For families, Turks & Caicos is a great vacation choice.   The destination is quick and easy to reach from major cities in North America, and it’s a safe place to visit.  Modern grocery stores, clean drinking water, state-of-the-art medical facilities and reliable communications services take some of the travel safety worries away for parents.

The Alexandra Resort is a great property for families. In addition to offering spacious and  comfortably appointed suites that include kitchen facilities, we have our Pelican Kids club, an awesome freeform swimming pool and the resort is situated in one of the best areas of Grace Bay - right on the beach and in close proximity to many restaurants and shops.

If your idea of a great family vacation includes escaping the routine and spending quality time together, you’ll be looking for family-friendly dining options.  Fortunately, you won’t have to look very hard here.  There are a number of great restaurants on Providenciales that are sure to make everyone in the family happy.  Here are some of our favorite places for value-oriented family dining experiences:

The Tiki Hut Island Eatery - Dockside at Turtle Cove Marina

This casual dining spot has a consistent track record for serving good quality food at reasonable  prices.  It offers a relaxed atmosphere that makes dining with families and/or larger groups a breeze - literally!  The Tiki Hut is located on the docks at Turtle Cove Marina. This open-air restaurant has been an island establishment since 1992.   They are famous for their Wednesday Chicken and Rib Night, which always delivers a lively atmosphere and delicious grilled specials in addition to their normal menu.   It’s open for lunch and dinner weekdays, and also for breakfast on the weekends.   Reservations are recommended for six or more.  Phone (649) 941-5341.

Baci Ristorante

Also located in Turtle Cove, Baci is an Italian restaurant that has been feeding locals and visitors for the past decade.   The place has a beautiful yet relaxed ambiance with an indoor dining room that spills out to an open-air terrace directly on the water.   The menu features fresh pastas, seafood, veal and brick-oven pizzas that can be enjoyed at the table or to go.    The long bar at the entrance usually serves as a meeting spot for locals who gather after work.  It is open Monday through Saturday nights and weekdays for lunch.   Reservations are recommended:  (649) 941-3044. 

Mango Reef

Our own Mango Reef Restaurant located at the Alexandra Resort on Grace Bay is always a great choice for families. With a wide variety of menu options and an extensive kids’ menu, the food here is always good and the setting is fun.  Kids love the beach terrace, which is a great spot to dine while the sun sets.   Plenty of outdoor seating on the beach terrace means you’ll always get a great table. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, and live music is featured on Tuesday and Friday evenings.   Mango Reef also provides the lunch for children attending Pelican Kids’ Club at Mango Reef.  Guests staying at the Alexandra Resort can also enjoy the convenience of ordering room service from Mango Reef.  For reservations or carry-out service:  (649) 946-8200.

Hemingway’s

If you are looking for a bit more elegance but in a relaxed atmosphere with a menu that will please everyone in the family, you should go to Hemingway’s at The Sands Resort.   Some of the seating area is covered and the rest is on the beachside terrace.   It’s open from 8:00 am until 10:00 pm daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.    The terrace has a JoJo Bell that people can ring when they catch a glimpse of the famous dolphin swimming by.   The great thing about this place is the menu has gourmet choices such as its juicy filet mignon or fresh grouper, as well as kid-friendly options such as chicken fingers and the brownie sundae for dessert.   For more information or reservations: (649) 941-8408.

Giggles

When the formalities of dinner are done or if you are just looking for a fun outing for you and the kids, you can head to Giggles in the Ports of Call shopping complex.  This little shop is a sweet delight - with soft-serve ice cream and an abundance of loose candy and other treats.    It is basically an ice cream shop and candy store rolled into one!  The phone is (649) 941-7370.

Be sure to call The Alexandra Resort for your next family vacation 1-800-284-0699!

It’s February, so romance is in the air.   If you’re fortunate enough to be spending Valentine’s Day in Turks and Caicos then you’ll have a wide range of romantic dining options to choose from.  Even if you’re not here during the special holiday for lovers – when you do visit, these spots are sure to bring out the romantic in you.

