Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Karisma Dress Code


At the El Dorado and Azul Resorts by Karisma the restaurants and dining facilities do have a dress code in place.  It lists recommended dress items for both ladies and gentlemen for either dinner or lunch/breakfast.  As you might guess, the expectations for dinner are slightly more formal than breakfast or lunch.  The code itself is broad and not meant to limit dress options, simply ensure the continuity of your five-star experience to include your dining choices.
 
Dinner at El Dorado Maroma
 
To be honest, I balked a little at the thought of a dress code until I saw it in action at the resorts.  The idea of a minimum level of attire sounded superficial at first, however there is no inspection prior to seating or surcharge for unmatched clothing.  We never felt scrutinized or judged for what we were wearing.  The main idea behind the dress code is to ensure that everyone has a quality dining experience.

 
While it is a resort with swimming facilities, it is not your local neighborhood swimming pool.  That is not what you are traveling and paying for.  As such, you would not expect to eat with your fellow guests in their swimming or sunbathing gear.  No one wants to sit down to lunch in a chair soaked by someone else’s swim trunks.  While I imagine that they would if warranted, we never observed the staff addressing any guests regarding the dress policy.  If anyone is unaware upon their initial meal, they will quickly realize how out-of-place things are and take corrective measures.

Truly the dress code serves as a guideline to ensure that everyone has a pleasant dining experience.

Sam
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Friday, March 22, 2013

The best meal I EVER ate..D'Italia


I suppose I would call myself a foodie, I love to try new foods and I even manage to appreciate the flavors in dishes I would never order again. Gourmet cooking is an much an art as it is a food service, and in my opinion no one has melded food and art together  better than D’Italia at El Dorado Royale. Someday they may lose that crown, but so far in my culinary adventures they are the best!

D’Italia Casitas is a restaurant at the El Dorado Casitas Royale Resort in the Riviera Maya. There are two D’Italia’s on the property, and while I am sure they are both wonderful my favorite meal was in the Casita section.
D'Itlaia Casitas at El Dorado Casitas Royale

There is  a hidden quality to the location of the restaurant. It is located at the far end of the Casita’s section almost to the end of the resort. Three of the walls are all glass and they look out onto beautiful, tropical foliage, and the Caribbean Sea beyond. The fourth wall looks into the chef’s table and the kitchen beyond. If possible I recommend visiting the restaurant after the sun has gone down; the ambience is magical. Once you have been shown to your seat by the wonderful maître ď Alejandro (or who ever is working that night) bread will be brought and wine will be poured. It is then that your culinary experience truly begins.
Be prepared to spend at minimum 2 hours (or in our case, over 3) enjoying each of the five to six courses. This is not a meal to be rushed, but to be savored and enjoyed. Make sure that you order something from each category on the menu to enjoy the full experience. The cuisine is Italian with a modern flair. The head chef Stefan takes traditional Italian dishes such as Osso buco and cooks them to perfection. The food is not only a delight to the taste buds but it is visually appealing as well.
 
By the time you have sampled the breads, eaten your antipasto course, enjoyed your soup, devoured your risotto or pasta, and tasted your main course you will be very tempted to skip dessert, but I implore you to try and make room. Sit back and relax with a glass of wine while your meal digests and prepare your taste buds  to be amazed. While my entire meal, from the Seared tuna with sautéed Italian vegetables,crushed garlic and tapenade to my Shrimp marinated with fine herbs on provenzal tomato and parmigiano reggiano sauce were out of this world nothing prepared me for the dessert course.
 
 
Glazed and Sautéed apples with ice cream and a caramel sauce made me forget all about my previous feeling of being overstuffed and we ate every bite! The next time you find yourself at El Dorado Casitas Royale or El Dorado Royale, and I recommend you find yourself there very soon, you must go and enjoy a meal at D'Itlaia Casitas! It will be an experience you will never forget!

-Crystal
 
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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Rincón at El Dorado Royale


While all of the dining options at El Dorado Royale offer Mexican and Mayan-influenced meals,  is the place to go to find incredible Mexican food on the resort.  There you can find a number of traditional Mexican items that one might expect or seek out.  However their execution and presentation are unparalleled.  Fresh-made salsas of varying levels of spiciness and wide range of ingredients pair well with almost any dish.  They offer incredible versions of Sopa de lima and Gazpacho.
 
Rincon Restaurant at El Dorado Royale
Also impressive about our experience at Rincón were the many options available.  We could enjoy our amazing Mexican meals with or without fresh-caught seafood, which being from the Midwest, is not nearly as easily-accessible back home.  Also, with our meals and beverages, we were offered a tamarind-infused water that was refreshingly-delicious.  Then, after our meal, they have a nice variety of top-shelf Mexican-made tequilas to sample and savor.
Rincon tequila selection at El Dorado Royale
So, while you can certainly find Mexican food dishes at all of your dining options at the Royale resort, for the widest selection, please enjoy Rincón.  Try an item with which you are familiar, or inquire as to your server’s suggestions.  As with everywhere else on the Karisma properties, the staff at Rincón is pleasant and friendly, and will stop at nothing to see that your are happily content with your experience.  Enjoy!!

Sam

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