Lee Issa, Chairman of the House of Issa (centre), greets Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, 15-time repeat guests of Couples Swept Away.AN ENERGISED Guest Relations Team greeted all guests and escorted them through shepherd lit torches along a pathway to something larger, "The South Lawn, Anniversary 2002 Cocktail Party".
First impression, a pond surrounded by what could only be described as fallen stars, trees decorated with countless lights encased in bamboo giving the effect of glittering leaves, guests were in awe of the captivating ambience, simple but tasteful which Couple Swept Away has become known for over the years. Lush bromeliads at the bases of up lit Royal Palms strewn around the south lawn appeared to be flowering every specie of ginger lily.
The decor was harmonised with a cuisine suitably for royalty. Tim Wood - Executive Chef and Couples Swept Away's Food Connoisseur exhibited his talent with aperitifs jumbo shrimp delicately cooked with sambuca, the delightful sushi station with Chilean Sea Bass, Pacific Coast Salmon and Yellow Fin Tuna enhanced with the Wasabi touch.
Hors d'oeuvres were presented on silver platters with lobster and lamb cutlets in puffy pastry. The evening's Entree featured a large array of salads to the famous caesar, cold platters from grav-lax (marinated salmon, dill, salt, brandy) to seafood on ice, lobster, crayfish, crab claws to hot events, veal loin wrapped in banana leaf to succulent whole baked fish and not to forget the lobster medallions.
In the wells a wide selection including West Indian beef tenderloin stuffed with green paw-paw and carrots to the angollotti pasta in a decadent truffle sauce. The dessert was truly a swept away tasting experience with a variety from here to dessert paradise.
The Grand buffet on the main pool deck which was lit with a myriad of coloured lights was ready to go once the guests strolled through the "bottle lamps" perched atop bamboo posts. Tables set to seat 450 guests had centerpieces from a combination of authentic fish nets, sand, shells and hurricane lanterns. The decor would not be complete without the two fisherman's canoe that role the shores on the perimeter of the dinner party.
Ricardo Bowleg, General Manager was thrilled with his first planned party at Couples Swept Away since his return to Couples Resorts. "We would not have done it any other way". The team members were highly motivated and we are all enjoying the feverish reviews, this is what it is about giving all our guests what they want.
Starry and moon ridden skies could almost seem apart of the decorations had Charmaine Chinloy dared her imagination. Rainbow and patterned lighting complimented the 5 ft high stage with its old zinc and barbed wired fencing adorned with panties, bras and boxers, while Stevie Culture, Karen Smith and Errol Bonnick backed by Exodus took the energised guests on a ride through the eras of Jamaican music, only at Couples Swept Away.