But, before we present some of our favorite romantic restaurants, we want to point out that in no way is this list exhaustive.  Almost all the restaurants you’ll find in Turks and Caicos have something special to offer - whether it’s a signature dish, a unique setting or a special cocktail.   This list is just a sampling of the spots we think provide a romantic setting and excellent cuisine. 

Anacona in the Grace Bay Resort is the only gourmet restaurant located on the beach in the Turks and Caicos Islands.   It’s open-air setting, right on Grace Bay Beach, provides both a dramatic and romantic ambiance.  Sometimes there is live music and when there isn’t, the sounds of the ocean fill in.   The menu emphasizes fresh ingredients with a modern presentation. 

The restaurant at the Amanyara Resort also offers a gourmet experience in a spectacular and serene setting.  Although the journey to the restaurant can be an adventure and reservations in advance are required, once you arrive you’ll be instantly impressed.  The restaurant is spread out around the tranquility pool with stunning ocean views, creating a zen-like effect.  The menu is filled with fresh seafood and prime cuts of meat, all prepared with a Mediterranean-Asian-Fusion influence.  If peace and quiet are top on your list - this place is heaven.

At Beach House the chef’s surprise tasting menu will whisk you away into the world of Chef Eric Vernice who will prepare a 5-course ‘farm-to-table’ menu for you. The French contemporary menu has a distinct twist of Turks and Caicos and offers a wide variety of dishes for culinary lovers.

Coyaba Restaurant is an eclectic, sophisticated and award-winning gourmet restaurant located in the heart of Grace Bay, next to the Caribbean Paradise Inn.   An elegantly-appointed gazebo style tropical garden serves as the dining room, where guests peruse the daily-changing creative menu of Chef Paul Newman.   Paul’s dishes have a strong European influence but always with an inventive touch. 

Set within the largest palm grove on the island, Coco Bistro is a food lover’s fantasy in a one-of-a-kind setting.   Located in Grace Bay next to Sunshine Nursery and within walking distance from many resorts, Coco Bistro serves fresh local cuisine under a sea of stars and swaying coconut palms.  The restaurant has a reputation for consistently creating, fresh, flavorful Caribbean cuisine as well as delivering an exceptional dining experience.

Grace’s Cottage in the Point Grace Resort is probably one of the prettiest dining settings on Providenciales.   The restaurant has a relaxing charm with an inviting mahogany bar located in the Victorian-styled cottage and candlelit tables on the patio and terrace.   The food here is as delectable as the ambiance it is served in  - and the fact that they can only accommodate a total of 62 guests at a time ensures a level of intimacy as well.

Perhaps the most romantic place to dine is right on Grace Bay Beach itself.   The Mango Reef restaurant at the Alexandra Resort can arrange for a romantic barefoot dinner for you on the world’s best beach - it doesn’t get much more romantic than that!

Beach Dining at Mango Reef

Fresh seafood, exotic conch dishes and a little bit of spice are generally what people expect when they visit the Caribbean.   In Turks and Caicos we are fortunate to have many great restaurants that showcase the fresh, local ingredients -

especially at Mango Reef, the on-site restaurant located at the Alexandra Resort.   Mango Reef serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and offers a diverse menu, consistently good service and an outstanding beachfront setting. 

This is always a convenient and delicious choice.   However, if you stay in Turks & Caicos Islands for longer than a few days you may want to branch out and experience some different types of cuisine - beyond conch and island fare.  

