CHANNEL ISLANDS: Review of The Jersey Michelin Experience with The Atlantic Hotel, Jersey

St Ouen's Bay, Jersey
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The Jersey Michelin Experience with The Atlantic Hotel

Making decisions is always a pain, and a thing reserved for grown ups (a group within society I'm pretty sure I'm yet to become a member of). Someone else sorting dinner plans when visiting a new part of the world is always handy, and if you intend on staying at the resplendent The Atlantic Hotel in Jersey before Christmas this year, they've got a great package going on.

They've collaborated with the island's Michelin starred restaurants to offer The Jersey Michelin Experience: that's Ocean Restaurant at The Atlantic Hotel, Bohemia at The Club Hotel & Spa, and Ormer Restaurant by Shaun Rankin. Three, four and seven night breaks are available, with meals included at these restaurants, to celebrate the fine dining and fabulous produce to be found on an island that is just nine miles by five.

Surprisingly for any restaurant, let alone one with a star, Bohemia were unable to accommodate a dietary requirement of no alcohol in the food for my partner (he's allergic to it), despite being told well in advance, so we didn't get to dine there. Instead, a fine lunch at Mark Jordan at the Beach, under some spectacular Jersey sunshine was enjoyed, an additional restaurant included for guests that opt for the seven-night package.

rooms views from The Atlantic Hotel, Jersey
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Ocean Restaurant at The Atlantic Hotel

Executive Head Chef Mark Jordan has succeeded at retaining a Michelin star here for the past 10 years, and is renowned for his carefully crafted dishes that shout the praises of local Jersey produce. From spanking fresh seafood hauled from the surrounding waters, to tender Jersey beef, Mark's food is innovative but still relatable in its honesty.

Ocean’s design is influenced by its coastal setting. Expect the soothing tones of blues, whites and beiges to create a modern classic look, with hand-crafted furniture and specially commissioned artwork punctuating the space. White American-style shutters frame stunning views over the gardens to the ocean beyond, and help create shade when the glorious Jersey sunshine is a'shining.

Mark’s seven course tasting menu uses many products which already have international recognition and sport the distinctive Genuine Jersey logo. It's an ode to all things Jersey - see here for a sample menu of this season's offering.

Ocean Restaurant at The Atlantic Hotel, Le Mont de la Pulente, Saint Brelade, Jersey JE3 8HE
theatlantichotel.com/dining/ocean-restaurant

dinner at Ocean Restaurant at The Atlantic Hotel, Jersey
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Ormer

Local produce is king at this trendy St. Helier restaurant, where renowened chef Shaun Rankin was awarded a Michelin star just four months after it opened in 2013. He's spent 18 years on the island honing the supply chain and promoting Jersey's gastronomy, and via Ormer's open kitchen is a great way to experience this.

Perhaps island life is a little slower compared to the chaos of London, but it took a leisurely half an hour for our order to be taken. But once the food did start to arrive, little could be faulted. 

Duck was rich and full of iron with a fabulous texture, there was a delicate but vibrant crab canneloni, and scallops were small, sweet and plump. But it was the main of lamb with black garlic, sweetbreads and little pasta parcels stuffed with goat's cheese and honey, that won the show. A treacle tart with local clotted cream ice cream was deep brown in its caramel offering, and little Jersey royals as a side with the mains was a given.

Ormer, 7-11 Don Street, St, Helier, Jersey JE2 4TQ
ormerjersey.com

dinner at Ormer, Jersey
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Mark Jordan at the Beach

There are probably few better places to dine for lunch on the whole island than Mark Jordan at the Beach when the sun is shining in Jersey. Which it very much was during my visit. Full throttle UV, and it was glorious. The beachside bistro from The Atlantic Hotel’s Executive Head Chef Mark Jordan, boasts Jersey’s only Michelin Bib Gourmand, a mark of good quality and good value food.

You'll find it on the south coast of Jersey, close to the capital of St Helier, and just a stone's throw from St Aubin's Harbour. There's seating both inside and out with unrivalled views of the bay, and from the menu you can expect quality produce cooked simply, served in a competent but relaxed and casual setting, with really commendable service. 

As I chatted to the waiter, they mentioned Mark goes to the food markets in Paris at 3.30am to get the ingredients for both his restaurants, and I really like how he's active on social media, showing the behind the scenes of the day's prep and development of menus.

Whilst the burger pattie was a little tough and too compact for me, mackerel and its glorious crispy skin was a fantastic pairing with young beets and Jersey Royals. I also loved the 70's throwback that was a delightful prawn cocktail. And top marks for bringing up the no alcohol dietary requirement before we had to remind them, putting us at ease straight away. See, it's not that difficult Bohemia *rolls eyes*.

