The Caribbean Garden restaurant has a hushed and sophisticated tone in contrast to the homey feel of their sister restaurant a block away – Caribbean Brisas.

We are very much taken by the Maldonado family. They are so warm and inviting, it is a pleasure to be in their company. We were immediately introduced to the next generation of family-their son Lizardo who now is the Manager of the restaurant. We had the pleasure of meeting his sister the year previous. His English was remarkable. I asked him where he studied and his answer was Quebec. That took me aback because French is almost entirely spoken in that Canadian province.

We started with gorgeously presented cocktails. The most inventive I have seen on the island!

The Ixhel Fantasy arrived looking like “the Lady in Red” that Chris de Burgh sings about.

The Caribbean Bird was the best martini I have ever tasted! Made with sparkling wine and a splash of passion fruit juice in an ingenious glass.

But the Tholoc on Fire stole the show with the most sensational glassware and interactive fire lighting at the table.

We shared an order of Tuna Toastadas as an appetizer. Three of them, three of us. The mango and the cucumber enhanced the briny taste of the raw fish. The crunch of the toastada and the silky texture of the tuna made for a wonderful contrast when crunched upon.

The three of us are family (but only by marriage) but that little detail doesn’t stop us from enjoying a taste of Tortilla soup with three spoons.  

For our mains we chose Blackened Grouper that was sublime. The freshly caught fish was blackened the exact amount so as not to be overwhelming to the delicate fish. It came perched upon creamy mashed potatoes and topped with sauteed vegetables but there was one subtle detail that I loved the most. Diced black olives were suspended in butter and was the finishing touch to the dish.

Equally delicious was the Fusilli with shrimp and pesto sauce. My pesto at home comes off dense and overpowering. The parmesan, basil and walnuts of this pesto were light and delicate. My husband back home would have loved it. The fusilli attracted the sauce into all its crevices and each bite was a delight.

We were asked if we would care for dessert when we remembered that we still had our three spoons. Our server suggested the cheesecake and we agreed with his choice. Not too sweet and a lovely cream cheese taste. I think the topping was strawberry. It added a nice touch.

Well, I think you might agree that Caribbean Garden is in good hands. The passage from one generation to another is not automatic. Lizardo is a university graduate and his sister is finishing her studies this year. This family does not rest on their laurels. They are constantly learning and improving and it shows!

Kath’s quote: “The best way to predict the future is to create it!” –Peter Drucker

Love never fails.

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