We are fortunate to have a number of international dining options that offer intriguing flavors and interesting dining experiences.   When you’re ready to explore, consider these excellent, international options:

The Beach House (Cuisine: contemporary French; location: Lower Bight Road)

While you might expect a restaurant called the Beach House to serve burgers and fries, the cuisine here is far from ordinary.  This is one of the newest restaurants to open on Providenciales and its début has created a stir in the dining scene.  Already, it has climbed to one of the top spots on Trip Advisor for restaurants in Turks and Caicos.  The reason for all the fuss is the creative and sophisticated menu created by Chef Eric Vernice. With an emphasis on freshness and harmony among flavors, the dishes coming from Chef Eric’s kitchen are truly a culinary celebration.   

Yoshi’s Sushi Bar and Japanese Restaurant (Cuisine: Japanese/Sushi; Location: Salt Mills Plaza in Grace Bay)

This is more than a sushi restaurant - it is a gathering place.  With its black and red modern décor, the inside dining room of Yoshi’s Sushi buzzes at lunchtime and in the evenings.   The food here is fresh and flavorful, and the atmosphere is fun and relaxed.   In addition to having bento boxes where you can sample a bit of tempura, sushi, salad and soups, Yoshi’s menu also includes meals like salmon teriyaki or Japanese curry beef.

Garam Marsala (Cuisine: Indian;  Location: Regent Village)

Flavor is the name of the game here, in fact the menu describes the restaurant as “an aromatic affaire with Indian Cuisine.”   The restaurant is under new management but the recipes are old-school and feature authentic, traditional Indian dishes.  This is one of the few restaurants to offer air-conditioned indoor dining as well as an open air lounge and dining area, making it a good choice no matter the weather or season. While the Garam Marsala official website is under construction, the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and is popular with visitors and residents alike.  Recently, it has had a professionally-designed interior revamp that adds to the ambience.

Thai Orchid (Cuisine: Thai; Location: Regent Village)

Smooth coconut soup with shrimp, sweet and savory crab rangoons, and spicy Thai green chili - these are just some of the more than 60 different delectable dishes served from this small Thai restaurant located in the Regent Village in Grace Bay.   The restaurant is open seven days a week and even late nights with a small amount of indoor and outdoor seating.  The consistently busy take-out business is proof of the restaurant’s popularity.   Owned and run by a local resident who was born and raised in Bangkok, the food here is genuine and unique - just like him.   If you enjoy Thai cuisine - a visit to the Thai Orchid is not to be missed.   

Lemon Café (Cuisine: Moroccan;  Location: The Village at Grace Bay)

For a fun night out and some delicious Mediterranean dishes, head to Lemon Café in the Village at Grace Bay.   The hummus and homemade pitas are mouth-watering and the lantern-lit patio and dining room draped in rich fabrics make you feel like you’re in Morocco instead of Providenciales.   In addition to fresh, flavorful Mediterranean dishes that please both meat lovers and vegetarians, the restaurant hosts monthly parties that go on until late, and usually feature DJs, belly dancers and occasionally even fire spinning!

Even though it is hot most of the time in Turks and Caicos, a good cup of coffee is always appreciated - whether it is to start the day or to meet up with a friend or just to savor and contemplate life, drinking a good cup of coffee can many any day even better. 

While we encourage our guests at the Alexandra Resort and Spa to enjoy meals on our beach terrace or by the pool and our own Mango Reef Restaurant serves a mean cup of java, we also know that getting out and about can be enjoyable and fun. So, we thought we’d share with you the places we go to enjoy a nice cup of coffee and watch the world go by.

Caicos Bakery

This is Provo’s only French Bakery and we have to admit - one of the reasons this is a good place to enjoy a cup of coffee is because it has THE BEST French pastries.   What’s a cup of coffee without a croissant?   Also, the location is good as it is in a small shopping plaza that includes a few nice shops, a great Italian restaurant and a European-style hair salon and spa.   You could actually spend the better part of the day here if you wanted!

Caicos Bakery is located in Caicos Café Plaza in Grace Bay. The shop opens at 7 AM and closes at 4:30 PM, daily except Sunday.  Get there early for the freshly baked bread.

