Recipe for the Flip Flop cocktail:

1 cup of pineapple juice

1/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup strawberry daiquiri

2 parts rum (optional)

blend with ice and serve

Recipe for the Demonio Rojo:

2 parts Rosso Vermouth

1 part gin

a dash of lime juice

0.5 oz sugar syrup

0.5 oz grenadine

served drink on the rocks

This is a guest post written by Premier Worldwide Marketing, LLC. employee, Christina Prickett, who recently honeymooned at El Dorado Royale, a Spa Resort, by Karisma and has shared her experiences at the Chef’s Table with us. Photographs were shot by Director & Video Editor, Matthew James Prickett.

For one week of our honeymoon, my husband and I stayed at the charming resort, El Dorado Royale in Riviera Maya, Mexico. One of the most memorable experiences we took with us from Mexico was the night we dined at the Chef’s Table at D’Italia Restaurant.

The Chef’s Table is an exclusive dining experience for guests who wish to purchase $180 USD of any wine, spirits or liquor. This experience is available at El Dorado Royale & El Dorado Casitas Royale. After acquiring a few bottles of liquor, my husband and I were invited to a private dinner arranged for us at the hotel’s award winning restaurant, D’Italia.

Once we arrived to the restaurant, we were whisked away to an elegant, glass room directly in front of the kitchen, where the hotel’s expert Sommelier, Paul greeted us. We asked Paul for his favorite bottle of wine and he recommended the Sileni Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand, a 2009 harvest, which was just lovely.  The wine had a light and tangy taste to it with pear and grapefruit flavors, which we thought was a perfect way to start off the evening. The view was extraordinary; we watched the chefs prepare our fine dishes for the rest of the evening.

At the start of dinner, the chef came out and greeted our table. He asked us for any of our likes and dislikes and told us that our seven course meal would be based on this, but that each dish would be a surprise.

The presentation and taste of every dish were outstanding. It would be difficult to choose a favorite course because each dish was authentically prepared and rich with flavor. Our spectacular dining experience started with ahi tuna, which was served with avocado slices and cherry tomatoes; this certainly set the standard for the rest of the evening.

Following the first course, we were given a gourmet black bean soup; this may be one of the most appetizing soups I have ever tasted. Every bite was flavorful and had an essence of cheese in every bite.

I think the black bean risotto with squid on a bed of mushy peas may have been one of my favorite courses. If we weren’t already expecting any more plates, I may have asked for another!

For the fourth course, we enjoyed salmon topped with a creamy, delicious marinade, mushy peas and fresh vegetables. After this, we were given sorbet to help us clear our palates and prepare us for the main entree. Each course was prepared with the perfect amount of portions to satisfy without making you feel stuffed. Further, we could not fault the service we received throughout dinner, it was perfect. The chef came out prior to each course to explain what every dish consisted of and to make sure this was something we would enjoy.

The main course was very impressive; filet mignon with shrimp and every, single bite was tasty and satisfying! For the last course, we enjoyed a collection of sweet desserts with espresso, which was just a perfect way to end the evening.

Although we shared many wonderful memories on our honeymoon, the Chef’s Table dining experience was one of our most favorite evenings in Riviera Maya, Mexico. We’d like to express our most sincerest compliments and gratitude to the D’Italia staff, chef and the resort’s expert sommelier, Paul for an unforgettable evening. We look forward to returning and enjoying it all over again very soon!

With all the beautiful mangroves and lush foliage encompassing El Dorado Resorts & Azul Hotels, by Karisma, it’s no surprise that the region of Riviera Maya, Mexico is an unparalleled destination for ecotourism.

The jungles of the Yucatan Peninsula line the Caribbean Sea with crystal clear water and white, powdery sand, providing for a beautiful and scenic experience with both wildlife and nature. While visiting our hotels, guests can experience everything from sea turtle hatchlings on the beach to bird watching -without ever leaving the resort.

Our dear guests, Paul and Cathy Eagles from Ontario, Canada recently visited El Dorado Royale and were able to capture some incredible photos of their experiences with wildlife and nature while on property at our resort. Paul was able to capture a photo of a Ferruginous Pygmy Owl while he was bird watching at El Dorado Royale. Thank you to Paul and Cathy for allowing us to share your photos and experiences at the El Dorado Royale, a Spa Resort & Hotel, by Karisma.

This is a guest post written by past guests, Christine and Keith Thomas, who booked through one of our GI Vacation Consultants, Jan Busse. Thank you to Christine and Keith for sharing your story and traveler tips with us! Book with one of our preferred GI Vacation Consultants by visiting our website.

