The Gingerbread Cafe ~ Nice & Tasty

'Just hangin' out wit a few friends! Dats de way we do it, nice and tasty, cool and refreshing, like dew in de mornin' ~ yeah, dat is soooo relaxin'

That's me on the end with a couple of my best buddies, Pete and Alan and left again with another best buddie, John. While the wives were taking a beach stroll, the boys stopped into our favorite little spot in St. Maarten; our second visit! This little hut sits over the water and has a splendid view of the ocean, the Divi Resort, and Saba Island. The open air configuration lets the warm breezes waft about the interior. The Gingerbread Cafe is located at the Belair Beach Hotel in Phillipsburg. The staff is so very friendly and the food is wonderful. Each week they also have two themed evening parties with live music and dancing: Caribbean lobster night and a full barbecue (one of the best ever!). The BBQ had ribs, chicken, shrimp, with all the fixins'; the lobsters were huge and grilled to perfection ~ I think Alan and I had two apiece, and washed them down with plenty of Carib and Presidente lagers. The Gingerbread also has a great breakfast and lunch (they will pack you a cooler of food and beer to take to the beach too!).

Before "Feelin' da Meal" - you have to have a special little libation: "Duane's Revenge", invented by John (photo on left) ~ and Duane, the bartender, was all over it! In goes the guavaberry, mango rum, some fruit juice, a little grenadine and ice ~blend well and float some Rum Jumbie on the top. This will tune you right up!

They make the most delicious Conch Fritters you've every had; very tender with a dipping sauce so sublime I still can't quite reproduce it precisely. We could not get enough of it and even slathered it on our burgers. For a little hotel beach hut, the Gingerbread Cafe is charming and loads of fun. Everything is wonderful and very reasonably priced. Even guests from the Divi next door eventually wind up at this eatery! So, de next time you happen to be in St. Maarten, please drop in for a nice Duane's Revenge and a bite to nibble.