Category Archives: Culinary

Recipe: Mango and ginger ice cream

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At Constance Lemuria we have several huge wild mango trees, heavily laden with ripe sun-drenched fruit.

Mangoes

Mangoes

This simple and delicious recipe was dreamt up by the pastry chef as he looked up at the trees.

Ingredients

The mango:

  • 1kg mangoes

The mango coulis:

  • 200g mango puree (made with the ripest)
  • 25ml Malibu

1. Peel the mangoes and cut them into large cubes. If you like you can mix them with seasonal fruits.
2. Pour the mango puree into a bowl and add the Malibu. Dilute it if necessary with fresh coconut water until you get the desired consistency.
3. Pass it through a sieve (mango coulis should be smooth) and store it to cool.

The ginger ice cream:

  • 125ml liquid cream
  • 250ml milk
  • 100g sugar
  • 75g honey
  • 50g ginger

1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl
2. Sieve everything through a cheesecloth strainer and pour the contents into the ice cream maker.
3. Blend it until it reaches the desired consistency.
4. Make some little biscuits or cat’s tails as an accompaniment

Finishing and presentation

Place the mango cubes on the bottom of a plate, bowl or cup. Pour the mango coulis over them.

Finish it off with a dollop of ginger ice cream and some cat’s tails biscuits.

Food of Madagascar at Constance Tsarabanjina

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One of the most lasting memories of a holiday are its flavours and nowhere is this more true than on the remote, exclusive Madagascan island of Tsarabanjina.

Madagascan lobsters at Constance Lodge Tsarabanjina

Madagascan lobsters at Constance Lodge Tsarabanjina

Flavours of Madagascar

Breathe in the scents of Constance Tsarabanjina and you’ll catch hints of cloves, vanilla, black pepper and nutmeg which make up the foundation of Malagasy cuisine.

Local produce at Tsarabanjina

We select the very best produce daily from the local market on Nosy Bé including the freshest spices, fruits and vegetables – luscious pineapples, mangoes and lime, plump pumpkins and vibrantly coloured sweet potatoes.

The fish our chefs prepare is caught off our shores by fishermen from the neighbouring island of Mitsio. Fishing with nets off traditional wooden pirogues, they use the same techniques that Malagasy fishermen have used for hundreds of years.

Fish for your own dinner

It is even possible to have your own pirogue fishing experience with our chefs on hand back on dry land to prepare and cook your very own catch-of-the-day.

For a unique culinary experience you could try lobster caught in the water just beyond your villa, prepared and grilled before your eyes and served to a secluded table for two on the rocks beside the ocean.

Dine on the beach at Constance Tsarabanjina, Madagascar

Dine on the beach at Tsarabanjina

Local chefs

Our chefs come with an innate understanding of the distinct flavours and traditions of Malagasy cuisine with its Southeast Asian, African, European and Chinese influences. They blend flavours and traditions to create an elegant, authentically Malagasy, 5-star dining experience.

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The best markets in Mahé, Seychelles

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Breathing in the scents of local foods and spices amidst the vibrant colours and frenetic hustle and bustle of a street market is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the spirit of a place.

Constance Ephelia, Seychelles

Constance Ephelia, Seychelles

Here’s our round up of the best street markets on the island of Mahé in the Seychelles.

1. Sir Selwyn Clarke Market, Victoria – Daily (especially good on Saturdays)

Set at the bustling heart of the island’s capital Victoria, this daily food market is frequented by locals buying everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to spices, herbs and fish. If the market whets your appetite for shopping then visit the local clothing and craft boutiques that surround the market place.

2. Victoria Bazaar, Victoria – Every Friday

A lively weekly bazaar held beside the capital’s iconic clock tower with everything from snacks of fresh grilled fish to local arts and crafts all set to the sound of live Seychellois music. A vibrant treat for all the senses.

