|
by
Paris Permenter and John Bigley
Gilligan never had it this good.
Scenes from Gilligan's Island, Robinson Crusoe
and Swiss Family Robinson were flying through
our minds as we pulled up to the dock of Little
Palm Island aboard the Truman, a replica of an
historic vessel named for one of Little Palm
Island's most famous visitors: President Harry
S. Truman.
But Harry, a house guest on the island when it
was a private retreat, never had it so easy
either. Neither did John F. Kennedy, who came to
the island to watch the filming of PT-109, the
story of his war adventures.
Today's visitors to this exclusive getaway,
located in the Lower Keys about 28 miles east of
Key West, are greeted by ultra-elegance tucked
on a quiet, palm shaded island. Here nature and
luxury join hand in hand to create a truly
one-of-a-kind experience. Every convenience of a
world-class hotel is available, all in a setting
filled with tropical flora and fauna. The island
still manages to hang onto its rustic ambiance
(one of the island's few telephones is located
in a former outhouse!) and unspoiled beauty.
We
were prepared for an elegant getaway as we
approached Little Palm Island, located three
miles offshore. What we weren't prepared for was
the quiet. Except for the slap of a shallow wave
or the call of a distant heron, the island was
silent. Blissfully silent.
Imagine your own tropical island. A hideaway
where you forget your cares beneath the thatched
roof of your own private bungalow. You spend
your days lazing about in a hammock or strolling
beneath towering palms. A special treat is the
sighting of a Key deer, small, wild deer that
swim across from neighboring islands and freely
roam across the resort grounds.
After a day of activities ranging from a
seaplane excursion to Key West to deep sea
fishing to a relaxing spa treatment (or just
doing nothing at all!), guests enjoy the
highlight of a stay at Little Palm Island:
dining. Lauded in Gourmet, Travel and Leisure,
Condé Nast and Bon Appetit, dining at Little
Palm Island is reason enough for a stay. Chef
Adam Votaw serves up delicacies such as yellow
tailed snapper filet with fire-roasted bell
pepper, pan fried-cornmeal crusted grouper with
sweet pickle Chardonnay sauce or rack of lamb.
Two meal plans are available for guests.
Here's a sample of the elegant cuisine served
during our stay:
Tropical Fruit Granité of Mango, Passion
Fruit, Guava, and Champagne
4
fresh passion fruit
2 mangos
3 guava
1/2 cup of champagne
4 mint sprigs for garnish
4 small orchids for garnish
Open the passion fruit, spoon out the seeds and
flesh in a bowl, reserve the shell. Peel and
clean the mango, guava, cut and purée, mix with
passion fruit, strain. Mix with champagne and
pour in a shallow pan, place in the freezer.
Freeze 4 Margarita glasses, check after two
hours if the fruit mixture is frozen. If frozen,
break with a strong whisk and keep frozen.
Before serving fill the glasses with crushed
ice, spoon the granité into the passion fruit
shells, garnish with some passion fruit seeds
and a mint sprig and garnish with an orchid.
Yields: four servings.
For more information on this special resort,
contact Little Palm Island, (800) 3-GET-LOST or
(800)343-8567, email
getlost@littlepalmisland.com, or check out the
website:www.littlepalmisland.com.
Husband and wife team Paris Permenter and John
Bigley have authored over 20 guidebooks and also
edit the FREE
Lovetripper.com , a romantic travel magazine
featuring worldwide destinations.
Copyright Paris Permenter and John Bigley
|
