Novembre

[tim]

1. Pipiri Palace is likely to require earlier reservations in the future. Whereas I lied to the New York Post travel writer eating at an adjacent table last night in telling him that my meal was awful, he unfortunately was smart enough to realize that his meal was wonderful(as was mine).

2. Thievery is on the increase on our idyllic isle. News reports that 7 young people from Lorient were arrested recently for literally looting a vacant villa of its booze, jewelry, furnishings, and even the owner's car. I also spoke with a friend who owns a villa in Pt. Milou who had not only plants in pots stolen this past weekend, but several recently planted bushes were removed from the ground as well.

3. Cocoloba Beach provides a luncheon ambiance that I find would be hard to beat anywhere in the Caribbean - eating under the shade of lovely sea grapes, feet in the sand, and staring out over the beautiful blue waters of Grand cul de Sac. Add to that some of the most reasonable food prices on the island and delicious meals such as the poisson eminc

 

[PBnJ]

Boy oh boy. What I wouldn't do. 1,3 and 5 sound to me like paradise. Time to start playing powerball again. Number 2 is a bit discouraging but crime happens everywhere. Even if you don't hear about it. Number 4? In paradise, thats fine.

 

[KevinS]

Tim -

Pipiri - One of my favorite restaurants, and one that more people should visit. The Filet de Boeuf a Gratinee avec Creme, Roquefort, et Pommes is a winner. I like the white Chateauneuf de Pape, a Mont Redon, that Pierre has on the winelist - I can't find it at home. I always make a reservation.

Thievery - Great. I'm staying in Lorient. Hopefully the delinquents are only sacking unoccupied villas, and that their parents have grounded them for life. Fortunately, I'm not bringing any plants with me.

Cocoloba - Agreed. Is Odette still there? I watched her filet a fish one night at the Marigot Bay Club. She had the skill of a surgeon - a neurosurgeon, not one of those big orthopods.

Les Routes - As expected, the island once again tries for full employment on municipal projects during the lowest part of low season. I'm hoping that they finish the bulk of the work before I get there.

The Trades - Sounds like wonderful weather. Please keep it that way. There is no need to order up a deluge, as I don't believe that either JEK or George are scheduled to visit ths month.

 

[onebigdawg53]

For the november deluge you need the combination of JEK and georgedp to coincide on island. Not going to happen this november so you are good to go.

 

[MIke R]

1. we have enjoyed the hell out of dinners at that location from Eddy..to Inez..and now as Pipiri...good karma location I would say...

2. Only the true blue Polyannas will deny that this ia a tell tale sign that development is bringing this to the island....next stop on this resort development tour........violent crime.....but what do I know?....however, I'll take anyones money who wants to wager on that.....it will take a while and will only be a high season probem at first......but count on it....ok..now on the count of three..everyone put your heads back in the hole in the ground and be happy....

3.totally agree

4.it will, more then likely, be all done by June..and thats all that matters to me.....and if its not..at least there wont be high season traffic making it seem worse...

5.comes wth the territory...wonderful too.....if anyone doesnt like it....go somewhere else

 

[MIke R]

number 5...and yes Tim..we are in sync.....watched an amazing meteor shower this evening, amongst millions of stars, from the hot tub..grey goose martini in hand....snow storm tomorrow...life is good here right now as well

 

[andynap]

Pipri- I always make reservations there. I don't blame you for lying to the writer- shhhh- one of my favorites- must do everytime. Crime- at least it isn't violent- petty criminals- uncomfortable but no confrontations. Hot tub- what is left to say?

 

[JEK]

For the november deluge you need the combination of JEK and georgedp to coincide on island. Not going to happen this november so you are good to go.

Geo.: people should pay us for staying away

 

[tim]

Re: Novembre Plus

6. The sign in front of the former Gommier restaurant has been changed and now reads PaCri. Kevin, this one appears more ready than Sereno at this time. My take on Sereno is that they'll be lucky to open this year, but stranger things have happened on St. Barth.

7. Visitors will see in all the major groceries green cloth sacs for sale at one euro each. It's my understanding St. Barth is getting a head start on a total ban of plastic bags by the year 2010. I'm totally impressed that over 1,000 of these cloth bags have been sold in the first few weeks of the campaign. Unfortunately my experience with trash and litter in the former life leads me to believe that at least right now those that are buying the green bags are the same ones who will dispose of all trash responsibly. Those that don't care how they dispose of trash and litter the earth require a large board up side their heads to change their ways. St. Barth

 

[tim]

Cocoloba - Agreed. Is Odette still there? I watched her filet a fish one night at the Marigot Bay Club. She had the skill of a surgeon - a neurosurgeon, not one of those big orthopods.