Beach House Turks and Caicos – Western Grace Bay Beach

The restaurant at Beach House recently introduced the newest thing in European coffee houses, where time still stands still in our busy lives: the ‘Café Gourmand’. They serve a delicious cup of espresso, latté or macchiato paired with several sweet delicacies made by Chef Eric Vernice and his team.  Served between 12 noon and 4pm every day. Also ask for the Ice cream Sundays if you prefer something cold.

Flowers by Environmental Arts - across from the Salt Mills Plaza

This is a small café located on the main strip in Grace Bay.  Since it doubles as a flower shop the sensory experience is almost as good as the coffee.  While the shop is small, the offerings are varied and the setting is convenient.   The location is walking distance from the majority of hotels in Grace Bay and there are many shops around too, so after a quick coffee you can bring a nice bouquet back to your room or pick up some souvenirs for those you left behind.

Fresh Bakery

Along with a good cup of coffee at Fresh Bakery you can get a full lunch and/or a wide range of delicious desserts and pastries.   Inside the place is decorated with a clean, modern/European feel.   One thing we like about this place are the pint-sized pastries you can get to accompany your coffee with all of the flavor and half the guilt!   This shop was recently moved to the Atrium Resort in the community of Leeward.

Graceway Gourmet IGA

This is like the central hub of Grace Bay because it is the main grocery store for the area.   While the setting isn’t as relaxing as the others we mention, the Gourmet makes our list because it is convenient, quick and offers good value.  The coffee shop is next to the grocery store and it has tables in front of the store. However the tables are all in a shaded covered area and there’s a good buzz with all the comings and goings of island residents and tourists.  Plus, the coffee is really good too.   Best thing about this place is you can zip in and zip out in a jiffy and catch up on all the latest news and island gossip.

Island Scoops

IslandScoops is a favored ice-cream shop by tourists and residents alike but don’t let the name fool you- they have great coffee too.   Here you will find a wide variety of coffee concoctions as well as locally-made ice cream and other sweet treats.  The décor is fun and funky.   You can sit outside in overstuffed sofas or at tall tables just across the street from Grace Bay beach.   It’s a great spot for kids here as there are an abundance of outside toys, a sand pit, soft armchairs, and a wide selection of milkshakes as well as ice creams and other treats kids old and young enjoy.

Angela’s Top of the Cove Delicatessen & Catering Services

Angela’s is located on the Leeward Highway in a more industrial part of town, but not far from Turtle Cove.   Tourists that venture here are more likely to encounter residents and will be treated to some fantastic soups and lunch specials and well as a pretty decent cup of coffee.

The menu here is varied and tasty and even offers gluten free options.   While there isn’t much to speak of in terms of sights or views, the establishment is one of the islands’ “institutions” having been around for a very long time - and it is one of the few places that has its air conditioning on year round.  Angela’s Deli is located in between NAPA auto parts and April’s Place (hair salon) and is open daily from 6:30 am serving breakfast, lunch and dinners to go.

Green Bean – located near Turtle Cove Marina

Enjoy a nice salad or sandwich along with a good cup of Joe at the Green Bean. Friendly staff make the experience memorable and you are just a few steps away from Smith’s Reef. At the ‘Bean’ you can rent snorkel gear and head straight over there before or after your caffeine infusion.

The Alexandra Resort, located on world famous Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos Islands, today launched its Indulge and Enjoy booking promotion timed around the Caribbean Food and Wine Festival to be held in Turks and Caicos from November 1 to 3, 2012. 

The second annual Caribbean Food and Wine Festival combines some of the island’s best culinary creations with leading wine makers and celebrity chefs from the United States in the luxurious, relaxing setting of the Turks and Caicos Islands.  To further entice participation in the gourmet gala, the Alexandra is offering the Indulge and Enjoy promotion, providing 25 percent off on oceanfront suites and a breakfast credit for the beachfront Mango Reef restaurant.

