Hotel Chocolat Introduces… The Boucan Restaurant at Rabot Estate, Saint Lucia
British chocolatier and cacao grower, Hotel Chocolat, is launching the first of its kind, a cacao-inspired restaurant in its cacao plantation in Saint Lucia, The Rabot Estate. A ‘must-visit’ destination for the foodie set, The Boucan Restaurant will open its doors to guests on 28 January 2011.
The Boucan is named after the estate’s original ‘Boucan’ - a cacao drying facility, and offers diners breathtaking views and sunset vistas. Marked as the premier destination for ‘Cacao Cuisine’, the menu infuses local dishes with fresh cacao harvested from the historic cacao estate. The Boucan is tipped to be one of Saint Lucia’s hottest dining spots, located at the eagerly anticipated, newest boutique hotel - The Hotel Chocolat - which opens later this year.
Inspired by the rare cacao growing around the estate, The Boucan’s creative menu gracefully incorporates ‘Cacao Cuisine’ into every dish. The menu explores both sweet and savoury dishes of meat, poultry, seafood; salads, vegetables and fruit, and all prepared fresh on the premises. With local sourcing at the heart of the Hotel Chocolat ethos, the menu is influenced by high quality seasonal produce from the region. Guests can enjoy new savoury concept dishes including: Cacao Gazpacho, Flame Grilled Cacao Marinated Red Snapper and King Crab Verrine with Cacao Guacamole in addition to an array of mouth-watering desserts which include Cacao Crème Brûlée and Saint Lucian Chocolate Tart.
“The Boucan is where the magical beauty of Saint Lucia and our world of cacao discovery meet. Guests can soak up the ambience of the estate that dates back to 1745, then taste the delectable surprises that our culinary team has created with fresh ingredients and a menu inspired by the cacao fields. Whether staying for a week or just for a sunset toast, The Boucan will become an alluring destination that will invoke repeat visits.”
Angus Thirlwell, CEO and Co-Founder of Hotel Chocolat, Cacao Grower
Concept and Design
The Boucan is located at the 140-acre Rabot Estate, Saint Lucia’s oldest working cacao estate nestled between the famous twin Piton peaks. The 65-seat restaurant features an open-air theatre style kitchen with a soaring roofline which is inspired by the manner in which small cacao trees grow under the protection of larger rainforest ‘shade trees’.
Cacao-inspired Menu
The Boucan menu was created by Chef David Demaison who drew upon his experience with Michelin starred chefs in his native France and the cuisine of the Pacific Rim. He also designed the Rabot Estate’s menu at the famed Borough Market in England. Head Chef Jon Bentham will oversee the kitchen. For twenty years he cooked alongside London’s top celebrity chefs including Gary Rhodes as Executive Chef. Chef Bentham most recently was the Executive Head Chef at the Anse Chastanet Resort in Saint Lucia.
The Boucan also looks to offer the best cocktails and rum punches in Saint Lucia, the Cocktail Bar has a lively social vibe and incredible Twin Piton mountain sunset views and the Club Boucan Bar, reserved exclusively for hotel guests, is poolside and serene. Both bars serve The Boucan’s signature drink, a Fresh Cacao Bellini, made with the Estate’s fresh cacao pulp, soursop juice, lemon verbena and Hotel Chocolat’s own Sparkling Prosecco Superiore.
Green Initiatives and Sustainability
Hotel Chocolat's deep brand values and social responsibility distinguish it among the world’s leading chocolatiers. Its ambitious Engaged Ethics program, founded in 2002, delivers sustainable benefits and technical practices to cacao communities in both Saint Lucia and Ghana. The Boucan’s green practices include a total focus on locally produced ingredients and using harvested rainwater instead of bottled. Plastic water bottles are not allowed on the property.
For press information, please contact the Hotel Chocolat PR Team at Halpern:
hotelchocolat@halpern.co.uk | Tel: 020 7351 2888
Or contact individual team members directly:
Lisa Shetabi at Halpern on: lisa@halpern.co.uk - Tel: 020 7349 2513
Jessie Gogan at Halpern on: Jessie@halpern.co.uk – Tel: 020 7349 2490
Notes to Editors:
The Boucan;
- The Boucan is open for Lunch between 12-2:30 PM and Dinner 6:30-9:30 PM, Wednesday to Sunday.
- Reservations are encouraged, call the Hotel Chocolat booking line on T: 0844 544 1272
- Menu prices range from GBP £5 – GBP £18
- More information can be found online at www.thehotelchocolat.com,
Hotel Chocolat
British cacao grower and chocolatier, Hotel Chocolat was founded in 2004 with a mission to make chocolate exciting again. The luxury brand is renowned for its iconic products that encapsulate British style and wit such as ‘The Giant Slab’. Authenticity, originality and ethics are central to the brand ethos, which combined with its knowledge and experience as a cocoa grower sets it apart from its competitors. Hotel Chocolat has boutiques in all major cities and lifestyle towns across the UK, concessions in John Lewis stores nationwide, online stores in the UK and US. The brand has growing international presence including Boston and U.A.E. Recent awards include several wins at ‘The Great Taste Awards 2010’, number one spot in ‘The Sunday: Times Fast Track 100’, as well as being one of the UK’s prestigious ‘CoolBrands’ for the fourth year running.
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