Luxury Relais & Châteaux property debuts exquisite five-course fish dinner
JUNE 2018: To celebrate World Oceans Day on 8th June, Eden Roc at Cap Cana will celebrate UN-recognized World Oceans Day and join the Relais & Châteaux worldwide initiative in partnership with Ethic Ocean.
The hotel will offer guests an authentic and sustainable taste of the Caribbean while demonstrating a shared commitment to protecting the biodiversity of our oceans, supporting artisanal fishing, contributing to the local economic development and offering fresh, healthy dishes full of flavor. Of particular note is the inclusion of lionfish on the menu in a bid to reduce the number of these fish in the ocean; their invasion in the Caribbean Sea has threatened the ecological balance of coral reef ecosystems and has become a real problem over the last five years.
Sourcing sustainable seafood all along the Dominican Republic’s coast, chef Gianluca Re Fraschini is creating a five-course tasting menu for World Oceans Day that showcases the region’s indigenous sea products. Guests can expect dishes such as a cold soup of lionfish, lima from Constanza and Sánchez prawns from the Samaná Bay as an Amuse Bouche, followed by a ‘’Miches mahi-mahi’’ fish tartar served on a shell of the fresh coconut and Tapioca-filled ravioli and centolla for the middle course. Guests can then choose between a grilled red snapper fillet – caught over 6kg to ensure that they have fish has already reproduced – or a breast guinea fowl filled with Dominican beans and leaf cheese for their main course.
The ocean’s fragile balance is being gradually destroyed by the industrial plundering of the seas; 31% of the planet’s seafood stock is overfished and 58% is fully fished (Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, 2016) and the industrial fishing also lead to employment problems for artisanal fishermen. But, by promoting ethical fishing methods, contributing to the local economic development and offering a special World Ocean dinner menu, Eden Roc at Cap Cana chefs aim to protect our ocean’s biodiversity and provide quality products for guests and future generations. The resort strongly believes that chefs play a key role in setting trends within the industry and can influence both suppliers and consumers. Eden Roc at Cap Cana’s chefs select fish from a local, small-scale fishery, promote responsible fishing and have, over the last two years, reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable fishing with ‘head to tail’ zero waste menus.
About Eden Roc at Cap Cana
Eden Roc at Cap Cana is a five-star resort nestled in the most exclusive gated beachfront community of the Dominican Republic. The 30,000-acre Cap Cana community is home to pristine beaches, towering cliffs and tropical forests, a bustling marina, and the No. 1 golf course in the Caribbean and Mexico, a Jack Nicklaus signature course. Blending the impeccable standards of the French and Italian Rivieras with the warmth and relaxed charms of the Caribbean, Eden Roc at Cap Cana currently presents 32 lavish free-standing suites and two villas, all with private pools and remarkable comforts, 26 two-bedroom beachfront suites as well as a world-class spa spanning two separate facilities and beachfront scenery. The premier Punta Cana resort boasts the newly-enhanced Eden Roc Beach Club, featuring a private beach with a Blue Flag certification, infinity pool, and new Nikkei-themed BLUE Grill + Bar. Culinary experiences include fine-dining Mediterraneo Restaurant with Executive Chef Gianluca Re Fraschini at the helm; oceanfront La Palapa, featuring international cuisine with traditional local influence; and a visiting celebrity chef series providing one of the most diverse gastronomic experiences in the Caribbean. The AAA Four-Diamond property is a proud member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux collection, as well as Virtuoso Hotels & Resorts, Ensemble Travel Group, Altour Hotel Collection, Fine Hotels & Resorts, Signature Travel Network, the International Association of Golf Tour Operators and Forbes Travel Guide.
About Ethic Ocean
Ethic Ocean is an environmental organization dedicated to the preservation of fish resources and marine ecosystems. Its mission is to create opportunities for change and to contribute to the implementation of sustainable practices within the sector.
About Relais & Châteaux
Established in 1954, Relais & Châteaux is an association of more than 560 landmark hotels and restaurants operated by independent innkeepers, chefs, and owners who share a passion for their businesses and a desire for authenticity in their relationships with their clientele. Relais & Châteaux is established around the globe, from the Napa Valley vineyards and French Provence to the beaches of the Indian Ocean. Relais & Châteaux members have a desire to protect and promote the diversity of the world’s cuisine and traditions of hospitality. They are committed to preserving local heritage and the environment, as encompassed in the Charter presented to UNESCO in November 2014. For more information visit: www.relaischateaux.com.
