The Gold Coast has attracted visitors way before beach party movies in the 60s such as “Where the Boys Are,” starring Connie Francis, made it famous as a world class destination with lots of things to do. That tropical oasis found on the southern tip of Singer Island is Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island, a AAA Four Diamond-rated, beach-inspired, oceanfront resort and spa off the beaten path, in Riviera Beach.
For those of us looking for a quick, weekend getaway not far from West Palm Beach, the location is spot on, as the drive is about half-an-hour from downtown West Palm Beach. Your visit will leave you with something to talk about this contemporary style, 21-stories resort rising above a stretch of palm-fringed sand that’s just steps away from the peninsula’s best shopping, dining and entertainment spots. Not only is it the only all-suite beachfront property with a pristine private beach in Palm Beach County, but its sunny and ocean vistas let you soak it all in even before you go through its grand entrance.
So fresh and inviting, its tropical setting helps check out any stress or tension at the door. Inside, the vibes are mellow, the lifestyle of its guests is active, and, most importantly, everything the Gold Coast has to offer is a short cab ride away. And the accommodations, with their condominium-style suites, business meeting rooms, and wide ocean views allow for work and play in equal measure.
Beyond an excellent hospitality service, dining, and accommodation at the heart of the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Resort and Spa experience, there are other reasons to visit the resort, although I have made a choice from a number of them.
“3800 Ocean Restaurant”
The resorts’ award-winning signature restaurant offers a luscious waterfront dining with a cool contemporary setting and an extremely comfortable ambiance. It also has a new executive chef, Gustavo Calderon. His Mexican roots heavily influence the chef’s table, which is comprise of cinco absolutely authentic star meals that are light, vibrant, and loaded with an exotic flavor that’s accompanied by fresh herbs and earthy spices—nothing like the spicy and heavy foods you’ve tasted before.
One main course that has already won the hearts of some of the hotel guests is the Braised Wagyu Beef Cheeks. Calderon adds the right balance of smokiness and heat to the potato gnocchi, roasted baby vegetables and thyme to bring a totally new concept in Mexican-American dining.
Calderon has learned to mix his Mexican-Colombian heritage with all the different types of experiences and cuisines that he has been exposed to in all his travels. He has previously worked with the Ritz Carlton franchise, first in Cancun, and then in Florida including Miami and Naples. Chef Calderon has been in other properties in the county as well as in other parts of the world, including the Middle East.
“I don’t like to overpower anything with a particular ingredient; instead, I like to create a little harmony on the plate so that you can still taste something that has a little kick to it, while it is not overly spicy,” says Calderon.
Out of all the dishes he’s created for the upscale-casual oceanside 3800 Ocean’s new menu, he likes his flounder entree creation the best. Those guests who like to have their taste buds tickled with a mix of Asian and Italian cuisine will definitely love it. Chef Calderon’s culinary innovation has the fish cooking at a very low heat for a stretch of time. And in the end, the fish just melts in your mouth.
The Chef’s dishes are simple yet have an exotic taste and feel. And while other chefs would admit that they don’t like to start a new menu during a busy season, Calderon feels confident about the change and finds the challenge exhilarating. Guests and residents of the hotel seem to be quite happy with the new menu.
His goal is to put 3800 Ocean, which is well known in the area, back on the culinary map in Palm Beach, and eventually all Florida.
It would be difficult to find a critical flaw in any of Calderon’s main dishes—or his appetizers, for that matter. Two of the best are his Fried Green Tomato, a bacon-onion marmalade concoction stuffed with crab remoulade; and the Watermelon and Goat Cheese, a sweet and sour combination of watermelon, goat cheese, baby arugula, lychee vinaigrette and toasted pistachios.
The finale of every dinner, of course, is dessert. Chef Calderon makes a Guava Key Lime Tart which is the ultimate delight in his menu. It is a guava marmalade, key lime custard with toasted meringue which is topped with Key lime mousse. Hands down one of the best desserts you can find at the 3800 Ocean Restaurant.
Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Resort & Spa has been reinventing the way people enjoy good food and good hospitality, highlighting the casual Gold Coast lifestyle, its tranquility and charm.
So your next summer vacation doesn’t necessarily have to be that far away.
You can explore one of the Sunshine State’s most stylish resorts in decor, amenities, food, and service. What else can you ask for?
For details of more information about the resort, visit www.marriott.com.
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