The "Pizza With A View" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Looking out over the Bay of Orient from our French villa, eating an Hawaiian Pizza.  Every year, during our annual vacation to the island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten, we look forward to the food treasures that the island offers.  The French side of the island is well known as the gastronomic capital of the Caribbean and the small town of Grand Case, with over forty restaurants along their main street which overlooks the ocean, is known as the "Gourmet Capital of the Caribbean."  So, as you might suspect, we are not wanting for a place to eat.  Being that many of the wonderful restaurants throughout the entire island are somewhat pricey, we do enjoy a few meals eaten at our villa.  And, what better meal is there, with an inexpensive price tag on it, than pizza.  During our stay we usually "eat-in" maybe three or four times during the length of our visit.  

Pizza Mimo in St. Martin

Our "Go-To" places for pizza are Little Italie and Le Piment, both located in Orient Village, what used to be Tap 5 Pizza, but is now Yellow Sub across the street from Orient Village and Orange Fever located on Orient Beach.  Well, this year we did the usual Le Piment and Little Italie, who both feature real thin crusts as they do in Italy, and had plans to buy another pizza at Orange Fever.  Then we realized that Orange Fever, which had been part of a strip of restaurants along Orient Beach which the French Government had torn down and rebuilt due to hurricane damage, was not back in business.  

Rolling the dough to the correct thickness.

Then, while filling up with gas at a nearby station, noticed a new pizza stop known as Pizza Mimo next to the station.  So, our third "eat-in" meal was scheduled to be from our new find.  About half an hour ago I drove the five minutes to the small pizza shop and after parking entered the restaurant.  As soon as the "chef" turned to face me, I recognized his face.  Benoit, known to me as Ben, looked at me with a big smile.  This young man with the perpetual smile had worked at Orange Fever and had made pizzas for us in the past.  

Ben checking my pizza.

Their menu is extensive, offering 25 choices with an additional choice known as "Le Votre" which allows you the sauce, Mozzarella cheese and 4 additional add-ons.  I ordered my usual, #22 the Hawaiian, and sat closeby and watched Ben do his magic.  Since I was the only customer in the restaurant, we talked about the island, his trip to New York and Orange Fever's move back to Orient Beach.  "Another week and we will be open on the beach," Ben told me.  

Ben, putting my pizza in the box.  Cost $10!

"Gonna miss that since we are leaving in a few day, but will stop there again next year," I told him.  I have read many complimentary comments on TravelTalkOnline (TTOL) about the pizzas at Orange Fever as well as Pizza Mimo.  My guess is that the TTOL readership is mostly North American readers and they enjoy the thicker crust pizzas which is what Pizza Mimo gives you.  As for Carol and me, we to enjoy the thicker crust pizzas, but while on vacation also enjoy the thin crusts offered by the more European restaurants and pizza shops.  But, you know, eating a pizza while watching the sunset and the sky turn darker over the beautiful blue colors of the ocean, doesn't get any better than that no matter how thick the crust may be.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.