Monthly Archives: February 2014

Recipe: Maldives chapatti and banana puri

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The chapatti is from the same family as the rotis, the famous Indian breads eaten on every street corner of the subcontinent. These loaves emerged in the sixteenth century in Indian and their recipe has hardly changed since.

Constance Halavel's chapatti & banana puri recipe

Constance Halavel’s chapatti & banana puri recipe

This recipe from Constance Halaveli, is a modernised version of the original classic.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

Chapatti:

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup white flour
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 3/4 cup hot water
  • 1 pinch of salt

1. In a bowl, mix together the flour and salt, and using a wooden spatula, stir it while adding the olive oil and hot water. You will get a soft elastic dough, but not sticky.

2. On a lightly-floured worktop, knead the dough until it is smooth and fluffy.

3. Divide it into 10 equal portions, or fewer if you want larger loaves. Roll them into balls and let them rest for a few minutes.

Banana puri:

  • 30g flour
  • 30g salt
  • 20g pepper
  • 40g ripe bananas
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 60ml milk
  • Ghee vegetable butter plant: to taste

1. Make a firm but pliable dough and cover it with a damp cloth for 30 minutes.

2. Knead the dough gently. it should be firm enough to be able to spread without sticking.

3. Divide it into small balls and cover them with a damp cloth.

4. take a ball of dough, dip at an angle in a mixture of Ghee and oil and spread it into a round 13cm diameter shape. Do the same with the rest of the puris.

Finishing and presentation

The chapattis:

Heat a griddle and lightly grease it. Using a rolling pin, roll out the balls. They must be quite thin, like tortillas. When the griddle starts to smoke, add the chapatti and cook for about 30 seconds to produce a brown colour. Turn it over and cook it in the same way. Continue with the rest of the dough.

Banana puris:

Heat a wok filled with oil to 200˚C. Dip the puris in the oil. Using a slotted spoon, and while shaking them, make the puris rise by covering them with hot oil. This operation lasts only a few seconds. Turn the puris over and continue cooking then so that they go a nice golden brown colour.

Sommelier’s suggested wine

White aromatic wine:

  • Alsace Pinot blanc, “Mise de Printemps”, Josmeyer, 2009 France
  • Stellenbosch Neethlingshof, Gewürztraminer, 2010 South Africa.

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Elle South Africa includes Constance Ephélia on its travel bucket list

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South African Elle magazine has created their bucket list of places to go and stay around the world including Mahé, Seychelles and Constance Ephélia.

Constance Ephélia, Seychelles

Constance Ephélia, Seychelles

Alongside destinations like Rajastan and the Chaweng Buri Resort in Koh Samui, Mahé is selected for its ‘little secluded beaches dotted along the entire coastline and lush, green forest as you move more inland.’

Assistant editor Lynette Botha recommends, ‘If you have the budget – Constance Ephélia is literally a slice of heaven, with its own private beach, 5-star service and the most magnificent setting.’

To read the full list of destinations and hotels recommended by the Elle team visit the South African Elle website.

Visit our website for more information on Constance Ephélia or to make a booking.

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What’s on in the Seychelles this Easter

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Easter is the perfect time to visit the Seychelles when the weather settles to gentle sunshine, the ocean calms and the mood is one of holiday celebration.

Easter at Constance Lémuria, Seychelles

Easter at Constance Lémuria, Seychelles

1. Easter festivities

As a predominantly Christian country Easter is celebrated with lively Seychellois flair across all the islands including local processions, festivities, feasts and religious ceremonies.

The atmosphere is one of relaxed fiesta as locals and tourists alike enjoy the warm, calm weather that April brings to the islands.

2. Sunshine, sunshine, sunshine

The end of the rainy season means consistent daytime temperatures of around 31ºC with 12 hours of daylight making it the perfect remedy for European tourists looking to put the long winter months behind them with a blast of sunshine.

3. Seychelles National Fishing Tournament

The Easter weekend is a holiday in the Seychelles so there’s plenty going on, including the annual fishing tournament held on Mahé (18-19 April). Fishing is a major part of the culture of the Seychelles and this big game trolling event offers cash prizes for selected fish categories and best teams.

For those looking for a bit of high octane adventure on the ocean, the calm waters at Easter also make this an ideal time for big game fishing with Yellow Fin Tuna, Blue Marlin and Sailfish all presenting fisherman with a lively challenge in the open water.

Fishing in the Indian Ocean

Fishing in the Indian Ocean

4. Scuba diving

Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first diving experience or an old hand, the calm, clear waters of the Seychelles at Easter make the perfect diving environment.

As the monsoon clears and before the trade winds start to blow, April is the calmest time of year for the ocean in the Seychelles. As a result the water reaches a sumptuous 29ºC with a visibility of up around 30 metres.

The high visibility means you’ll see everything as you explore the stunning granite reefs, pure coral reefs, rocky walls, gullies and wrecks that make this such an exciting diving region.

Marine life to look out for include Octopus, Spiny Lobsters, Whale Sharks, Reef Sharks, Ribbon-tailed Stingrays, Soldierfish, Napoleon Wrasse and Giant Grouper.

