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Tag Archives: Epicurian – Culinary

5 Cool Activities To Push Your Luxury Yacht Charter Over the Top

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WHAT TO DO ON YACHT CHARTER?

Looking to throw a little wrinkle into the typical yachting holiday in the Western Mediterranean?  Our charter department put their heads together and came up with 5 cool things to do to make your next yachting holiday a truly unique experience.

 

SAMPLE Lobster at Le Grand Hotel de Cala Rossa – Corsica

The French island of Corsica is often overlooked by charterers who spend most of their time exploring nearby Sardinia.  Corsica is downright beautiful, with a colorful history and unique culture and atmosphere. You’ll find an eclectic mix of old world charm infused with modern French style.

Corsica - Le Grand Hotel de Cala Rossa beach at Calla Marcella

 

For a truly gourmet French food experience, visit Le Grand Hotel de Cala Rossa. The elegant décor, stunning ocean views and private jetty make this a fantastic destination for a late afternoon lunch.  The seasonal creations of chef Pascal Cayeux, rival the finest fare in mainland France. Pascla creates gourmet twists on traditional fare, with vegetables and herbs from the kitchen’s own garden.

 

RELAX on the Beach at Cala Marcella – Menorca

The interest in a Balearic Island yacht charter experience continues to grow each summer, as more yachts secure the required Spanish charter licenses to explore Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca.  While the nightclubs of Ibiza have their own appeal, the idea of a pristine beach sounds pretty food as well.

Balearic islands Menorca beach

 

Take for example the beach at Cala Marcella.  You’ll need your yacht’s tender to get there as this beach is only accessible by boat (lucky you).  On most weekdays, you can almost be sure to find a quiet spot on the white sands of Cala Marcella  [Tip: avoid the weekend, as crowds of local boaters invade this idyllic cove].  If you feel adventurous, bring a pair of walking shoes ashore, as there is a walking route that you can hike to the neighboring beach of Macaraletta.  Here, you can walk to the top of the cliff and experience some of the best ocean views in all of the Balearic islands.

 

EXPLORE the Blue Marino Underwater Caves – Sardinia

At the base of the 110 meter high cliffs of Cappo Caccia, along the northwest corner of Sardinia, lies the entrance to the Grotto de Neptuno – a stalactite-filled cavern and saltwater lake.  Land-based visitors can enter by climbing down 654 steps from the top of the cliff to explore the underground grotto. You on the other hand, can simply have your captain nose your yacht into the entrance of the caves!

Blue Marino Underwater Caves at Cappo Caccia - Grotto de Neptuno Sardinia

 

 

 

 

For snorkelers and divers, the adventure gets deeper at the nearby Nereo Cave, considered the biggest marine cave in the Western Mediterranean.  With 10 entrances, arches and tunnels, novices can snorkel in waist high water while experienced/certified divers can dive down to depths of 35 meters.

 

REJUVENATE your Spirit at the Luminaria – Pisa

You’ve missed this event for this year, but it’s never too early to plan your 2017 summer charter.  Every June 16, on the eve of the feast day of Saint Ranieri, the city of Pisa is aglow with 70,000 “lumini” (candles in glass containers). The reflection along the Arno river is mesmerizing.  It’s a peaceful, tranquil setting and the warmth of the Pisa residents will touch your heart.  If this doesn’t remind you how the superyacht experience allows you to embrace diverse cultures, nothing will!

 

QUENCH your Thirst and Go Wine Tasting with Monks – Cannes

Just off the coast of Cannes, in the South of France, lies the small island of Saint Honorat. Here, visitors will find a very unusual vineyard.  It has 8 hectares of vines cared for entirely by the monks of the Abbey of Lerins.  The monks tend to every aspect of winemaking.  For instance, from planting the vineyard, to harvesting the grapes.  Additionally, to making and bottling the wine.

Wine tasting with the Monks of Saint Honorat and the Abbey of Lerins in Cannes France

 

UNIQUE VINTAGES

Truly unique vintages found nowhere else, we recommend the Saint Cyprien Viognier with a seasonal Mediterranean meal served by the monks in their own restaurant.  After dinner, you can finish the day with a tasting of the fruit liqueurs as you enjoy the company of the monks and their staff, in this peaceful Monastic enclave.

