bermuda friends, there is a good deal to be had at Coconuts on Saturdays!  While we watched the sun go down and sipped our wine, we really did have to stop and take a moment to feel grateful for all that we have available at our fingertips here.

 

The view from the table

 



When I moved here Bermuda had called to me by haunting my thoughts with the sound of the ocean on solitary beaches and tree frogs chirping through the nights.  Even though now I feel the pull to return home, I cannot help but feel fortunate for having the chance to live out a dream here, and call these beaches and warm October nights mine....even if only for a few years.  Bermuda has many eccentricities and also many of the most important simplicities that give life here a unique flavour.  As my friend Steve (one several Bermuda Steve's -- you know who you are) said once, "Bermuda will always be one of your spiritual homes."  I completely agree.  Call it inspiration from a relaxing day and the beautiful sunset reflecting off the water and wet sand, but Eileen and I were able to count many Bermuda blessings, friendship among them.  After that we got on with the food.  I even took a picture of my salad with the express intent of including it in the blog.  Overall, I think we both left with a very good impression of Coconuts -- we both agreed that our mains could have been a bit more tender, but it was definitely an evening i would love to repeat again.  I would certainly recommend it to anyone who appreciates a lovely outdoor dining experience...and it is the perfect add on after a spa treat!  Couldn't have asked for a better day and evening out -- good thing too, work has been stressful enough this week to send me straight back next Saturday.

 

Caesar Salad Reef's style



Eileen taking pictures of me taking pictures



Last glimmer of light before nightfall

 

Ascots Dining Experience

What to do for when it's your boss' birthday (we'll call her Helen.  Because that's actually her name) in Bermuda?  Fancy dinner out of course!

The birthday girl's choice was Ascots, so we made a reservation for last Saturday evening.  Ascots is known in Bermuda for being one of the more upscale restaurants, so it is a great place to go for a special occasion.  They also have a private room for larger parties -- this is a huge win for everyone, because if you happen to be in the larger party, you have a room to yourself and designated waiters or waitresses to make sure your party is catered to without delay, and if you are in a smaller group, your dining experience isn't marred by the busy, loud, party table.  In our case, we went as a party of four, so were in the main dining area.  But I have been in the private room as well and we were very well taken care of.

The prelude to our evening was a conversation initiated by one of our party who had not yet been to Ascots -- firstly on the female agenda was what to wear, secondly was what is the menu like, and lastly and of least importance to us was where is it located.  In retrospect, location perhaps should be a priority, since Sakina and I found ourselves giving directions using landmarks since we don't know most of the street names, and of course the Helen got lost (even though this was not the first time going to the restaurant!  I have to confess I was in the passenger seat when this happened, and the only help i gave was "we just passed the turnoff").  So I have posted a location link for anyone looking to find Ascots on 24 Rosemont Avenue.  But going back to item number one, after a lengthy discussion on new shoes that Kadian bought in Panama that she needed to debut (they were lovely), it was agreed that Ascots is slightly more formal than resort casual.  It's a great place to rock a new dress or pull out a favorite, but leave denim, cotton, sneakers at home, and make yourself feel gorgeous because you are about to have a fabulous night out!  It doesn't have to be crazy -- just sharp!  And to address the second topic, the food, everyone agreed that the food was delicious and memorable, and that the service was outstanding.  Service excellence is a bit of an elusive concept in Bermuda, but there are a few places that get it right, and Ascots has a reputation for continuously excelling in service.

Now, to the actual evening.  Typically when you enter Ascots you are seated in the lounge area, where you can order a cocktail and are served a complimentary snack.  This is great if you are waiting on others to arrive, or if the group just wants to to chill out or catch up for a moment.  Kadian and I had a glass of Prosecco, the others stuck to non-alcoholic fruity drinks, and we were served a tray of fresh humus and veggies, peanuts, croutons, and a mix of olives as our complimentary snack.  When we were ready to move on, we just let the bartender know we were ready to be seated and our waiter led us out to our table.  It is always nice to have the waiter pull out your chair and seat you -- but at Ascot's, they are extra diligent.  If you make a move to the restroom, they appear like lightning to pull out your chair, and seat you at your return.  You will never wonder where your waiter is at Ascots.  Your water glass (or wine glass) is always topped up without needed to ask, and the staff are incredibly polite and helpful.  Another nice touch is that when you open the menu, you will see that the restaurant asks you to please refrain from using your cellphone in the restaurant -- i didn't hear a single ring tone the whole evening and it is such a pleasant change!  Ascots is also, of course, non-smoking.

The menu is, in my humble opinion, exquisite!  There are so many appetizer options that it is difficult to choose from.  After a long look i narrowed it down to four possibilities out of twenty plus -- the fresh salmon tempura, sauteed snails (as opposed to traditional escargot), a chilled banana soup (with almonds and rum), and what i finally ordered, the curry pumpkin and lobster soup.  Helen went with the chilled Gezpacho soup, and the other ladies had fish cakes, a very popular Bermuda treat.  The appetizers were as good as they sound with amazing touches -- Helen's soup had the Ascots logo, and my curry pumpkin lobster was as fragrant as it was tasty.  When it comes to main dishes, expect the same level of culinary detail to the flavor, visual presentation, variety, and adornments.  Their menu is available online so I won't go into a lot of detail, but i chose the reef and beef rossini, which is described as chard grilled tournedos, tiger shrimp and seared foie gras rested on a toffee carrot and parsnip tart.  OK, i have to admit i forgot what foie gras was but was so interested in the parsnip tart and steak and shrimp that i went for it.  It was a little surprising when i tasted what looked like a mushroom but tasted like liver...and that's when i recalled what foie gras is.  So although that isn't something i would normally eat, the meal was delicious, and all of us were delighted with our evening out.  We did of course add desert on, and again, there is a marvellous selection ranging from simple fruit and cheeses to lava cakes and coffee mousse tarts,  We couldn't have been happier with our meal!

As for the overall environment, it was great!  It was not so formal as to be stuffy and silent, but it was peaceful with the lack of cellphones and thoughtful layout of the tables so that you weren't overwhelmed by noise or conversations at accompanying tables.  I was surprised to look at my watch (ok, i pulled the cellphone out because i never wear a watch, but i didn't use it, honest!) and realize that we had been there for three and a half hours.  The evening never once felt like it was slow or we were waiting on courses -- the evening felt full -- full of great food, conversation, and laughter.  Ascots really gave us a great night -- oh, and they did sing happy birthday to our guest of honor, and add a candy "happy birthday" plaque to her desert.

I feel that I need to mention the money factor -- because everyone always associates nice dining rooms with high costs.  In Bermuda, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to the bill in 99% of restaurants on the island.  Even with that, and the 3 courses and a cocktail, the price per person worked out to $101.00.  Had everyone had wine with dinner it would have been higher, but we didn't, and for a Bermuda 3 course meal of this calibre seems a really reasonable price!  This may seem high to traveller's, but honestly, in Bermuda you will likely pay $30-$35 for a hamburger, fries, and a draft beer.  So if you are visiting, consider this a place to go to celebrate a special occasion, or just to celebrate being in Bermuda.

I look forward to doing it again soon -- another friend has already booked us in for a pre-Christmas dinner...in the big room :)