5. Party time

Apart from the Easter celebrations there is plenty going on in the Seychelles between March and April:

  • Semaine de la Francophonie 19 – 22 March. A week-long celebration on Mahé of the French influence on the Seychelles. It will include live music, art exhibitions and special French menus at restaurants.
  • Carnaval International de Victoria 25-27 April. A gathering of all the leading carnival groups from around the world will include floats, street parties and stalls selling traditional food.

5* luxury in the Seychelles

Find out more about Constance Ephélia and Constance Lémuria or for availability and bookings visit our website: Constance Hotels and Resorts

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Baby turtles hatch on the beach at Constance Lémuria

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A new generation of baby turtles found their way to the ocean under the care of Constance Lémuria’s turtle manager this month.

Baby turtles enter the Indian Ocean for the first time

Baby turtles enter the Indian Ocean for the first time

Having watched the mother turtles lay their eggs in the sand of Grande Anse Kerlan back in November, our dedicated turtle manager has been keeping a watchful eye on the progress of the eggs.

The beaches of Lémuria play host to the nests of hawksbill and green turtles that return to its shores year after year to lay their eggs.

As they hatched, the baby turtles were gently gathered together and held until the conditions were perfect to aid the babies to scramble down the beach and into the water.

At the end of the afternoon when the sea was at its calmest and the wind low Lémuria staff and guests watched from a respectful distance as the baby turtles found their way to the Indian Ocean.

Those who survive their sometimes perilous journey to adulthood will return to our shores in the years to come. It with great pride that we are able to help these turtles, and to watch the cycle of life continue.

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Daily Mail’s Carol Driver is won over by Constance Halaveli

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With so many activities and such a rich marine life to explore, travel writer Carol Driver is wowed by how much there is to do at Constance Halaveli.

Giant Mantas in the Maldives

Giant Mantas in the Maldives

In her piece for Travel Mail Online, Driver admits, ‘The Maldives had never been on my radar – perhaps for all the wrong reasons. I had visions of being bored, stuck on a tiny island.

‘However, with an outdoor tennis court (which has been graced by none other than Roger Federer), and the possibility of windsurfing, kayaking, wakeboarding, water skiing or heading out by catamaran, Halaveli has enough to keep even the most active occupied.’

What really excited Driver was the excellent diving in the area around Constance Halaveli, including the dive site Fish Head which she claims is the ‘most famous dive site in the Maldives’.

In her time at Halaveli Driver was thrilled to have her first encounter with a shark and to swim alongside a giant Manta.

She was also impressed by Halaveli’s accommodation claiming it was ‘indulgently spacious, with a bedroom, an entrance area and a bathroom that has an extravagant stand-alone bathtub.’

To read all about Carol Driver’s experience at Constance Halaveli go to the Mail Online website.

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Condé Nast Traveller describes Tsarabanjina as ‘everyone’s secret favourite’

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Lisa Grainger explains the dual charm of Constance Tsarabanjina as both a luxury retreat and natural paradise in her article for the March edition of Condé Nast Traveller magazine.

Condé Nast Traveller describes Tsarabanjina as ‘everyone’s secret favourite’

Condé Nast Traveller describes Tsarabanjina as ‘everyone’s secret favourite’

She writes that the remote Madagascan island location with its hills and forests, two long beaches and only 25 wooden guest beach villas, make this the perfect place for guests to ‘live out their Robinson Crusoe fantasies’.

‘This is a no-shoes, no-news, hang-loose place,’ she says. ‘The air-conditioned thatched bandas, newly revamped by the island’s owners, Constance Hotels and Resorts, have all the basics – hot showers, capacious wardrobes, fridges with cold drinks – as well as outdoor banquettes and hammocks for afternoon snoozes, and fragrant coconut oil to drench sunburnt skin.’

While some guests spend their days relaxing in the sun on loungers or hammocks, others choose to get out to explore and experience some of the unique biodiversity of the island.

Grainger spent much of her time on Constance Tsarabanjina ‘fossil-hunting on the island’s fringe of weather-beaten, mineral-rich rocks, luminous with swirls of ochres and rusts, and cut through with black tongues of hardened lava’.

Another favourite pastime was diving the relatively unexplored waters around Tsarabanjina.

The vibrant coral reefs of Constance Tsarabanjina

The vibrant coral reefs of Constance Tsarabanjina

Grainger writes, ‘The underwater scenery is trippy in its theatricality, designed by a god inspired by Jackson Pollock and inhabited by hilariously overdressed creatures.’

Grainger also applauded the ‘simple but delicious’ food available in the restaurant at Tsarabanjina including fresh grilled seafood, handmade pastas and salads as well as drinks infused by the flavours of fresh local fruits.

Relax with the Cristal Package

Our Cristal package contributes to the laid-back vibe at Constance Tsarabanjina - from the moment you arrive you can relax knowing everything is taken care with all meals and a range of super-premium drinks included in the price.

To find out more about Constance Tsarabanjina or to make a booking visit our website: Constance Hotels and Resorts

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