Dasheene Moments or Lucian Food Porn

Dasheen plants, also called taro, cocoyam or eddo, grow all over the Caribbean region. A starchy tuber that tastes more flavorful than a potato, dasheen is a staple in most Caribbean diets. The Ladera Resort is located on the hills of a former dasheen plantation, which is how its noted restaurant got its name. If you can't manage to stay at the lovely Ladera, eating at Dasheene is a must. Overlooking the twin-peaked, Piton mountains and surrounded by the Caribbean sea with lush vegetation and flowers everywhere, Dasheene is worth the view alone.


The food however, is the real star attraction. Renowned Executive Chef Orlando Satchell describes his nouvelle Caribbean cuisine as not overly spicy, well-seasoned, with English and French influences. He also calls it sex on a plate, which is exactly how I think of it. The colors, flavors and spices meld together to create the most tantalizing spectacles that it looks like food porn. London-born with Jamaican heritage, Orlando focuses on placing Caribbean cuisine on the international map, using local produce and island flair. I started with the watermelon and heart of palm salad above. A basil dressing gave the sweet melon a pleasant kick.



The fruit gazpacho featured tomato, watermelon and papaya. I sipped it down and it swirled spicy and sweet together for a refreshing and surprising taste.


My main course was St. Lucia cocoa Mahi Mahi. The fillet was pan-seared and dusted with cocoa powder and topped with a dasheen chip. Pumpkin flavored rice, fruit salsa and an assortment of grilled local squash (cho cho,calabaza) accompanied the dish. I can't even describe the flavors except to call them heavenly.



Of course, my favorite part of any meal is dessert and Orlando did not hold anything back. The trio of island fruits were arranged to resemble the Pitons. The first was passion fruit mousse in a passion fruit shell, next was papaya parfait formed into a mountain-like wedge and next was cocoa brulee. Each dessert would have been delicious all by themselves but all three together made them unforgettable.


Drinks are an important part of a Caribbean meal because of the heat. I started with Ladera Punch, which mixes fruit juices with lemongrass, ginger and grated pineapple skin. I thought I'd never get enough of that drink until Orlando revealed Seventh Heaven to end the meal. A locally made ginger liqueur, the lightly sweet and spicy libation forced me to relish every Dasheene moment even more.