Kevin,

I'm afraid I don't know Odette, but of course our friend Albert is still in charge. My fish had already been prepared when it reached the table, and it did indeed appear to have been sliced with the skill of a surgeon.

BTW, I had the Dover sole at Pipiri the other evening, and it came whole. Whereas I usually enjoy handling the deboning myself, I allowed the waiter to perform this chore. Boy, was I glad I did. He performed the task with a far greater skill than I could have managed, even on a good night. I'll bet he could have even managed carving a quacker!

 

[KevinS]

Re: Novembre Plus

Tim -

Pa Cri - It'll be on my update to the Restaurant List. Anyone speak Creole? What does Pa Cri translate to?

Sereno - The WIMCO folks have done a walkthrough, so I hope to have a full report before I leave for the island.

Sacs de Course - This is the second time that I know of that cloth shopping sacs have been made available - I think the last ones were mesh. I was planning on buying at least one - the cost is only

 

[KevinS]

Tim -

Dover Sole - I look forward to trying it at Pipiri. I used to think that Sand Bar had the best on the island, but I was wrong. Try it at K'Fe Massai sometime. Check their menu the next time that you are in L'Oasis shopping center. I think the sole meuniere is on K'Fe Massai's

 

[JEK]

Tim,
I think de-boning a sole at the table is one of life's necessary skills like learning to tie a bow-tie

 

[MIke R]

this is peak dover sole season too so the fish willcertainly be fresh


and Wendi and I have been using mesh sacks for grocery shopping for quite a long time now...its nice to see St Barts getting on board with that...now if the rest of the world would wake up and stop choking our landfills...that would be nice as well...

when we saw the location formely known as Sereno in June it was a pile of rubble.....it would amaze me if they turned that into a working resort by December...

 

[Lauren]

Re: Novembre Plus

A search of on line Creole translation sites comes up with this, which leads to the interpretations following:

http://www.creole.org/cgi-bin/dico/dictionnaire_creole.pl

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/biling/pub/glossary%20files/haitian/MHCE2.pdf

Pa=several meanings...per...not...step....papa, so Pa Cri =

Per crying/shouting = For Shouting/Crying?

Not crying/shouting.

Step Crying/shouting.

Papa Crying/shouting.

For those that are interested in Creole and other forms...here is an on-line translator:

http://www.creole.org/dictionnaire_creole.htm

And a Creole clearinghouse of sites:

http://hometown.aol.com/mit2haiti/Index4d.htm

The study of Creole is not simple, as it involves many dialects/patois...

 

[Cheri]

Compliments of JEK, he posted this link in the villa section, Sereno has their website up and running. If the photos depict what is truly there, it looks like at least some of it is finished though no pool is shown.

http://www.lesereno.com/

 

[tim]

Cheri,

I'm not sure exactly how Sereno got the photos for the web site, but anyone driving down their entrance would think it was nothing but a construction site at this time. I'm sure that will change drastically at some point in the future, but I wouldn't forecast as to when that might be. As to the staff that will cater to every whim of the clientele, since that staff will all be new to the establishment, I would think significant training in whim catering will be required to achieve the proposed level of service. I'm not saying they won't live up to their advertising, I'm just saying they've got an awfully long road before they get there.

 

[JimD]

Sorry to throw cold water on the Cri for shout, but "C" in Guadaloupian creole is always pronounced "K"

The translation site listed is for the Creole in Reunion.

 

[claudia]

Great observation,tim.And I was so looking forward to trying the new restaurant there in 3 weeks!

 

[NYCFred]

Re: Novembre Plus

<<<Visitors will see in all the major groceries green cloth sacs for sale at one euro each. It's my understanding St. Barth is getting a head start on a total ban of plastic bags by the year 2010.>>>.

Hey, I actually use a canvas one for shopping on Fire Island...easy to toss it in the bike basket on the way to the market...kinda amazes me that, in our little community of 300 homes, only about 10 of us don't go for the plastic bags at the market...
Took my older daughter on a bareboat cruise to the out islands of the Bahamas about 8-9 years ago...you cannot imagine how heartbroken/amazed i was to visit a beach on the Atlantic side of one of the islands and find myself LITERALLY ankle deep in plastic...
SBH is also ahead of the game on recycling, too......
(and BTW, wanna move a ton of those bags? simply have them printed "I recycled in St Bart's" in about 4 languages, and they'll sell MILLIONS.