Published: Thursday, December 4, 2003 at:2:21 AM




Sea, Salsa y Sabor Celebration



To celebrate the culture of our Spanish Caribbean neighbors, many of whom visit us during the month of July, Bitter End Yacht Club inaugurated the Sea, Salsa y Sabor Celebration this summer, July 19-28, 2003. Latin dance, music and food – the stuff of la vida Latina! – were the feature of these nine days and were shared by all, including our guests from the US and other parts of the world.

Each day began to a salsa beat. Dance Instructors from Salsa Fever Dance Studios in Miami, Florida, Erik Suarez and Vivian Campos, started the fun with an 8 am Salsa Aerobics class every morning and taught Salsa dancing poolside each afternoon. Nightly dancing allowed Erik and Vivian and their students to show off their moves on the dance floor. The North Sound had the biggest conga line it had ever seen the evening of July 25th, in honor of Queen of Salsa Celia Cruz. The BEYC staff had the Latin beat in their walk all week as they worked poolside, in our bars and even in the dining rooms.

A real highlight of the nine day celebration was the visiting chefs from Puerto Rico, and the savory and sweet flavors they brought with them to BEYC. Chef Joel Rodriguez from Ajili Mojili and Chef Edwin Robles from Soleil Beach Club enhanced our menu selections daily. Not only were their specials a hit with our guests, who attended cooking demonstrations and stopped the chefs regularly to compliment them, Bitter End’s Culinary team was thrilled to have their fresh flavors in the kitchen. Chef Trevor Nicely and his team welcomed the two chefs into their kitchen with excitement; they all enjoyed learning the new and tasty dishes they created on a daily basis with key basic Spanish ingredients: plantains, fresh fish, yucca, beans, cilantro and cumin. The culinary exchange was fun for all, and Chef Trevor is planning to return the favor soon.

Each evening’s feast was capped off perfectly with a Special Don Q Rum tasting, served on the terrace with our selection of outstanding Cuban and Dominican cigars.

Everyone had so much fun this year that we will hold our second annual Sea, Salsa y Sabor Celebration July 23—August 1, 2004. ¡Nos vemos en Julio 2004!

Bitter End would like to extend much warm and gracious appreciation to our visiting specialists and supporters that helped make this week so great…

Joel Rodriguez Baez,
Chef,
Ajili Mojili

Jose, Rafael and Michelle Benitez,
Owners,
Ajili Mojili

Edwin Robles Perez,
Chef,
Soleil Beach Club

Sergio Lopez,
Owner,
Soleil Beach Club

Erik Suarez and Vivian Campos,
Instructors and Owners,
Salsa Fever Dance Studios

Jose Espina,
Supervisor for On Premise and Tax Free Markets,
Destileria Serralles, Inc., Don Q Rum of Puerto Rico

The Serralles Family,
Friends of BEYC and Owners,
Destileria Serralles, Inc.,
Don Q Rum of Puerto Rico

Brian Coutts and Evette Negron,
American Eagle Sales,
American Airlines and American Eagle

Luis Mora,
Captain,
Cape Air, Cape Air Flight Charters


Chef Joel Rodriguez Baez and Chef Edwin Robles Perez graciously shared their Spanish Caribbean flavor and recipes with us.