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In conclusion, 1-800 Yacht Charters offers summer itineraries from the Côte d’Azur to the ancient islands of Greece. For a sampling of our luxury yachts, visit our interactive website at 1800yachtcharters.com.

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Need A Pizza?  There’s a Boat For That

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Pizza pi teal and white pizza sailboat anchored in St. Thomas USVI - advertisement for pizza on yellow sign hanging from sail lines

UNIQUE PIZZA BOAT IN CARIBBEAN

What does a Virgin Island yacht charter crew do, when anchored offshore and the craving kicks in for a slice of pizza?

If you’re Tara and Sasha Bouis,  you buy a derelict boat, gut the interior to install brick ovens, and open the first “Pizza Boat” in the US Virgin islands.

 

PIZZA PI

The floating “Pizza Pi” boat is anchored in Christmas Cove. Specifically, at the east end of St. Thomas, next to Great St. James Island.  There are multiple ways to order.   First, you can order your pizza via your boat’s radio, second, call it in via cell, or third, even e-mail it. There are 2 ways to pick up your order.  Moreover, you can either pick up the pizza in your dinghy, or Pi will deliver it to you. Delivery occurs only if you’re anchored in Christmas Cove.

 

THE LOCATION

The specific location is perfect. In specific, both personal boats and private yacht charter vessels from St. John and St. Thomas are constantly passing through the cove.  Even tourist-packed daytime sightseeing and snorkeling boats are taking a detour.  They stop by the pizza boat for authentic New York style “pies.”  Hence, the boat’s name, Pizza “Pi” – get it…the Greek letter “Pi”???

 

WHAT DID THEY DO BEFORE PIZZA PI?

Before opening Pizza Pi, Sasha was working on charter yachts as the captain and Tara was the chef.

The idea for the pizza boat came from a night at anchor, when Sasha and Tara were too tired to cook, and too tired to dinghy ashore to look for a take-out meal.  They spent the night eating microwave popcorn and dreaming about how great it would be if there were a pizzeria on the water nearby.

 

THEIR JOURNEY CONTINUES

After eight years of working on charter vessels together, the couple found a  37 foot abandoned boat on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.  They spent two years restoring the boat and installing a commercial-grade pizza kitchen with brick ovens and a giant Hobart dough mixer. To run the appliances, Sasha and Tara outfitted the boat with solar panels. They financed the project with the money they saved from working on boat charters.

The couple took a week-long intensive course at a “Pizza school” in New York, to learn to make authentic thin crust pies.

 

BRING ON THE PIZZA

The pizza boat was “launched” about 9 months ago, and business has been steady.  On an average day, they make about 25 pies. On a busy day, 30 to 40 boats stop by for a pizza.  Sasha designed a hatch where people on dinghies can place orders and pick up their pies.

pizza boat virgin islands pick up window with smiling woman in bikini leaning on window to pick up pizza and man waiting behind her for order

THE MENU

A banner displaying the menu hangs from the side of the boat.

Among the offerings:

• Sweet Home Indiana (sausage, corn, white sauce, and arugula)

• The Blumin Onion (made with lemon aioli instead of tomato sauce; leeks, radicchio, blue cheese, and honey)

• The Dalai Lama (a pizza with everything on it – the works)

Fresh ingredients like local Caribbean lobster can also be added as a topping.

 

HOW IS THE FOOD?

Currently, Pi is ranked as the best restaurant in St. Thomas on TripAdvisor. It has 59 five-star reviews and one four-star review. The person giving the boat a four-star review admitted the pizza is “delicious” but subtracted one star because they don’t deliver to her house on shore!

 

PIZZA WITH CHARTER

FREE PIZZA!  Book a yacht charter vacation in the USVI or BVI through 1-800 Yacht Charters today.  We will treat you to a complimentary large Pizza Pi pizza with toppings during your charter!!!   What a fun way to TASTE the Caribbean!  Contact us at info@1800yachtcharters.com or through our contact form at https://www.1800yachtcharters.com/book-now-contact-us/

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