Wednesday 5 February 2025
With the 4-hour time difference we woke up to PMQ’s, sad I know but have had a bit of a stressful night, we ad some heavy rain and not least, another power cut so my breathing machine automatically stopped and I woke up immediately!!! We do have something to look forward to today, we have booked a table at “Dawne’s Soleil Cafe” one of the places recommended to us by Noreen Philips, the “Couturier”, the lady in the “big red hat” we met in Papas Zouk’s on our last visit.
As the freezer is now relatively empty we can go out so had booked a table for 1300hrs, and as it was only a stone’s throw away, didn’t have to allow a lot of time to get there, 7-minutes to be precise. We read a number of the “Trip Advisor” feed-backs and we were certainly looking forward to heading to Dawn ‘s for our lunch today. If it is as good as it sounds, we will kick ourselves for not having been there before!!!
Today is another beautiful day, sun shining, blue skies and a mild wind so opened up the car to reduce the heat build-up inside, about 10-minutes before departure. This “cafe’ is set back from the north coast, an area we’ve not explored much in the past, but it certainly appeared more affluent with brick built homes with “manicured” gardens, many with stunning views across the Caribbean Sea.
Dawne’s Soleil Cafe, along with a number of cottages and other small outlets, is in a gated enclosure cut out of a “jungle” area, rather pretty. The entrance to Dawne’s was hard to find as the stairs up to it were hidden by trees etc., still we got there in the end and was offered a choice of tables, both inside or outside under a big tarpaulin, we chose the latter and given a few moments to settle before being asked if we’d like a drink. Two of her Rum Punches please to get us in the mood for their speciality, “local” food. The drinks arrived but my goodness how many ice cubes can one cram into a glass!!! I then asked for another one without ice whilst Christine went fishing to remove the ice!!! The next one came out with the owner who explained that her Rum Punches are strong as she uses 95% proof rum and the ice softens it. I explained I’d lived in Poland and drank Spiritus 100% proof, she laughed and they kept coming, no ice!!! At this point the menu arrived, written on a blackboard positioned on a easel; definitely different!!!
Following a lot of explaining by our waitress, we ordered spicy deep fried chicken wings to start, then Christine went for a steamed “Chub” fish, I went for the grilled “Salmon”, both with rice, sweet potato salad and roast vegetables. We were quite surprised these fish were on the menus as neither come from the Caribbean!! Anyway, both meals were delicious, not a scrap left behind.
The desert board also looked appetising and after some pondering, decision made. Christine ordered the “local” bread and butter pudding loaded with all sorts of local fruits etc., and covered with a chocolate sauce. I couldn’t make my mind up, I fancied rum cake, but was disappointed with the one I had at Papa Zouk’s, I also fancied her “drunken” raisin. The owner explained; “her” rum cake was made by “her”, and not a “bought-in” one, so I went for the rum cake and she also added the drunken raisins on the side!!! Accompanying our meal was a stream of rum punches; “😎😎”. The other strange drink they had on the drinks board was “Soleil Sangria” and the couple on the table next to us was drinking, and recommended I should try one; I did, and certainly not as powerful as the rum punches but a nice twist on a Spanish Sangria, containing rum of course!!! The pity is, we hadn’t found this place before as I have no doubt our guests would have enjoyed it as well.
We decided to go to a local beach but we were “rather” late leaving and the nearest was difficult to get onto so gave it a miss and drove home after a very nice, but “naughty” lunch.
Back at the cottage we couldn’t quite bring ourselves round for more rum and certainly not Hungary so had a few hands at crib, then two episodes of Silent Witness then bed. The reason we watch Silent Witness is simple; the local tv isn’t very exciting and when sitting outside Christine attracts all the mozzies in the vicinity and gets bitten to shreds. After Christine has “fumigated” the bedroom, we sit on the bed and with the air-con full blast, this gives her some respite!!
Tomorrow we are heading back to half-moon beach for a change!!😂😂