Mark Jordan at the Beach, La Plage, La Route de la Haule, St Peter, Jersey JE3 7YD
markjordanatthebeach.com

lunch at Mark Jordan at the Beach, Jersey
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A three night dinner, bed and breakfast break at The Atlantic Hotel, as part of the The Jersey Michelin Experience, starts from £390 per person excluding flights, and is available for travel until Friday 23rd December 2016.

Note: I stayed as a guest of this hotel as part of a media package. All views remain my own, as always.

Related links
CHANNEL ISLANDS: Review of The Atlantic Hotel, Jersey

CHANNEL ISLANDS: Review of The Atlantic Hotel, Jersey

Ocean View room at The Atlantic Hotel, Jersey
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In a nutshell

One of the finest luxury hotels in Jersey, The Atlantic Hotel has been in local family ownership since it opened in 1970, and was even featured as the reward one week on the BBC's The Apprentice, when the winning team was flown to the island by private jet to spend the day as their guests. 

Where is it?

Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands (that also includes Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, and Brecqhou) and is in fact a lot closer to France than mainland Britain. As the most southerly island in the British Isles, it is only 14 miles from France, and around 100 miles from Britain. 

The island's proximity to Brittany and Normandy, along with its historical links with France, mean this little jewel in the English Channel has a profoundly French influence, yet the island is also very British in character.

The hotel itself is found in the parish of St Brelade on the west coast of Jersey. You can expect spectacular views over the golden sands of St Ouen's Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, and I'd say it was one of the best room views I've enjoyed in a hotel - check out the sunset snap top right of the final collage below. 

The property also adjoins La Moye championship golf course, and overlooks the unspoilt conservation area of Les Mielles.

The Atlantic Hotel's immediate surroundings of St Ouen's Bay, Jersey
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Style and character

The Atlantic Hotel boasts the accolade of the sole Jersey member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, an exclusive collection of the very best independent hotels around the world. To get in this concise list of 500 or so, a property needs to have oodles of style and sophistication.

Within the rooms, you can expect elegant and understated colours, lavish marble bathrooms with stylish Hans Grohe fittings, light oak and satin-polished chrome, full height windows, and balconies offering those fab views. There was a nicely packaged desk and small reception area, Sky HD on the box, and Molton Brown toiletries.

Ocean View room at The Atlantic Hotel, Jersey
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What's unique?

Give me a swish hotel and locate it next to a premier wildlife site, and I'm smitten. The property occupies a prominent headland position overlooking Les Mielles (here's a very lovely walk you can do), a conservation area of international significance and heaps of natural beauty. 

Then there's the striking St Ouen's Bay just in front of the hotel, with its dune system known as Les Blanches Banques, designated a 'Special Site' or SSI. Some of the more stable parts of the dunes are between 3,000 and 4,000 years old - that's damn impressive.

Who goes?

I got the impression many visitors were return customers, which is totally understandable; I'll likely end up being one of them myself. Lolling about on the sun loungers, wandering through the beautiful grounds and towards the bay. I'd say most were couples, middle-aged and upwards, with a few families too. It's an altogether exceedingly relaxing and peaceful place to unwind, for anyone.

Breakfast

Breakfast is held in the Michelin-starred Ocean Restaurant within the hotel, where you'll be presented with a menu from which to order your hot option. The Full Jersey breakfast is included in your room price, anything else is a supplement. It was lovely and showcased local ingredients - bacon, black pudding, sausage, eggs, mushrooms. I could have also done with the option of baked beans, but I understand that's not part of a classic island breakfast! 

A basket of toast and pastries is delivered along with your hot drink. There are white linen tablecloths, and cutlery engraved with the restaurants name add a classy touch. If the weather is good, reserve the table next to the small courtyard at the back of the room, the doors of which they'll have open.

There are limited amounts of self-serve cold goods, which is probably a good thing as it means it doesn't sit out and go stale. But you'll find some fruit and cereal there. If you need anything else, just ask.

the Full Jersey Breakfast at The Atlantic Hotel, Jersey
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Dining

During my stay, I experienced The Jersey Michelin Experience with The Atlantic Hotel, which included dining at Ocean at The Atlantic, Mark Jordan at The Beach, and Ormer. A separate blog post on that can be found here.