My husband and I spent five days at the beautiful El Dorado Seaside Suites, by Karisma in July.  Our GI Vacation Consultant, Jan Busse secured us a free double upgrade to one of the swim up suites, which was amazing!  We spent a lot of time just lounging outside of our room and taking in the beautiful scenery.

The property, service, food and spa exceeded all of our expectations!

The Food: All of the food was exceptional, but I would have to say the Italian restaurant topped our list.  I had the tomato soup and beef tenderloin which was absolutely amazing.

The Spa: I have been to a lot of luxury spas in my day and I would have to say the Naay Spa tops my list.  My husband and I enjoyed a 90 minute moonlight couples massage on the beach.  Before being escorted to the beach, we spent 45 minutes in the spa enjoying the eucalyptus steam room, sauna and tropical shower.  Everything about this experience was perfect…tranquility at its finest!

The Property: Perfectly maintained – there was not one coconut out of place.  The gardeners were on spot 24/7 – the beaches were groomed and the ash trays were always cleaned and stamped.  There were plenty of beach beds for everyone so there is no need to wake up at the crack of dawn to secure a spot.

The Service: Second to none!  The staff was on extremely accommodating.   We had a personal concierge outside of our suite to help with anything we needed.  Housekeeping was also great.  We always left her an extra tip each day for going above and beyond our expectations.  In return, she left us cute little towel animals and a hot Jacuzzi filled with bubbles and fresh flowers!  I must also mention that the bath products were wonderful!  The entire resort smelled of aromatherapy from the lobby to the rooms.

The Location:  The resort is about an hour and fifteen minutes away from the Cancun airport.  A small price to pay if you enjoy a slower pace.  From what I have seen during my times in the Mayan Rivera is the crowds seems to get lighter the further down the coast you go.  Cancun and Playa Del Carmen are a little too fast paced for us but we do enjoy taking a day trip to PDC for some lively shopping.

Exploration Tip: Another great day trip is to Akumal – Half Moon Bay for the best snorkeling around!  It’s a must on our list every time when we visit the area.  There is a restaurant right on the beach called La Buena Vida.  They have the best pina colada’s and freshest ceviche in Mexico!

We love creating special experiences for our guests that stay with them even after they leave our resorts! Azul Sensatori Hotel past guest, Samita Deery asked us to share our Lime Tortilla Soup recipe with her, so here it is! We hope it will take you back to your Gourmet Inclusive experience…

Lime Tortilla Soup for Two

You’ll need:

2 cooked and shredded chicken breasts

4 tortillas (best if they are a little dried out)

1 white onion, chopped

1 tomato sliced

1 green pepper

1 avocado

1/3 cup garlic, minced

1 tsp cumin

Salt & Pepper

Optional ingredients: chopped cilantro, shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions for baked tortilla strips: Cut tortillas into thinly, sliced rectangular-shaped pieces. Set oven to 200 degrees and bake for 15-20 minutes.

Soup: Prior to baking tortilla strips, make sure you have prepared your other ingredients. While strips are baking, boil four cups of water and add freshly squeezed lime juice (four limes) to the boiled water along with the chopped onion, garlic and spices.

In soup bowls, serve your shredded cooked chicken, sliced avocados, tomato slices and green pepper and baked tortilla strips. Add the hot, lime water with spices when you are ready to serve! Buen provecho!

As a part of their commitment to preserving the natural environment and wildlife of the Riviera Maya, El Dorado Spa Resorts & Azul Hotels, by Karisma are proud to support the Flora Fauna y Cultura de Mexico (FFCM). This enables select Gourmet Inclusive resorts to maintain a turtle-friendly hotel certification.

From May to October of every year, seven of the eight worldwide female turtle species make their way to the shores of Riviera Maya, Mexico to lay their eggs. These species include the Green Sea Turtle, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Black Turtle, Olive Ridley, Kemp’s Ridley and the Leatherback turtles. During nesting season, it is possible for guests to experience the release of baby sea turtles off the shores of Riviera Maya.

The turtle-friendly certification supports the development and operation of turtle camps across the Riviera Maya. Turtle camps are vital in helping to monitor and record the different species of turtles arriving at the beaches each season. The turtle camps are operated by FFCM specialists, volunteers and our hotel staff.

How can you help support sea turtle conservation in Riviera Maya, Mexico? Upon your arrival to the destination, ask your concierge for information on the ‘adopt a sea turtle’ program. For a donation of $30 USD, you can help us work towards the greater good of protecting these endangered species.

This project is sponsored by the Travel Foundation in collaboration with Thomson and First Choice Holidays. To learn more about their green holiday initiatives, please visit their website.

As we work towards acquiring the turtle-friendly certification for each one of our resorts, please note that at this time, the participating hotels are El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Casitas Royale, Azul Beach Hotel and Azul Sensatori Hotel.