I was recently on my honeymoon in April and thanks to my amazing travel agent mother, Marla and I had a dinner reservation at La Villa Mahana (another spot that requires planning-call at least six weeks in advance). This is a once in a lifetime dinner. The kind of experience to share with the person you love. Getting there is an adventure in itself...
First, when you are in Bora Bora, you take a small boat from the motu (small island) that your hotel is at to the main part of the island. A van picks you up in front of a Pearl store right at 7:15pm for their one seating dinner at 7:30pm. When you pull up to the restaurant you are instantly smiling. This is a gem. A house decorated like a villa in Italy or France. This nine table top restaurant has a main dining room with five tables, a room upstairs with two tables and a private table overlooking the courtyard. Marla and I were fortunate enough to have that table for two.
The menu is full of local and French influence. There is an option of two prix fixed menus: one is the Exotic and the other is the Epicurean. The Exotic menu is a four course feast for 69 euros while the menu Epicurean is a six course meal for 105 euros. Instantly, Marla and I both decided on the Epicurean menu with wine pairings. This was our honeymoon. Foodie Therapy-the ability to enjoy life, food, in the moment, indulge and of course balance.
We started with dishes that resembled artwork. Chef Damien uses only the freshest ingredients and his French training comes through in his ability to let the quality of the product speak for itself. He greets you out of his busy kitchen (he's the only one in the kitchen) and takes your order. Because Marla is allergic to shellfish, Chef Damien asked her what she would like instead of the lobster risotto. This is a place that is personal, real, and magical.
When you start by talking about bread, you know you are on the right track. The bread comes out warm from the oven and a little green wrapped package sits in a basket next to it. Curiosity takes over. The waitress happily shares that it is a Polynesian staple-coconut bread. This is easily compared to a Los Angeles classic-the tamale, although firmer in texture.
The menu begins with seared ahi tuna served simply over greens, poached potatoes with a vanilla bean oil drizzle. Each bite was harder and harder to contain the feeling that we were eating someones masterpiece. We giggled and smiled like little girls experiencing something for the first time. It was that good.
Our next courses we enjoyed curried mahi mahi, foi gras, lobster risotto...just a note, the portions were huge. Each course was big enough to share...in the US, these portions would be normal in Texas. The soundtrack in the background creates ambiance as romantic as being on a movie screen...Borcelli, Armstrongs "What a Wonderful World," and Diana Krall.
We continued on with fillet the size of our head and white cheddar gnocchi. The fillet was covered in a port wine reduction. We were so full from the other courses, it was rough getting through this one. But, we were so in the moment...each bite felt worth the stomach pains.
Before I get to dessert, let me discuss the wine. The wine list was full of French Burgundy and Bordeaux. Since Tahiti is run by the French government, the variety of wines at most restaurants there revolve around France. Which is a good thing. As part of the wine pairing, you feel like you are moving your way around French wine country. We had Champagne, Chablis, and Burgundy...some of the more popular wineries were paired with our food...for example, Joseph Drohin, one of my favorite.
For dessert, we both ordered huge chocolate lava cakes (of course we didn't get to each much of it, but the pics are great). It was a lovely and decadent end to a completely indulgent meal.
This meal is not cheap. Actually, you will spend more on this meal than an average week or two of dining out in the states. But, you MUST experience it. As a self proclaimed FOODIE, I have to say, this is one of the top 5 experiences I have had in my culinary exploration. The ambiance, food, wine, music and overall experience was what I keep returning to as I remember my honeymoon.
As you leave, you realize how what you experienced was not normal. It is not something to do more than once (or twice if you are lucky) in your lifetime. It is a privilege, as Foodie Therapy as you can get, and in times of struggle, a place in your mind to go to where things just don't get much better. We left for our boat singing Hakuna Matata...there are no worries.
