The "We'll Both Have The Beef Stew" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Second day of our vacation on the multi-national island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin.  It has been tradition with my wife and I to always have our first meal of vacation at our favorite restaurant, Le Piment, which is located in Orient Village, a short drive down the hill from our rental villa.  That is until this year.  Our first night was spent on a late flight from Miami, since our air schedule was destroyed by an early morning storm in New York.  But that's another story that you probably have already read.  Our second night had already been planned with a trip to the restaurant Sol e Luna with friends of my wife's who owned a place at the Grand Case Beach Club so we had to wait until our third evening to make our trek to Le Piment for my wife's favorite.  

Krystal (in black sleeveless top) greeting people as they enter.

Last year she tried one of the specials at the restaurant and found a whole new taste that she just loved.  Called Beef Stew, but not the traditional beef stew that we had become accustomed to in Lancaster County, PA.  Their beef stew didn't have carrots, potatoes, onions, celery and beef blended together into a stew, it was just plain beef.  It was marinated over two days in a wine sauce and I must admit it actually melted in your mouth.  Yea, I had to get it also, since I was convinced over a period of a few months before vacation that it would be the best meal of vacation.  Krystal, the owner of  Le Piment, met us at the awning of the outdoor restaurant and greeted us with the traditional French  kiss on either cheek, then seated us in the restaurant's new chairs and tables that decorated the restaurant.  

The "Special Board".  Click on the photo to
enlarge.  You will see the Beef Stew.  Prices
are in euros.  At the time 1 Euro=$1.40.

Immediately Carol checked the hand lettered chalkboard to see if the Beef Stew was on the menu.  Our traditional 1st night fare had been a caprese salad and a oven baked lasagna.  Both are enough for two meals so we shared one of each.  But …….. it looks as if we are going to have to change our tradition and have the beef stew.  We are not big wine or alcohol drinkers so we order peach ice tea that comes in a can.  I know, no class!  Krystal brought the special board to our table and as she was setting it on a nearby chair, Carol said, "No need for that, we'll both have the beef stew."  She remembered how much Carol raved about it the previous year and replied, "Ah, good choice."  The beef stew is accompanied with a small lettuce salad with house dressing, a small serving of sprouts, a piece of pine tree that Carol insists is a piece of Rosemary and vegetables that are baked in small crock and consist of sliced potatoes, squash and peppers.  

The Beef Stew!

I must admit it was delicious and had to eat it slowly to savor all the flavors and make it last longer.  The beef was better than any beef I had ever eaten.  It really did melt in your mouth.  After clearing our table our waitress brought us each a shot of Ma DouDou bananae-vanillae flavored rum which is made on the island.  A very nice new tradition for the start of our vacation.  As we left, Carol leaned close to Krystal and whispered something to her.  She got a smile on her face and told Carol she would tell the chef.  After asking her what she told the owner, she whispered,  "I told her the beef stew was better than sex!"  "Geez, thanks a lot!" I said.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.