I start by saying that this is definitely the BEST All Inclusive for carinival. From their very first year that this fete was started - it has been the best in my ratings. And I must admit that I very reluctantly went the first year - if I remember correctly this is the fourth year that it was held.
I did go reluctantly the first year it was held - but it turned out to be one amazing and fantastic event. I have attended EVERY year since and it has remained at the top of my list. Good ambience, nice crowd, good food, and very reasonable ticket price. I hope all stays the same for the coming years.
However, I must be fair and state the negatives - so here goes. The food lines for the Ribs and one other that I forget are TOO LONG. Please organizers, you should note this and maybe split those food stalls into two - located at different points so that there in not just one line for the popular stuff.
Other negative - the live bands sounded horrible - leave them for the jamming fetes and for Brassorama PLEASE.
I must also mention that the Fajitas stall was the best. The food was tasty, very tasty. I even took the caterer's card so that I can hire him for any event I may have personally.
The parking is good too - as the whole football field opposite the venue is used. And you just have to cross the road to enter the party.
I give Fatima All-Inclusive an 'A' rating. Just keep it up fellas.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Friends to the Max/ CAREC All-Inclusive 2008
Ok I am very very disappointed with the Friends to the Max fete for 2008. First of all, it took me TWO hours to drive to the venue at Chaguaramas - from St Ann's. I was very fed up and frustrated with the horrendous traffic.
Then when I finaly arrived and parked in Parking lot 3, we had to end up walking to the next car park to get a shuttle - because apparently no-one told the maxi drivers to go to our car park. BAD START.
But we were hungry after all this time and stress....so we decided to eat right away as we finally reached the site of the event. Well, more stress. We reached inside the event at 5:30pm - and more that four food booths were already out of food!!!! Crab backs being one. Well I was mad as heck because the event was carded for 2:00pm to 11:00pm - and food run out at some stalls before 5:30pm???? That seems like a rip off to me. Don't the organizers know the numbers - the thousands that bought tickets. And these tickets are not cheap - at $700 each.
So we ended up eating just the same old regular stuff - ribs, wantons, and some horrible tortillas as the chicken for the tortillas was finished also - so we had to take the fish which was very tasteless. The lady serving the wantons gave me three in my plate and when i asked for ONE more, she refused!!! Can you imagine that??? and that was all i was taking from her stall.
Well after that, we decided to try to enjoy the entertainment. WHY DO ORGANIZERS THINK THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE LIVE BANDS??? Most persons I spoke to there said the live bands are too noisy and that they actually dampen the spirit of the event. The DJ music is much preferred. Organizers should re-think this one...just hire a very good DJ, AND a few artistes with the best songs to perform and that's it. Forget the loud and unmusical bands....and maybe that way the cost will be better. Don't the organizers of All-Inclusives realize that patrons prefer not to have the live bands. Leave the bands to play at the jamming events like Fire, Army, WASA etc fetes. At all-inclusives we want something different, and to get away from that jamming.
CONCLUSION - NOT going to Friends to the Max fete again - not at that venue with all the traffic. Not with the good food running out after just a couple hours!! Not with that horde of people stuffed in to one venue.
They NOT getting my money again!!! People - Fatima and Trinity are the best organized All Inclusives - reasonable price, good food, nice atmosphere, nice people, good vibes. Friends to the Max go to the bottom of my ranking.
Then when I finaly arrived and parked in Parking lot 3, we had to end up walking to the next car park to get a shuttle - because apparently no-one told the maxi drivers to go to our car park. BAD START.
But we were hungry after all this time and stress....so we decided to eat right away as we finally reached the site of the event. Well, more stress. We reached inside the event at 5:30pm - and more that four food booths were already out of food!!!! Crab backs being one. Well I was mad as heck because the event was carded for 2:00pm to 11:00pm - and food run out at some stalls before 5:30pm???? That seems like a rip off to me. Don't the organizers know the numbers - the thousands that bought tickets. And these tickets are not cheap - at $700 each.
So we ended up eating just the same old regular stuff - ribs, wantons, and some horrible tortillas as the chicken for the tortillas was finished also - so we had to take the fish which was very tasteless. The lady serving the wantons gave me three in my plate and when i asked for ONE more, she refused!!! Can you imagine that??? and that was all i was taking from her stall.
Well after that, we decided to try to enjoy the entertainment. WHY DO ORGANIZERS THINK THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE LIVE BANDS??? Most persons I spoke to there said the live bands are too noisy and that they actually dampen the spirit of the event. The DJ music is much preferred. Organizers should re-think this one...just hire a very good DJ, AND a few artistes with the best songs to perform and that's it. Forget the loud and unmusical bands....and maybe that way the cost will be better. Don't the organizers of All-Inclusives realize that patrons prefer not to have the live bands. Leave the bands to play at the jamming events like Fire, Army, WASA etc fetes. At all-inclusives we want something different, and to get away from that jamming.
