back from st. barths
by Gayla, Coco Blanca
I just returned from a fabulous trip to St. Barths. This French island is known for its glamorous clientele and brilliant aquamarine water. St. Barths seems to have mastered the balance of Caribbean charm and European sophistication. The food was amazingly expensive but just as amazingly good. I think one reason the food was so good was because all the fish (at least the tuna and mahi mahi) is caught locally. Most of the time the fish is in the water that morning and on your plate that night. Of course, the French do know their food.
One of my favorite places was La Plage. This chic-meets-low-key restaurant epitomizes the island. This hip supper club is supposedly the place to see and be seen. I’ve read since then this is where Jimmy Buffett hangs out, but we must have missed him! As fun as that little fact is, I was impressed the most by the food. It was fresh and fabulous! It could possibly have been my favorite place, although it is hard to choose. The floor is the sandy beach and the restaurant is essentially a big tent. There are big black lights shining out on the ocean. It just happened to be a few steps away from our house, so that could be a factor in my decision making as well.
Another spot we visited was Do Brazil, in Shell Beach. A perfect place to watch the sunset. Again the food was delicious. Eden Rock Hotel is also a prime place to get drinks. The view from this tres chic restaurant is not to be missed and has great people watching too.
There are so many great places. We didn’t go any place I didn’t like, but a review of restaurants isn’t the purpose of this post today!
We rented a boat one day and went to several beaches. We ended up at Flamand Beach. To get to the restaurant we put on our flippers and swam to shore. This must not be too unusual because we were greeted with towels and the perfect table for lunch at Hotel St. Barth, Isle de France. If Coco Blanca were a real person, this is where she would hang out. All the umbrellas and chairs were white, creating quite a vision from our boat so I couldn’t wait to explore. Once all the group was settled, I decided to take a sneak tour of the Hotel. I wasn’t disappointed. It was furnished all in cool white cottons and linens, serene and beautiful. In short, it was sooooo Coco Blanca! Here’s the proof:
- About the boutique
Using the soothing color palette of a coconut by the sea—whites, neutrals and splashes of turquoise—Coco Blanca has created a trademark look. Her lifestyle boutique offers expert solutions for home design and women’s fashion—blending a clean, fresh, sophisticated, feel-good style.
210 South Union Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.535.8002