3. Bazar Labrin, Beau Vallon Beach – Every Wednesday (and last Saturday of the month)

Probably the most famous of Mahé’s bazaars, stalls are set out along the beautiful, popular beach of Beau Vallon. The weekly market is a big draw for locals and tourists alike and is guaranteed to be buzzing from 4pm to around 8.30pm. Here you can buy everything from fresh produce, fish and spices to local arts and crafts. Highlights include the barbeques selling fresh fish, grilled breadfruit, banana St Jaques fritters and local dishes such as mango salad, papaya chutney and red lentils and rice. Live music comes from impromptu bands of musicians and sound systems.

Fresh passionfruit in market

Fresh passionfruit in market

4. Bazar Ovan, Baie Lazare – Last Sunday of every month

This vibrant bazaar offers visitors the chance to mingle with the locals on the quieter southern side of the island. The beach-side market specialises in local produce and artefacts. As always where groups of Seychellois gather for fun, you’ll find live music and dancing.

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Prestigious South African winemakers visit Constance Le Prince Maurice

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At Constance Le Prince Maurice we are thrilled to be welcoming South African winemakers Chris and Andrea Mullineux to host a wine event on June 11.

Lounge Bar at Constance Le Prince Maurice, Mauritius

Lounge Bar at Constance Le Prince Maurice, Mauritius

As well as meeting guests and inspiring a sumptuous menu around their excellent wines, Chris and Andrea will be offering training to our sommeliers.

Mullineux Family Wines from Swartland, South Africa, is part of the Premium Independent Wineries of South Africa having produced no less than seven Platter’s 5-star wines.

Andrea Mullineux was a founding member of Swartland Independent and is also one of only 5 women to be inducted into the Cape Winemakers Guild.

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Top 10 food festivals in Europe

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Take a culinary trip around Europe with a tour of some of the top 10 food festivals on the continent.

A Taste of London

A Taste of London

Here is our selection of the most delicious dates to put in your diary.

1. Taste of London, UK, 20-23 June

A chance to sample food from a cross-section of some of London’s finest restaurants, all in one place. Regent’s Park plays host to this sumptuous festival where visitors can taste dishes from 40 restaurants, enjoy demonstrations from some of England’s leading chefs, and meet a host of local food and wine producers.

2. Rock Oyster Festival, UK, 21-23 June

A celebration of Cornish food, this fun family festival in the grounds of Dinham House on the Camel Estuary has something for everyone. Stalls selling the very best local produce as well as eclectic live music and providing family entertainment.

3. Glynde Food and English Wine Festival, UK, 13-14 July

Set in the beautiful grounds of Glynde Place, East Sussex, this food and wine festival brings together the very best English chefs, produce and wine for a weekend of culinary treats. Guest chefs doing live demonstrations include John Torode and Lisa Faulkner as well as wine tasting tips from expert Stephen Skelton.

4. Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival, UK, 5-15 September

Ten days of culinary celebration of local food, wine and restaurants include tastings, demonstrations and special offers at local bars and eateries. The largest festival of its kind in the South of England, this is a treat not to be missed.

5. Feria du Riz, Arles, France, 12-14 September

Celebrating the harvest of the region’s distinctive red Carmargue rice, this festival in the Roman city of Arles is an ancient tradition and a vibrant treat for the senses. There’s a decidedly Spanish feel to the fun with street stalls selling fresh seafood paella and other fresh produce, parades, music, Carmargue horses and even a bull-run through the streets and bull fights in the Roman arena.

Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival

Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival

6. Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival, UK, 14-15 September

Over 20,000 people travel to the beautiful Scottish loch to take part in this food festival with live cooking demonstrations, local produce, real ale and a Continental market.

7. I’Primi D’Italia, Foligno, Italy, 25-28 September

A tribute to classic Italian fare including soups, pasta, rice and gnocchi this fun, lively festival includes master classes, demonstrations, tastings and quirkier events like pasta sculpture. There’s plenty to entertain the kids including a chance to design their own pasta shapes.