The second annual Caribbean Food and Wine Festival, taking place over three days in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, will include a five-course welcome dinner with wine and food pairings prepared by the participating wine makers and celebrated chefs as well as a Gourmet Safari which will have guests travel to various restaurants in Providenciales throughout the meal. New York celebrity chef John DeLucie is headlining the welcome dinner with pairings from vintners Tuck Beckstoffer, Duckpond cellars, Terlato Wines and La Sirena Wines will round off the delightful dinner with expert pairings. There will also be tasting events throughout the weekend featuring gourmet chocolates, cheeses, seafood, meats and local favorites as well as the first ever “Street Food Fair” showcasing the expert grilling and barbeque techniques of more than 15 chefs from the island.

Indulge and Enjoy Caribbean Food & Wine Festival Special from The Alexandra

The Indulge and Enjoy booking promotion is for reservations made directly with the resort for a minimum of four nights in a deluxe oceanview studio.   Guests who book this from now until October 31, 2012 will receive a complimentary upgrade to a deluxe one-bedroom oceanview suite along with a USD $10 breakfast voucher per person per day.  The resort’s complimentary concierge service will help guests organize their festival agenda.  For more information e-mail info@alexandraresort.com  or visit www.alexandraresort.com.

Lobster season officially opened yesterday (August 15, 2012), which makes this favorite treat a part of the Turks and Caicos Islands menu again.

Last year, acting on advice from fishermen and the Fisheries Advisory Committee, the governor’s Advisory Council decided to postpone the beginning of lobster season by two weeks past the usual opening date of Aug. 1 in order to allow lobster stocks time to reproduce.  The season will through March 31, 2013.

The first day of the new season in the country is known as “the lobster grab,” when hundreds of fishermen rush out in an attempt to catch the bounty lobster population.

Lobster is considered a must have for fine dining in the islands and is largely used by restaurants. Local chefs are famous for their spiny lobster dishes — cooked in nearly every style imaginable. Economically, the lobster fishery is the most important marine resource in the country and has played an integral part in the community for generations.

It is an extremely important industry, centered mainly in South Caicos, although also largely available on all the other islands. The Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) grows to about 60 centimeters in length. Like the other 20 members of the genus Panulirus such as the Australian, California, and Chinese spiny lobsters, it lacks the large pinching claws of their Maine lobster relatives.

Its only defenses are the spines that cover its shell, which help protect the lobster from predators. The Caribbean spiny lobster uses a second pair of antennae in sensory perception, which are found folded along side the body when not in use.

The Caribbean Spiny lobster is also a healthy treat, with only 143 calories and 1.9 grams of fat per 3.5-ounce cooked serving. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Provo is known for the extensive range of fine dining establishments located on the island, but most tourists enjoy at least one casual night with a good pizza and a "cold one."  Here are some of our favourite spots for a good pizza.  In Turtle Cove, the waterfront restaurant Il Buco serves a terrific thin crust pizza.  In Grace Bay, try Pizza Pizza (no, not the Canadian franchise) or the newly opened Hey Jose, just a short walk from the Gourmet IGA.  And speaking of the IGA, they offer a great take-out pizza there too!  There is a wood fire pizza oven at the grocery store, and a large, freshly made pizza with 3-4 toppings costs about $20. 

One of the best spots on the island to enjoy dinner and a fantastic view of Turtle Cove and Grace Bay is from Magnolia Restaurant.  This well established dining establishment features classic dining fare and locally caught fish.  Magnolia is known for their tuna.  Providenciales is a relatively flat island, but Magnolia Restaurant is located on a hill overlooking Turtle Cove, which incidentally is the site where the first hotel in Provo was built (the Third Turtle - no longer in operation).  Magnolia Restaurant is about a 10 minute drive from Alexandra Resort.  Reservations are recommended.

The Alexandra Resort hosts a weekly Manager's Cocktail Party every Monday night.  Come meet GM Anette Mullings and enjoy complimentary cocktails and refreshments during your visit.