Wednesday 8th July, 2015 will be a date firmly ingrained in the history of Ti Kaye Resort & Spa. It was the day they were informed that their Kai Manje Restaurant had been honored with the prestigious 2nd level Wine Spectator ‘Best of Award of Excellence’.
Owner Nicholas Pinnock says, “We believe this award is not only fantastic for Ti Kaye Resort & Spa, but also for our beautiful island of Saint Lucia as a destination. The award gives Kai Manje recognition for our island grass roots Creole cuisine, tradition and culture combined with our superb breadth and depth of wines. The ‘Best of Award of Excellence’ puts Kai Manje in a very elite group of being one of only seven restaurants in the entire Caribbean to have this 2nd level award, and is the first and only one in Saint Lucia. It also means Saint Lucia is one of only three Caribbean islands to have a 2nd level award winning restaurant, and is the only island in the Lesser Antilles”.
General Manager Ms. Sarah Watts says, “The timing couldn’t have been better. My husband and I celebrate our three year anniversary here at Ti Kaye next week, and to receive this award now couldn’t be a better celebratory gift! This is a huge achievement for the whole team here at Ti Kaye Resort & Spa, but especially for the Kai Manje wine and culinary team. To apply for, and be awarded an ‘Award of Excellence’ on our very first application back in 2013 was wonderful. To be awarded it again in 2014 was amazing. This year, however, to receive a ‘Best of Award of Excellence’, therefore including Kai Manje within a privileged few Caribbean restaurants, is simply magnificent.
“It has been a tough three years. We have spent thousands of man-hours sourcing, counting (as well as drinking) wines. Anyone who manages inventories of this size and stature will tell you it is not just a job, but takes an insurmountable amount of passion and dedication. We also invested heavily in a re-design of our main kitchen back in 2013, as well as creating new culinary positions. This was to ensure that the food which accompanies our superb vast array of over 500 different wines also infuses as many local and traditional Creole ingredients as possible. Even with this esteemed award, Kai Manje Restaurant and Ti Kaye Resort & Spa will remember who we are, a traditional Saint Lucian resort that has developed and grown with the strength of the whole Ti Kaye team”.
In May of this year Ti Kaye hosted Fred Zammataro, COO, CFO and EVP of Schramsberg Vineyards in Napa Valley, California. Fred held the first wine maker’s dinner at Kai Manje and, when contacted with the news of our award, Fred commented: “Congratulations on earning this very distinguished award from Wine Spectator. It is well deserved not only for Kai Manje restaurant and your fine underground wine cellar, but for Ti Kaye Resort & Spa and its team. Kudos! I’m really looking forward to coming back.”
Wine Spectator magazine writes: “Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Wine List Awards recognize restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.Our second-tier award was created to give special recognition to restaurants that clearly exceed the requirements of the Award of Excellence. These lists typically offer 350 or more selections, along with superior presentation, and display either vintage depth, with several vertical offerings of top wines, or excellent breadth across several wine regions.”