8. Fiesta De Marisco, O Grove, Spain, 4-13 October

One of Europe’s biggest food festivals dedicated to seafood includes everything from crabs, shrimps, clams, barnacles and scallops. One of the highlights of the fortnight is the annual competition to come up with an imaginative new mussel dish.

9. Baltic Herring Fair, Helsinki, Finland, 6-12 October

A tradition dating back to the 18th Century the Baltic Herring Fair held in the city’s harbour has grown into an international event including food stalls selling herring and other sea food prepared in a variety of ways. Other local produce including bread and crafts are also on offer.

10. International White Truffle Fair, Alba, Italy, 7-14 October

Celebrating the beginning of the prized white truffle season this annual festival attracts some of the world’s best chefs who come to take part in the ‘invitation-only’ white truffle auction (prices go as high as £1,600 a kilo). Locals seize the opportunity to show off a range of Piedmont delicacies including roast pork, salami, polenta, almonds and Moscato d’Alba wine.

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Visit our website to find out more about our 7 luxury hotels and resorts in the Indian Ocean: Constance Hotels & Resorts

Luxury breakfasts at Constance Hotels & Resorts

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Start your day at Constance with a healthy breakfast from the sumptuous buffet, or enjoy a private champagne breakfast for two on your own terrace overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Breakfast at Constance Moofushi, Maldives

Breakfast at Constance Moofushi, Maldives

Lavish breakfast buffets

Visit the breakfast buffet at any of our resorts and experience the rich abundance of fresh food beautifully presented at separate stations, offering a plethora of tropical fruits, pastries and speciality cooked dishes.

Watch as world-class chefs prepare a 5 star breakfast in front of you, and breathe in the delicious smell of freshly baked pastries and bread straight from the oven.

Breakfast in bed

Indulge in the ultimate luxury of a champagne breakfast brought to you in your room or villa.

Constance Hotels & Resorts

Room service breakfast at Constance

Nothing says idyllic, paradise holiday more than lying in bed on crisp white sheets and enjoying the chill of champagne with fresh fruit and a view of the sun sparkling on the ocean.

Or sit back and relax at a home-away-from-home breakfast with your family on the terrace of your own villa. Let the kids come and go as you take your time to really enjoy that second cup of coffee.

At our hotels and resorts

Breakfasts are served daily until 10.30am, which means you can wake up at your own pace and make your first meal of the day a leisurely affair.

Enjoy the sand between your toes and the gentle sun on your face as you enjoy a 5 star breakfast outdoors at Constance Halaveli’s buffet restaurant Jahaz.

Watch the light trickle through the lush foliage as you greet the day in the open-air, cool, tiled elegance of Constance Ephelia’s Corossol or enjoy the barefoot chic and Malagasy charm of a buffet breakfast on the beach at Constance Tsarabanjina.

Constance Lemuria, Seychelles

Constance Lemuria, Seychelles

Savour the freshest tropical fruit bought at the local market that morning under the shade of an umbrella on the terrace of Archipel at Le Prince Maurice and enjoy views across the infinity pool to the beach and ocean beyond, or drink in the view across to the ocean at Constance Lemuria.

At Constance Moofushi you can indulge in a private champagne breakfast for two with waiter service on your very own secluded sandbank, perfect for romantic moments.

Golfers booked in for an early tee-off time can tuck into a hearty pre-golf breakfast at the Deer Hunter restaurant at Constance Belle Mare Plage from 6.30 to 9.30am and enjoy views across the championship golf course. You might even spot the resident deer breakfasting on the greens.

Sunrise yoga

If you’re keen to kick start a new approach to healthy living, our energising early morning yoga sessions are designed for beginners through to advanced. Enjoy the feeling of awaking your senses against a backdrop of gentle sunlight, calm clear water and tropical vegetation.

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