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A starter spot for West Indian food

A new restaurant in an unlikely location has recently opened.  It’s called the Windy Level Bar Restaurant

It is the pride and joy – and full-time job – of Carryn Powell.  Located About 1 1/2 mile up Centerline Road from Cruz Bay, the place opened about two months ago and has been doing a good "steady" lunch and dinner business, according to Crystal Bray and Lora Verkouille who wrote about it in the latest issue of the St. John Sun-Times.

St. John Julie, who posts about the island at TripAdvisor.com, also likes the spot. "Some of her offerings in the past have been, stewed chicken, conch, stewed fish, baked chicken, pork chops, to name a few. If you are curious to try West Indian fare, this would be a great place to start. The plates are loaded up with lots of local favorites." (Read the full post here.)  Julie said she and three friends had dinner, two drinks, desert and the bill was $78. "That is a crazy cheap price for here!," she said.

Carryn cooks what’s fresh and what inspires her, the Sun Times story said.  So the menu is ever changing.  The phone is 340-715-2000 (for reservations or take out).  No credit cards.

This sounds like a winner!  In all my years, I’ve been wary of the Cruz Bay park food wagons and Sogo’s, but a sit down place like Windy Level sounds very attractive.  If you go, send me an e-mail … we can talk about it for a podcast.

Tage’s Ted is cooking

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Chef Ted Robinson
is back at work in the kitchen.  But this time it’s not in his own restaurant.  It’s at St. John’s largest grocery store. 

He’s at Starfish Market, cooking up his own creations for folks on the go who are looking for gourmet takeout, or people who want to spice up (pun intended) dinner at the villa. The accomplished Chef is turning his attention to prepared meals like
Pulled Chicken and Tarragon Salad and a maple Glazed Slow Roasted
Sirloin Wrap. 

"Made fresh daily, Ted’s creations make getting a luxurious lunch or dinner easier than ever before," a news release from Starfish said.

He’s also doing sandwiches, priced from $7.95 to $8.95. They sandwiches are packaged and showcased just to the left of  Starfish’s hot deli case. "Selections may change depending how the cooking spirit moves him," said the news release.

St. John restaurants available

A reader wrote, "In the piece about Tage being closed, you mentioned 5 restaurants for sale. What eateries are for sale?"

Here they are:

Pastory Gardens, $6 million
    This is really a real estate land development offering
Stone Terrace, $650,000
Baked in the Sun, $450,000.
Chilly Billy’s, $275,000
(Formerly) Duffy’s, $200,000
Cafe Roma, $175,000

Source: Multiple Listing Service

Tage is toast

Tage
The high-end restaurant across from the Winston Wells ball field is closed. 

Some folks expected, yay hoped, that Tage was just taking a summer vacation.  But folks at Virgin-Islands-On-Line have read the layoff is permanent.  Details are here: http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4840

The owner, Karrl Foster, who took the place over from chef Ted Robinson, wanted to have it both ways.  He kept the founder in the kitchen while, out front, Foster tried to add some sophistication.  It’s always bad news when an owner decides to stay out of the kitchen. Just ask Gordan Ramsay or Rocco DeSpirito.

Meanwhile, costs were rising, with the rising price of oil meaning utility bills took an even bigger bite … like $5,000 a month. That’s what happens when you air condition a dining room which has one side open to the street. 

Chef Robinson is now in to business for himself with KatiLady Catering

It’s uncertain what’s to become of the former Tage location.

Make no mistake, the cost of doing business on St. John is rising.  There are five restaurants for sale, and those are just the ones that are listed with real estate brokers.  Help is hard to find, of course (Hey, anyone know of an advertising sales person looking for work for a newspaper on St. John?  A friend needs some help.  E-mail me, [email protected].)

