A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, and for anyone whose 1st step begins in St Maarten it is usually accompanied by a stiff rum punch, a strip of Columbia’s finest and an Eastern European lap dance. So if it’s strip clubs, noisy 747 beach bar close encounters and the ability to stay awake for 3 days ”your kinda holiday” then St Maarten is the place for you.
That considered its not for everyone, but is for the most of us. Regardless this is where we spent the holiest of festivals. Christmas. Now I’m not going to bore you with my St Maarten antics, but lets just say I started Christmas by leaving a night club at 9am, (hardly a “night”club then is it) Sleeping for an hour before pealing myself off my relief chef and dear friend, Karl's floor . Only to do the walk of shame/triumph (depending on your perspective). straight to my galley and begin struggling with Christmas lunch for the kids/crew, (minus Capt Boo Boo ). Which is, you must agree, a gift in itself. Now I’m not sure how yours went, but if you ever have the opportunity to grab yourself a luxury yacht, and a ticket to St Maarten with friends eight, and no captain, oh, I thoroughly recommended it!!
Regardless of the St Maarten antics being had, (oh how we laughed ) provisioning for a 3 month charter over the Christmas break is a logistical nightmare (oh how we cried) After a week of festivities and no incoming flights filled with gourmet groceries, an island starts to look like a baboons bumm (no not bloody pink and blue, but pretty bloody bare.) Welcome to what is the hell side of the Caribbean for a chef.
I avoided the drama of crossing the pond (Atlantic) for my fifth time. To swann it up for 3 weeks in the USA’s Miami and Australia only leaving me with a whole and wonderfully new and unexpected kinda drama. Ill prepared for the festive season ramifications and caring. about as much left a mega yacht, mega bare and about to mega leave the dock. However one can stress or one can make do, so upon putting heads together with Supa Stew, and with a couple extra hours sleep, we quite simply, got away with it. Leaving the Dock and St Maarten all smiles. This is the story of my yachting career. Pretending to be a real chef, when honestly, I’m simply getting away with it…..bloody convincingly I might add!
Upon Boxing Day Capt Boo Boo arrives and goes about fukking all our care fully laid plans like a bull in a crowded subway with a leg cramp and a horrible case of thrush. 1st Mate wrestles with the thought of his GF of 3 years whom upon arrival reach up to pull his beating heart through his butt (small heart...no big butt) only to have her turn and demand he shove it right where she pulled it from. (Ouch) and she on her boat, only 4 yachts down. Engineer, Cloggie off to find anything with a pulse and wait and allow them to pick him up. (He swears plants have a pulse, and they some how count?) All before the joy of the owners immanent arrival. Awesome, what a wonderful way to begin a 3 month straight charter with no,(as yet) penciled in ,days off!
Thank gawd I haven’t slept for three days.
So next stop, the lovely calm waters of the British Virgin Islands and what promises to be the dullest New Years Eve ever in history! For now allow me to leave you with two recipes for you to try until we next meet.
Good gawd I miss you already
Ciao. Tschüse. Doei
*Poached then Grilled Lobster, on Giant Nori with Tempura Asparagus, Dashi Stock Broth and a Radish Salad.
*Lychee and Coconut Champagne with Lime Syrup and Toffee Spoon
That considered its not for everyone, but is for the most of us. Regardless this is where we spent the holiest of festivals. Christmas. Now I’m not going to bore you with my St Maarten antics, but lets just say I started Christmas by leaving a night club at 9am, (hardly a “night”club then is it) Sleeping for an hour before pealing myself off my relief chef and dear friend, Karl's floor . Only to do the walk of shame/triumph (depending on your perspective). straight to my galley and begin struggling with Christmas lunch for the kids/crew, (minus Capt Boo Boo ). Which is, you must agree, a gift in itself. Now I’m not sure how yours went, but if you ever have the opportunity to grab yourself a luxury yacht, and a ticket to St Maarten with friends eight, and no captain, oh, I thoroughly recommended it!!
Regardless of the St Maarten antics being had, (oh how we laughed ) provisioning for a 3 month charter over the Christmas break is a logistical nightmare (oh how we cried) After a week of festivities and no incoming flights filled with gourmet groceries, an island starts to look like a baboons bumm (no not bloody pink and blue, but pretty bloody bare.) Welcome to what is the hell side of the Caribbean for a chef.
I avoided the drama of crossing the pond (Atlantic) for my fifth time. To swann it up for 3 weeks in the USA’s Miami and Australia only leaving me with a whole and wonderfully new and unexpected kinda drama. Ill prepared for the festive season ramifications and caring. about as much left a mega yacht, mega bare and about to mega leave the dock. However one can stress or one can make do, so upon putting heads together with Supa Stew, and with a couple extra hours sleep, we quite simply, got away with it. Leaving the Dock and St Maarten all smiles. This is the story of my yachting career. Pretending to be a real chef, when honestly, I’m simply getting away with it…..bloody convincingly I might add!
Upon Boxing Day Capt Boo Boo arrives and goes about fukking all our care fully laid plans like a bull in a crowded subway with a leg cramp and a horrible case of thrush. 1st Mate wrestles with the thought of his GF of 3 years whom upon arrival reach up to pull his beating heart through his butt (small heart...no big butt) only to have her turn and demand he shove it right where she pulled it from. (Ouch) and she on her boat, only 4 yachts down. Engineer, Cloggie off to find anything with a pulse and wait and allow them to pick him up. (He swears plants have a pulse, and they some how count?) All before the joy of the owners immanent arrival. Awesome, what a wonderful way to begin a 3 month straight charter with no,(as yet) penciled in ,days off!
Thank gawd I haven’t slept for three days.
So next stop, the lovely calm waters of the British Virgin Islands and what promises to be the dullest New Years Eve ever in history! For now allow me to leave you with two recipes for you to try until we next meet.
Good gawd I miss you already
Ciao. Tschüse. Doei
*Poached then Grilled Lobster, on Giant Nori with Tempura Asparagus, Dashi Stock Broth and a Radish Salad.
*Lychee and Coconut Champagne with Lime Syrup and Toffee Spoon
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2 comments for this post
Wow..you got yourself a blog..no need for me then!!! x
that post if from me by the way..kev merrey mezzah