CONCLUSION - NOT going to Friends to the Max fete again - not at that venue with all the traffic. Not with the good food running out after just a couple hours!! Not with that horde of people stuffed in to one venue.
They NOT getting my money again!!! People - Fatima and Trinity are the best organized All Inclusives - reasonable price, good food, nice atmosphere, nice people, good vibes. Friends to the Max go to the bottom of my ranking.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
New Restaurant CHAUD
Hi,
I started this blog to just inform interested persons about eating places in Trinidad mostly and Tobago whenever I visit there. I know that I personally like to get an idea of what a restaurant is like and has to offer before I decide to try it. I do dine out quite often, and I am in the service profession myself so I expect a certain level of service and quality. My blog is to give my experience and views/recommendations of places I try - from expensive to the regular places.
CHAUD
I will start with the latest restaurant I tried last weekend - Friday 18 January 2008. The new restaurant CHAUD is located around the savannah at the top of Dundonald Street. I had heard that the owner is Khalid Mohammed, the former chef of Batimamzelle, so I was eager to dine there.
The building and ambience is lovely. Do ask for a table facing the savannah. There are several pieces of orignal artwork on the walls, which are all for sale and a price list is on each table along with your menu. Being an art aficinado also, I think the prices are high.
Very elegant setting and well dressed staff. The menu is ok generally...not fantastic selection as I like shrimp and there were no all shrimp dishes. My appetizer was very good- scallops with almonds, priced at TT$100. My friend's salad was ok - TT$70.
I had the main course of Pepperpot beef and my friend had the veal. The conclusion - ok, nothing exceptional. The cost - TT$350 for each main course. I had the coconut trio appetizer and that was quite good - I forget the exact price but about TT$100. TOTAL BILL with taxes came up to just under TT$1400 (two glasses of wine and soft drink).
The staff was eager and there were very little diners when we first arrived. However our waiter Mark disappeared and a younger inexperienced waiter served us - and got our meals mixed up, which ticked me off. Because if I go fine dining and am prepared to pay the high cost, then I expect service of a certain standard. I am not going back to CHAUD in a hurry. Maybe they will get better as time goes by? But not the best value, not the best tasting meals. There are much better restaurants to try like Angelo's - good food, good service and reasonably priced.
As for the valet parking - better to park on the street close to the restaurant near the guard booth. It was a horror to get our car out and we stood there in the parking lot for a good 15 minutes while the valet guys tried to get our car out of the parking puzzle. You would think that they would figure out that the ealier diners would most probably leave first and not lose their cars at the back of the heap.
Overall rating - OK.
Good points - lovely ambience.
Poor points - overpriced, service needs upgrade, menu could be better.
I started this blog to just inform interested persons about eating places in Trinidad mostly and Tobago whenever I visit there. I know that I personally like to get an idea of what a restaurant is like and has to offer before I decide to try it. I do dine out quite often, and I am in the service profession myself so I expect a certain level of service and quality. My blog is to give my experience and views/recommendations of places I try - from expensive to the regular places.
CHAUD
I will start with the latest restaurant I tried last weekend - Friday 18 January 2008. The new restaurant CHAUD is located around the savannah at the top of Dundonald Street. I had heard that the owner is Khalid Mohammed, the former chef of Batimamzelle, so I was eager to dine there.
The building and ambience is lovely. Do ask for a table facing the savannah. There are several pieces of orignal artwork on the walls, which are all for sale and a price list is on each table along with your menu. Being an art aficinado also, I think the prices are high.
Very elegant setting and well dressed staff. The menu is ok generally...not fantastic selection as I like shrimp and there were no all shrimp dishes. My appetizer was very good- scallops with almonds, priced at TT$100. My friend's salad was ok - TT$70.
I had the main course of Pepperpot beef and my friend had the veal. The conclusion - ok, nothing exceptional. The cost - TT$350 for each main course. I had the coconut trio appetizer and that was quite good - I forget the exact price but about TT$100. TOTAL BILL with taxes came up to just under TT$1400 (two glasses of wine and soft drink).
The staff was eager and there were very little diners when we first arrived. However our waiter Mark disappeared and a younger inexperienced waiter served us - and got our meals mixed up, which ticked me off. Because if I go fine dining and am prepared to pay the high cost, then I expect service of a certain standard. I am not going back to CHAUD in a hurry. Maybe they will get better as time goes by? But not the best value, not the best tasting meals. There are much better restaurants to try like Angelo's - good food, good service and reasonably priced.
As for the valet parking - better to park on the street close to the restaurant near the guard booth. It was a horror to get our car out and we stood there in the parking lot for a good 15 minutes while the valet guys tried to get our car out of the parking puzzle. You would think that they would figure out that the ealier diners would most probably leave first and not lose their cars at the back of the heap.
Overall rating - OK.
Good points - lovely ambience.
Poor points - overpriced, service needs upgrade, menu could be better.
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