La villa Mahana
b.p. 941 Amanahune, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
tel/fax: 00(689)675063
from United States: 011 689 675063
damien@villamahana.com
First, when you are in Bora Bora, you take a small boat from the motu (small island) that your hotel is at to the main part of the island. A van picks you up in front of a Pearl store right at 7:15pm for their one seating dinner at 7:30pm. When you pull up to the restaurant you are instantly smiling. This is a gem. A house decorated like a villa in Italy or France. This nine table top restaurant has a main dining room with five tables, a room upstairs with two tables and a private table overlooking the courtyard. Marla and I were fortunate enough to have that table for two.
The menu is full of local and French influence. There is an option of two prix fixed menus: one is the Exotic and the other is the Epicurean. The Exotic menu is a four course feast for 69 euros while the menu Epicurean is a six course meal for 105 euros. Instantly, Marla and I both decided on the Epicurean menu with wine pairings. This was our honeymoon. Foodie Therapy-the ability to enjoy life, food, in the moment, indulge and of course balance.
We started with dishes that resembled artwork. Chef Damien uses only the freshest ingredients and his French training comes through in his ability to let the quality of the product speak for itself. He greets you out of his busy kitchen (he's the only one in the kitchen) and takes your order. Because Marla is allergic to shellfish, Chef Damien asked her what she would like instead of the lobster risotto. This is a place that is personal, real, and magical.
When you start by talking about bread, you know you are on the right track. The bread comes out warm from the oven and a little green wrapped package sits in a basket next to it. Curiosity takes over. The waitress happily shares that it is a Polynesian staple-coconut bread. This is easily compared to a Los Angeles classic-the tamale, although firmer in texture.
The menu begins with seared ahi tuna served simply over greens, poached potatoes with a vanilla bean oil drizzle. Each bite was harder and harder to contain the feeling that we were eating someones masterpiece. We giggled and smiled like little girls experiencing something for the first time. It was that good.
Our next courses we enjoyed curried mahi mahi, foi gras, lobster risotto...just a note, the portions were huge. Each course was big enough to share...in the US, these portions would be normal in Texas. The soundtrack in the background creates ambiance as romantic as being on a movie screen...Borcelli, Armstrongs "What a Wonderful World," and Diana Krall.
We continued on with fillet the size of our head and white cheddar gnocchi. The fillet was covered in a port wine reduction. We were so full from the other courses, it was rough getting through this one. But, we were so in the moment...each bite felt worth the stomach pains.
Before I get to dessert, let me discuss the wine. The wine list was full of French Burgundy and Bordeaux. Since Tahiti is run by the French government, the variety of wines at most restaurants there revolve around France. Which is a good thing. As part of the wine pairing, you feel like you are moving your way around French wine country. We had Champagne, Chablis, and Burgundy...some of the more popular wineries were paired with our food...for example, Joseph Drohin, one of my favorite.
For dessert, we both ordered huge chocolate lava cakes (of course we didn't get to each much of it, but the pics are great). It was a lovely and decadent end to a completely indulgent meal.
This meal is not cheap. Actually, you will spend more on this meal than an average week or two of dining out in the states. But, you MUST experience it. As a self proclaimed FOODIE, I have to say, this is one of the top 5 experiences I have had in my culinary exploration. The ambiance, food, wine, music and overall experience was what I keep returning to as I remember my honeymoon.
As you leave, you realize how what you experienced was not normal. It is not something to do more than once (or twice if you are lucky) in your lifetime. It is a privilege, as Foodie Therapy as you can get, and in times of struggle, a place in your mind to go to where things just don't get much better. We left for our boat singing Hakuna Matata...there are no worries.
La villa Mahana
b.p. 941 Amanahune, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
tel/fax: 00(689)675063
from United States: 011 689 675063
damien@villamahana.com
http://www.villamahana.com/
Wine list rating: B+
Try the wine pairings if you want to learn about French wine-you get 5 pours with the Epicurean menu.
If you know wine, buy a bottle of Montrachet or Burgundy or both...cheers!
Wine list rating: B+
Try the wine pairings if you want to learn about French wine-you get 5 pours with the Epicurean menu.
If you know wine, buy a bottle of Montrachet or Burgundy or both...cheers!
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