St. John golf course for sale

The island’s miniature golf course can be yours.  It’s part of Pastory Gardens and the Compass Rose restaurant. (at left).  But the businesses are not all the real value.  It’s the land: several acres on St. John high up and offering wonderful sunset views of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Originally developed as a restaurant and a butterfly exhibit (that never was completed), the owners failed to get permits and approvals to add condominiums to the site. The current real estate offering indicates bulldozers may still get to go to work. Zoning "allows a multitude of uses such as shopping center, hotel, condos, apts.," according to the listing. Asking price: $6 million.  Pastory Gardens’ Web site: http://www.pastorygardens.com/4436.html

Under Contract:  Cruz Bay Realty says a sale is pending for Gym in Paradise is under contract.
It went on the market more than two years ago for $140,000. Located on the third floor of the Marketplace, the workout facility was last priced for sale at $75,000. 

Hooters does the Virgin islands

Hooters_2
So, it looks like that visit by the Hooters yacht to the Westin Resort in March this year really may have been for business.  Read our coverage.

The company has now reportedly leased 5,000 square feet for a restaurant on St. Thomas at Buccaneer Mall.  This means it will be conveniently located near where large cruise ships dock.

(Cruise the Caribbean … discover a Hooters.  What a country!)

The Virgin Islands Daily News reported the new Hooters is expected to open in December.  Hours will be 9 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.  Read the Daily News article.

Looking for Return of Tage?.  Click here.

Gourmet and wine store opening set

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Starfish Market’s
expansion into an upscale food and wine specialty store is set to kick off early next month. (Picture at left is in the original Starfish store.)

A grand opening is being planned Nov. 5 for the new Starfish Gourmet and Wines store.  The venture is located on the first floor of the Marketplace shopping center, across the corridor from Starfish Market.  The shelves will be stock with wines, imported cheeses, coffees, meats, pizzas, pastas and other items.

By shifting wines and gourmet foods to a new retail space, the owners of Starfish give themselves the opportunity to expand offerings in the grocery store, too. More dairy products or produce may be considered.

Starfish Gourmet is likely to be a boon to in-villa catering services.  The availability of a wider variety of items will also give cooks a bigger palette for culinary efforts.  Several chefs at the island’s restaurants have said they feel restricted in preparing menus because food distributors on St. Thomas aren’t able to offer much variety.  If Starfish can establish its own sources and supply lines, St. John could become a much more tasty island.

Former Bostonians sign on to Caneel Bay

Cb_2
Caneel Bay
has added a couple of one-time New Englanders to its staff. 

Edward Gannon, Caneel’s new Resort Manager, and Anthony Dawodu, Executive Chef have extensive experience with high-end resorts including time together in the kitchen at the Four Seasons in Boston.

Gannon made the move from the kitchen to management while working at Winnetu Oceanside Resort in Martha’s Vineyard. 

Dawodu, who grew up in Nigeria and relocated to London in the early ’90s, spent the last 11 years in Boston at the Four Seasons as well as handling executive chef duties for two notable restaurants.  He will be responsible for all culinary operations at Caneel, including menu preparation at its restaurants as well as in-room dining and special events.

Restaurant closing guide

A lot of island restaurants close during late summer and early fall.  St. John Ruth tries to keep up with who’s open and who’s closed and she posts it on her web site.  I’ve taken a look at the schedule and here’s my best estimate of which restaurants that may have taken a break are now open this week. If you have better information, post it here. Best advice: call ahead

Open after going on hiatus:

  •     Aqua Bistro
  •     High Tide
  •     Joe’s Rum Hut
  •     Ronnie’s Pizza ‘n’ Mo
  •     Skinny Legs
  •     Zozo”s
  •     Morgan’s Mango and Rhumblines (Ruth reported Sunday)

Expect to be closed

  •     Banana Deck
  •     Cafe Roma
  •     China Shack
  •     Donkey Diner
  •     Island Blues
  •     Lime Inn
  •     Miss Lucy’s
  •     Ocean Grill
  •     Shipwreck Landing
  •     Stone Terrace
  •     Sweet Plantains