Archive for February, 2010
Beach Books
Posted by jgreen in News from Royal Resorts on February 22nd, 2010
With the prospect of warm sun, clear blue waters and a wide beach beckoning, thoughts inevitably turn to relaxing on the soft white sand with a good book – or the latest download on your Kindle if you are so inclined – and before you are due to travel to the Mexican Caribbean you should always stock up on beach reads; you can never have too many!
Perhaps you like Nora Roberts, Philippa Gregory, Ann Tyler, Anita Shreve and Margaret Atwood or always choose the latest James Patterson, David Baldacci or Tom Clancy novels. Whether you bring books by Ian McEwan, A.S. Byatt and Hilary Mantel, decide to reread the classics or are hooked on the escapades of one “traditionally built” lady detective from Botswana, recently the subject of a HBO series, the beach is the place to drift off and set your imagination free. Even if you have your own favorite authors, here are some more ideas.
The Color by Rose Tremain. Gold casts its fatal spell in this tale of 19th-century prospectors in New Zealand.
Random Acts of Heroic Love by Danny Scheinmann. Two stories of love and loss and a journey of discovery.
Pompeii by Robert Harris. A tale of love and adventure in the famous Roman city doomed to destruction by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson. An American writer travels through the United Kingdom and this is his funny and affectionate look at the island and its people.
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh. A rich saga of 19th-century India at the time of the Opium Wars. A ship sets sail for Mauritius with a motley crew of sailors, coolies and convicts, including a bankrupt Raja, a widowed opium farmer and a French runaway.
Suite Française by Irene Némirovsky. A moving insight into human frailties, nobility, vanity, courage, love and hope. The story of a group of French citizens fleeing the Nazi invasion and of a community as it endures occupation. Tragically, the author perished in Auschwitz in 1942.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. A story of remarkable women in the South, a girl’s search for truth and how she finds a family.
If you do happen to run out of books during your vacation, there are two secondhand bookstores in the Cancun area with a good selection of English language titles: Needful Things, Coba Ave., Downtown Cancun and the Alma Libre Bookstore on the main square in Puerto Morelos. Finally, the Royal Resorts all have shelves in the lobby where you can leave the books you have finished and exchange them for others. Why not let us know about some of your favorite beach books?
Cocktail Time
Posted by jgreen in News from Royal Resorts on February 21st, 2010
For all of you suffering from the snow blues, here are two tropical cocktails for you courtesy of the Royal Resorts bartenders. Hope they bring back many happy memories of sunny days on the beach or by the pool. Cheers!
Mangolele
½oz vodka
1oz white rum
½oz melon liqueur
1oz Kahlua
1½oz orange juice
2oz mango
¼oz grenadine
Place all ingredients in a blender, serve with ice; garnish glass with melon pearls and orange slices.
Caribbean Breeze
1oz melon liqueur
½oz banana liqueur
½oz coconut cream
2oz pineapple juice
2oz orange juice
Place all ingredients in a blender, serve with ice; garnish glass with melon pearls and orange slices.
Royal Recipes
Posted by jgreen in News from Royal Resorts on February 21st, 2010
Following up on some of the requests we have received in the past few months, we would like to share some more recipes from the Royal Resorts kitchen. We hope that they will get you in the mood for your next Mexican Caribbean vacation. Bon appétit!
Creamy Bean Soup
A longtime Royal favorite!
1 kg black beans
5 liters of water
6 leaves of epazote (Mexican herb)
Half a white onion
5oz lard
2½oz garlic
2oz chicken stock powder
¼ gallon of chicken stock
Bring the water to the boil, add the beans (you can soak them previously overnight in water to remove any impurities, make sure that they are clean of any grit or husks), onion and four epazote leaves and simmer until the beans are cooked. In another pan add the lard, the two remaining epazote leaves and the finely chopped garlic and lightly fry. Add to the beans and blend; finally add the chicken stock powder and consommé. Bring to the boil and stir constantly until thoroughly blended.
Note: If you cannot find epazote, you can use chopped cilantro instead - just add more. This soup can be served with a topping of crispy tortilla strips and crumbled cheese or a drizzle of cream.
Black Bean Salsa
A variation on the popular black bean salsa served at some of the Royal restaurants.
