When Christopher Columbus first set foot on the island he named Hispaniola in December 1492, it seemed like he had discovered paradise. This lush Caribbean island, which is now split into Haiti and the Dominican Republic, boasts rich natural beauty and fertile land.
Today, on the quieter and greener northern coast of the Dominican Republic, the ÀNI Private Resort invites guests to experience the unique flavors of the Caribbean.
1. Fruit and Nuts
Guests at ÀNI can start their stay with an early morning walk through Rio San Juan’s beautiful countryside, guided by Edison. He often points out the natural bounty of the island—lemons glistening in the sun, trees heavy with avocados, coconuts, mangoes, oranges, and pineapples. There are cashew nut trees and tall palm trees, which are used to make delicious palm salads. As the day heats up, you might see cattle seeking shade and even chickens climbing into trees to escape the sun.
2. The Local “Robinson Crusoe” Diet
In this fertile area, locals always have food within reach. Plantains are picked fresh and boiled into a nutritious breakfast. Their diet has a selfsufficient, “Robinson Crusoe” feel, with goat stew being a common favorite. Breadfruit is another staple, often boiled and mashed for lunch or dinner. The rhythmic mashing of these foods is reflected in local folklore dances, performed for guests at the resort.
3. A Dominican Breakfast
Early mornings are ideal for activities like walking, biking along the coast with Edison, playing tennis, or swimming in one of ÀNI’s infinity pools. Breakfast, served in either the Amber or Larimar villas, offers a tropical buffet of nuts, seeds, and seasonal fruits. Guests can savor a traditional Dominican breakfast of cornmeal bread topped with fried cheese, sautéed onions, and scrambled eggs. Alternatively, the kitchen can prepare English or Mexican breakfasts upon request.
4. Cocktail Class
As the sun sets, guests gather for a cocktail-making lesson. They start with a classic old-fashioned, made with dark rum, angostura bitters, and soda, served with ice, grated chocolate, and orange peel. Next, they learn to make a passion fruit margarita, shaking tequila, passion fruit juice, lime juice, and sweet syrup with flair.
5. Chocolate
ÀNI sources its chocolate from a local organic cocoa bean plantation. One dessert option lets guests create their own ice cream by mixing organic chocolate, bitter orange rinds, and salt in a mortar, then pounding it with a pestle for a unique treat.
6. A Beach BBQ
At ÀNI’s beach club in Rio San Juan, guests can relax while enjoying the aroma of a BBQ. Hotel waiters serve grilled lobster with herb butter and skewered shrimp with chimichurri sauce under shaded canopies.
7. Cigar-Rolling and Rum-Tasting
Before dinner, guests can partake in a rum-tasting masterclass, choosing from 26 different rums. They also have the chance to roll their own cigars with the guidance of an expert, though most take longer than the 40 seconds it takes the maestro to roll one. This expert can roll up to 800 cigars a day when working with a partner.
8. A Dominican Lunch
Lunch at the Larimar Villa, overlooking the splendid Caribbean, introduces guests to authentic Dominican flavors. The meal starts with chicken, vegetable, and rice soup served with plantain chips, followed by grilled red snapper with cilantro and coconut sauce. Guests also enjoy grilled pork chops with a pineapple glaze, served family-style.
9. A Cookery Class
Executive chef Juan offers a class on making quick and flavorful fish ceviche. The secret lies in thinly sliced red mullet and plenty of lime juice, with each chef adding chili and coriander to taste.
10. A Seven-Course Tasting Menu
For their final night, many guests choose a seven-course tasting menu with paired wines, served in a pavilion lit with fairy lights. The meal begins with salmon gravlax and includes 24-hour filtered Pomodoro soup, vegetables from the garden, shellfish, tenderloin, and a palate-cleansing Grey Goose vodka sorbet. The culinary journey concludes with a chocolate and bitter orange dessert.
Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by ÀNI Private Resorts.