Service

All the staff members were wonderful, and service was of the highest order, as you would expect from such a well-regarded establishment with a great reputation.

joyous scenes from Jersey
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Liked lots / liked less

Liked lots - The property's compact size is very attractive. There aren't endless corridors - everything was accessible from everything else. Which is why boutique hotels are often so much more preferable to big chains. The fact you could reach the bay from a short walk from the grounds was idyllic - the location is really quite fantastic. And there was a bottle of fresh Jersey milk in the fridge - win.

Liked less - A coffee pod machine and an ironing board with iron, in the room, would have been good. I would have also liked a lighter and healthier hot breakfast option, rather than just the Full Jersey, to be included in the room price. Otherwise you'll likely end up eating a fry-up every morning, which can get a bit much if you're staying for longer than a weekend.

Price point

A three night dinner, bed and breakfast break, as part of the The Jersey Michelin Experience, starts from £390 per person excluding flights, and is available for travel until Friday 23rd December 2016.

Contact

The Atlantic Hotel & Ocean Restaurant
Le Mont de la Pulente,
St Brelade,
Jersey JE3 8HE
Channel Islands

Website
Telephone +44 (0)1534 744101
Fax +44 (0)1534 744102
E-mail info@theatlantichotel.com

Note: I stayed as a guest of this hotel as part of a media package. All views remain my own, as always.

Related links
CHANNEL ISLANDS: Review of The Jersey Michelin Experience with The Atlantic Hotel, Jersey

MALAYSIA: Review of Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort, Kota Kinabalu

orang-utan at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Nature Reserve in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo

In a nutshell 

Set amidst a nature reserve and surrounded by 400 acres of tropical forest, rooms are perched on a verdant hill with stunning beachfront views, overlooking the exclusive 3km stretch of sand and the South China Sea. This it the place for both nature lovers and relaxation seekers.

Where is it?

Borneo is an island, the third-largest in the world and the largest in Asia. Half of it is Indonesia, the other half of it is Malaysia, and it's also home to that funny little nugget of sovereign state governed by a sultan that is Brunei, which I always thought was somewhere in the Middle East.

Kota Kinabalu is in an area of the island called Sabah, Malaysia's eastern most state. Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort is set on a secluded stretch of beach thirty minutes north of Kota Kinabalu city, called Pantai Dalit. It's a 45 minute drive from Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

Ocean Wing room at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Nature Reserve in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo

Style and character

Huge Ocean Wing room balcony at Shangri-La's 
Rasa Ria Nature Reserve in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo

Rooms at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort are either in the Garden Wing, or the Ocean Wing where we stayed. All 173 plush rooms of this wing face the sunny wind-swept seashore, and they are huge. 

Think 90 square metres and an enormous private balcony with its own oversized outdoor bathtub, plus a large daybed. Just in case you're short of places to relax.

The brand new grand lobby was designed as a functional space, punctuated with tropical and marine accents.

Special privileges of staying in this wing include an exclusive breakfast dining venue, and a swimming pool and jacuzzi dedicated solely to Ocean Wing guests.

Borneo felt like one extended highlight. I loved everything about it - the wildlife, the stunning scenery, the exoticness of it all. And a lot of that was down to staying at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort, their unrivalled location, and the host of activities and trips they have available.

Here's a video of me tackling their climbing wall. This was so very difficult in the unrelenting heat and 100% humidity. On my first attempt I lost my grip just before the top. This was my second go - have a watch to see if I make it to the red buzzer..

If you can tear yourself away from the beach or pool, there are a load of things to participate in that make the most of the exquisite natural environment you're slap back in the middle of, such as canopy walks, bird watching, guided jungle trails, and nocturnal wildlife viewing.

There was a fantastic cruise along the Tambalang River and its narrow mangrove creeks at sunset, where we spotted long-tailed macaques, flying fish, a crocodile and an awesome view (see video below). We then took the firefly cruise straight after and visited the same waterways, this time in the pitch black. 

The skies were clear, with the dark shadows of the mangroves twinkling like hundreds of fairy lights, mimicking the constellations above. They were full of glowing fireflies, as if the stars had fallen from the sky and got caught in the trees.

I've never seen anything like it, like something out of a film. Magical is definitely the word.

We also took part in more physical stuff, all available within the (huge) grounds of the property and its shore front, such as wall climbing, horse riding along the beach, archery and parasailing. It was truly a splendid couple of days.

lots of activities at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Nature Reserve in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo

What's unique?

In a word, orang-utans. 

Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort have secured part of the Borneo rainforest as a 64 acre nature reserve, established in collaboration with the State Wildlife Department, which backs onto the hotel. Its mission is to facilitate rehabilitation programmes for endangered species of faunas endemic to Sabah. 