130g/4½oz black beans soaked overnight in water to cover
2 serrano chilies (or to taste)
1 red onion
1-2 tomatoes
Grated rind and juice of one lime
2 tbsp Mexican beer (optional)
1 tbsp olive oil
Small bunch of coriander chopped
Salt
Drain the beans and put them in a large saucepan. Pour in water to cover and place the lid on. Bring to the boil, lower the heat slightly and simmer the beans for about 40 minutes or until tender. They should still have some bite and should not have begun to break up. Drain, rinse under cold water, drain again and leave to cool. Chop up the chilies finely and remove the seeds. Always handle chilies with care, wear gloves, avoid touching your face and eyes and wash your hands thoroughly. Chop up the onion and tomato finely. Place the beans in a bowl; add the onion, tomato and chili. Stir in the lime rind and juice, beer, oil and coriander. Season with salt and mix well. Chill before serving.
A Royal Romance
Posted by admin in News from Royal Resorts on February 8th, 2010
Love is in the air at Royal Resorts this February with a variety of Valentine’s Day events planned for you and the one you love.
Start your day by sharing some Spa magic. The Spas at The Royal Sands and The Royal Haciendas are both offering relaxing Valentine’s Day specials. Let the Spa at The Royal Sands pamper you with a private Jacuzzi session, a relaxing massage, sparkling wine and chocolate-covered strawberries, while the Spa at The Royal Haciendas has two options for members and guests. You can choose an exfoliation with rose petals or champagne and a relaxing massage or a massage in the privacy of your villa with a bottle of wine for you to toast your love. Both Spa specials cost $290 US, for more details and reservations, please contact the Spa at spa@royalresorts.com or call Ext. 179 upon arrival at your resort.
Celebrate your love with a romantic night out at one of the Royal Resorts restaurants. El Conquistador, Captain’s Cove and Hacienda Sisal are all offering special menus and Los Murales, the new restaurant at The Royal Haciendas is an enchanting setting for a unforgettable evening.
And for something really special, how about dining by candlelight on the beach? Enjoy a tempting menu; feel the sand between your toes and let the sound of the waves and the glimmer of the stars cast their spell. The Royal Sands, The Royal Mayan, The Royal Islander and La Palapa del Sol at The Royal Haciendas are offering Valentine’s Day Dinners on the beach with a set menu and live music. For more information on Valentine’s Day dining choices at Royal Resorts and reservations, you can contact restaurants@royalresorts.com or call the Restaurant Reservations Center at Ext. 165 upon arrival at your resort.
Of course, a Romantic Dinner on the beach can be arranged all year round at your resort and for any special occasion, whether it be an anniversary, birthday, an engagement or just because…In fact, we will shortly be hearing from one couple who celebrated their engagement with a Valentine’s Day dinner on the shores of the Caribbean.
Say the magic words “I love you” with flowers. You can order a variety of bouquets and floral arrangements from The Royal Market while you are staying at Royal Resorts, and why not pick up a bottle of bubbly or some chocolates to go with them? An alternative is to use the convenient online order service at www.royalresorts.com You can give flowers, fruit baskets, wine, cakes and even grocery store gift certificates to members and guests staying at all six Royal Resorts in Cancún and the Riviera Maya and staff at The Royal Market will deliver them to their villa.
Cupid comes a calling at La Paloma Gift Shop in The Royal Sands and The Royal Caribbean with a Valentine’s Day gift when you spend more than $500, $750 or $1,000 pesos at the stores.
Finally, with all this talk of romance, there is a chance that someone somewhere may pop the question. After the initial euphoria and congratulations, thoughts will inevitably turn to the choice of wedding venue and what better place to celebrate the most important day of your lives than the Mexican Caribbean and Royal Resorts? Our Special Events Team will help you plan the wedding of your dreams, taking care of every little detail so that you can enjoy the captivating setting with your family and friends. For more information on our wedding and special events services contact specialevents@royalresorts.com
Super Bowl Sunday
Posted by admin in News from Royal Resorts on February 5th, 2010
NFL fans staying at Royal Resorts won’t want to miss out on our Super Bowl Parties this Sunday. You can watch the game at Sidelines and La Cabaña bars in The Royal Sands and The Royal Caribbean, respectively, at Pancho & Willy’s Bar next to Captain’s Cove and in La Rotonda Bar at The Royal Haciendas. Order from the Super Bowl snack menu, check out the drinks specials and even purchase a Super Bowl t-shirt.
Have fun, cheer the players and may the best team win!
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