Four Seasons Hotel Denver

Denver Digs and Dining-Innovation, Luxury and Kitsch
Four Seasons Hotel Denver
by Arie Boris, CruiseGourmet.com

I had not been to the Mile High City in more than ten years. Imagine my surprise at the stunning transformation from cow town to sophisticated business center with restaurants and hotels to crow about!.

Ultra luxury and sleek modern design is what the brand new Four Seasons Hotel Denver is about. Located just across from the Denver Performing Arts Center and two blocks from the 16th Street Mall where free shuttle buses cruise the mile-long pedestrian way seven days a week (a bit overrun with filthy vagrants for my taste Mr Mayor…and I come from Manhattan which usually gets the bad rap for quality of life issues!)

Hacienda Colorado

Denver Digs and Dining-Innovation, Luxury and Kitsch
Hacienda Colorado
by Arie Boris, CruiseGourmet.com

I don’t usually review chain restaurants, but in Westminster, Colorado, a suburb of Denver, I happily made an exception. Hacienda Colorado is a local gem with only four locations in the Denver area. The restaurant design has a modern southwest family friendly twist…very warm and welcoming. The staff is great…so genuine and likable, you just want to come back to see them again…and have another fantastic meal!

The place was packed with locals, another sign we were in for something special. When we reviewed the menu, we were impressed with the prices…incredible value for what looked like Hacienda Colorado’s take on some classic Mexican dishes. In fact, this Colorado restaurant group invented a new term to describe it’s unique take on typical southwest cuisine with a local twist: “Mountain Mex.”

Aries’ View: Dining in St Martin-Café de Paris-Brasserie-Marina Port Royale

The Marina Port Royale is the virtual heart of French St Martin’s capital, Marigot. The docks overflow with expensive yachts and luxury sail boats and are surrounded by a variety of top eateries. One of my absolute favorites is Café de Paris.

The ambiance alone of this informal Parisian bistro is worth a stop for a drink at the bar. French expat’s galore, sipping champagne with their French Poodles and designer sun glasses while inhaling French Galois’s (dogs and smokes are only allowed on the bistros’ outdoor decks)…I imagined Bogey and Bacall wandering in for a drink while plotting to foil the island’s Nazi backed Vichy Government…

Aries’ View: Dining-St. Martin at Le Tastevin

Generally, dining on a tropical island means a good chance it will be al fresco, even at the very best restaurants. So, if you want to enjoy fine dining in the tropics, be prepared to “go island” and don’t let a little heat, humidity and a few bugs dissuade you from enjoying some wonderful culinary experiences. St. Martin has an advantage with its French “connection.” Historically linked to both France and the Netherlands, the French culinary tradition is evident in a variety of local island variations.