In it, there is a huge array of wildlife, including a load of long-tailed macaques, and four juvenile orphaned orang-utans. These orang-utans live freely but are protected and looked after by the reserve, which includes feeding.

We stood in the 100% humidity of the jungle absolutely drenched in sweat, the keeper calling out into the trees for a while, armed with a bin full of fresh fruit. After a few minutes, the high-up branches in the far distance started to rustle and sway, and from the tangle of dense treetop vegetation, this little guy emerged. 

 

He was swinging through the trees, from one arm to the other, like something out of The Jungle Book, then came right up close to check us out. One of his mates wasn't far behind. 

Sitting cross-legged on the floor as a kid watching David Attenborough documentaries, I would dream of witnessing orang-utans living freely in their natural habitat. Living out that dream was a special thing for me.

Now here are a couple more pictures of these cuties. Because there can never be too many snaps of baby orang-utans.

orang-utan at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Nature Reserve in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo

orang-utan at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Nature Reserve in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo

Who goes?

The main groups of clientèle at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort are from Austalia, UK and Korea. Expect families with kids, but the place is so huge you barely notice them. Plus, there's plenty to keep the younger ones occupied, including a kids club and activities called 'I'm a teenager, get me out of here'.

The Ocean Wing facilities are a little more relaxed and subdued than the Garden Wing, without being snooty towards children.

Breakfast

Recognising their diverse client base, breakfast at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort is an international offering. Much of the food is presented in the cast iron pots they're cooked in, making it feel more like someone's kitchen, and it's a lively atmosphere.

Expect the usual spread of hot and cold goods, as well as exotic touches like coconut jam. And there's an egg station, crepe station, and noodle station making them to order.

breakfast and day time dining at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Nature Reserve in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo

Dining 

Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort has six restaurants and two bars to cater for the guests in the 499 rooms. Tepi Laut is a great shout for when you feel you might need a break from the pool or beach - hard work. It's an al fresco space made up of different stalls, intending to capture the nostalgia of the country's street food heritage. 

During the day expect both Asian and western snacks and things to pick at in general, and on some evenings, the staff perform a traditional Sabah dance while you enjoy your dinner.

The Italian fare at Oceano is an exceedingly welcome relief when you've been in Asia for three months. Olive oil! Expect well-executed dishes like beef tortellini with crispy bresaola, milky burrata, carpaccio, and tiramisu.

Teppanyaki restaurant Kozan delivers on both fine food and fun theatre. We had scallops from Hokkaido, roe, a gorgeous bit of Australian wagyu striploin, hibachi king prawns and vegetables, and plenty of sake. 

The chefs clearly revel in the showmanship of their craft - expect them to throw around their tools and write words on the grill in egg white after flipping one from the surface, onto the edge of a metal spatula. They invited my parter to give it a go too, great fun.

dinner at Oceano and Kozan at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Nature Reserve in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo

Service

Every night, the staff come and fill up that enormous balcony tub, adding various fragrant potions and flower petals. You can even choose a fragrance for the whole room, selecting from an aromatherapy menu.

On the beach you're given sandfly cream (we didn't need it), brought iced water, and the beds are gloriously very far apart.

The staff here are the kind that get to know your names after a few days, and by the end of your stay it feels like you're leaving a small family-run hotel. We saw a group of restaurant staff pulling out all the stops for a happy birthday sing-song complete with guitar, and the staff hold their hand to their heart every time they walk past you and say hello.

Liked lots / liked less

Liked lots - I absolutely loved this hotel; it might have been my favourite during my whole eight months travelling. It's where genuine hospitality, fantastic amenities and activities, and what was key for me - Borneo's sensational wildlife - all meet. 

If you're a fan of nature, there's some sort of critter around every corner. From the resident hornbill that calls the grounds home, to the petting zoo with free-roaming roosters, deer and goats, to the bats that fly around in the evenings, to the owls that roost in the open-plan lobby. I mean, how freaking cool is that - owls in the lobby. There was even a sparrow's nest directly outside our room. I was really in my element.

Also, the wifi reaches the beach. Big brownie points.

Liked less - No brown sauce at breakfast. I got over that pretty quickly. 

Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Nature Reserve in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo

Price point

Prices from £150 for a deluxe double to £230 for a premier double, including breakfast.

Contact

Pantai Dalit, Tuaran, 89208 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
+60 88 797 888
Website

Note: I stayed as a guest of this hotel as part of a media package. All views remain my own.

Related links

Week 20: MALAYSIA - Penang → Borneo
MALAYSIA: Review of the Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang
MALAYSIA: Review of the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang