For the ultimate in exclusivity and indulgent pampering, escape to Sandals Royal Plantation, a small, boutique all inclusive resort and spa in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

Sandals Royal Plantation is the only resort in the Sandals collection where all rooms are suites and include Sandals Personal Butler Service. Nestled within a magnificent coral bluff on Jamaica's lush north coast, this intimate resort of only 74 ocean-view suites is renowned for its personalized service, unmatched attention to detail and retro-chic sophistication - complete with all the world-class amenities for which Sandals in renowned.

This is the quieter side of Sandals.

All 74 suites at this resort boast a beautiful view of the ocean and include Sandals Personal Butler Service.

The range of impressive amenities includes a bluff top freshwater pool with two whirlpools and poolside butler service, beach butler service including dining and cocktails on the west beach, and Sandals’ comprehensive scuba diving program with a water sports pavilion on the east beach. Lovers of golf will be treated to complimentary green fees at the nearby 18-hole course at Sandals Golf & Country Club.

The dining experience at this resort is unparalleled. The award-winning Le Papillion serving French cuisine is one of the resort’s three gourmet restaurants, while the chic CBar is the island’s only champagne & caviar bar. Guests also enjoy exclusive privileges at the neighboring Sandals Grande Riviera which expand your dining options to 11 more venues.

Catering to those who appreciate refined elegance with an authentic island experience, Sandals Royal Plantation is the quiet side of Sandals and the ideal retreat for whenever you need to recharge.

Look for my next blog - a review of Royal Plantation and the Ocho Rios dine-around option by Neal Green, Owner of Knoxville's premier catering service, All Occasion Catering and Board member to the International Caterers Association Board of Directors.

[Each Sandals Resort offers multiple restaurants, fine dining and dine anytime options. The Sandals Resorts brand includes more than 35 different signature restaurants offering Italian cuisine, British pub food, varied Asian selections, fine French cuisine, and authentic Caribbean fare as well as seaside dining. And it is all included in your Sandals vacation package. This is the fifth installment in a seven-part blog series. Find links to the rest of the series at the bottom of this entry.]

French cuisine has evolved extensively over centuries. The national cuisine started forming in the Middle Ages to the influence of the work of skilled chefs and various social and political movements. Over the years the styles of French cuisine have been given different names, and have been modified by various master chefs. The national cuisine developed primarily in the city of Paris with the chefs to French royalty, but eventually it spread throughout the country and was even exported overseas. At Sandals and Beaches Resorts, you'll find some of the finest French dishes in the Western hemisphere. 

Sandals Signature French Restaraunts

Presented below is a couple of the Sandals Resorts signature French restaraunts and a few examples from the menus of each:

Le Papillon (Sandals Royal Plantation, Jamaica) Feel as if you've wandered into one of Paris' most elegant restaurants. Le Papillon's French-inspired Caribbean cuisine, which mingles the finest of Europe and the incredibly fresh local produce of Jamaica with the classical techniques and venerable traditions of France's finest establishments, takes you on a truly unforgettable culinary tour around the world. 

Les Hors D'Oeuvre

"Bonbons" de foie gras, poire au porto
"Candy" Foie gras, pears in porto

Crabe cake et purée de patates douces, mesclun de salade à l'huile pimentée
Crab cake and mashed sweet potatoes, mesclun salad with chilli oil

Cassolette d’escargots de Bourgogne
Casserole Burgundy snails

Soupe glacée avocat-citron vert, tartare tomates, gambas et piment d'Espelette
Chilled soup avocado-lime, tomato tartare, shrimp and Espelette pepper

Les Poissons

Dos de Red Snapper laque au Miel, Polenta aux aux agrumes et Gingembre Frais
Red Snapper back glazed with honey, Polenta with citrus and fresh Ginger

Homard grillé et chutney de tomates aux fruits exotiques, Legumes du Marche
Grilled lobster and tomato chutney with exotic fruits, Vegetable from the Market

Les Viandes

Carré d'agneau en croûte d'herbes
Herb crusted lamb rack

Pièce de Filet boeuf au beurre d'avocat, salsa de mangue et tomates
Piece of tenderloin beef to butter with avocado, mango salsa and tomatoes

Baccarat (Sandals Royal Bahamian, Nassau, Bahamas) Named after the famous French Crystal manufacturer who created the elegantly curved windowpanes throughout its interior, Baccarat merges the delightful clinking of fine crystal with elegant Art Nouveau decor. Candle lights dance on tables set in stunning bay windows while white-gloved waiters serve award winning French cusine, all overlooking the moonlit pool. 

Hors d’Oeuvres - Appetizers

Mille Feuilles de Légumes – Vegetables
Grilled Mushrooms, Creamed Spinach and Pumpkin Mousseline Layered in Puff Pastry, Tomato Orange Coulis

Cocktail aux Fruits de Mer - Seafood
Chilled Marinated Seafood in Season

Les Soupes – Soups

Bisque de Coquillages et Crustacés - Seafood Bisque
Lobster, Clams and Mussels Slowly Simmered in Tomato Cream Infused with Brandy

Consomme “Celestine”
Light Chicken Broth Garnished with Carrot and Crêpe “Julienne”

Les Plats Principaux – Entrées

Margret de Canard a l’Orange – Duck
Duck Breast, Orange Grand Marnier Sauce and Vegetable Julienne

Poisson du Jour – The Catch of the Day
Filet of Fish en Papillote with Mangoes, Steamed Potatoes, Market Vegetables and Creole Salsa

Les Desserts

Crêpe Suzette
Thin French Pancake filled with fresh fruit compote, topped with sweet orange sauce

Crème Brûlée pour les deux
A Traditional Crème Brûlée to share with your loved one

Also worth mentioning is Sandals signature Parisian-style patisserie, Cafe de Paris (Sandals Whitehouse, Sandals Grande Antigua and Sandals Emerald Bay) featuring sinful pastries, crepes, coffees and dessert. After all, everyone works up a sweet tooth sooner or later.

In this seven-part blog series, we will take a look at several of the Sandals signature restaurants and their exemplary menus. Don't miss:

Sandals Resorts Dining: Discover Italian Regional Cuisine
Sandals Resorts Dining: Discover Olde Country British Pub
Sandals Resorts Dining: Discover Unique Asian Fusion
Sandals Resorts Dining: Discover Fine French Cuisine
Sandals Resorts Dining: Discover Authentic Caribbean Fare and Seaside Dining (coming soon)
Client Review: Sandals Resorts Dining (coming soon)

Whether you are planning a Caribbean honeymoon, destination wedding, 25th wedding anniversary or you're just a beach-loving foodie, let me help you select the right Sandals resort for your vacation style. There is never any charge for my services. Click below to request your one-on-one vacation consultation or register to attend our next Sandals webinar.

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Neal Green - along with his wife Susan - owns All Occasion Catering, Knoxville's premier catering service. Neal also serves on the International Caterers Association's Board of Directors.

We recently sent Neal and Susan to Sandals Royal Plantation to rest after a very busy holiday season and recharge before the hectic wedding season began. Here, we interview Chef Green to get his impressions of the resort and Sandals dining experience in Ocho Rios.

Sandals Royal Plantation is a small, boutique resort with only 74 suites. What did you think about the size of this resort?
Well, it may be small, but it is also a member of the prestigious Leading Small Hotels of the World® for a reason. For us, the size of this resort is absolutely perfect. The service was very personalized, and Sandals Personal Butler Service was wonderful and not to be missed! It could not have been better. Regarding the size of the resort, I was most impressed with the interaction I had with other executive-type guests. We made new friends, and really enjoyed getting to know some very interesting people.

What was your overall impression of Sandals dining experience?
It was great! The food was very good and diverse. It is important to remember where you are, though - especially at dinner time. Here, dinner is a two-and-a-half hour four or five-course gormet meal. Truely fine dining. Of course, if you're just not in the mood, there is always a grill option as well.

Where did you have your most memorable meal at Sandals Royal Plantation?
We had dinner at Le Papillon one night. It is a very elegant, French-inspired restaraunt. I had the filet of beef and my wife had the lobster tail. It was all very fresh, and I was impressed with the portion sizes as well. Later in our trip, I surprised Susan and had our butler arrange a private candle light dinner under the stars on the pier overlooking the ocean. The food during this dinner also came from Le Papillon, and it was very good as well.

[There are two Sandals resorts in the Ocho Rios area of Jamaica - Sandals Royal Plantation, where Neal and Susan stayed, and Sandals Grande Riviera. Guests of Sandals Royal Plantation have full access to all ammenities and activities at Sandals Grande Riviera. Transportation is also included. While there are four dining options at Sandals Royal Plantation, this program expands your dining options to include the 15 options at Sandals Grande Riviera as well.]

Did you take advantage of Sandals Dine Around Ocho Rios program?
Yes, several times. We enjoyed meals at Kimono's Japanese Teppanyaki Restaurant, Soy sushi bar, The Mariner's Beach Grill, and Dino's Pizzeria. We did not have a dissapointing meal. Our favorites at Sandals Grande Riviera were China Doll and Manor. China Doll is a very unique, exotic restaurant serving diner and decorated with rich silks in red and gold. The food here was amazing. Their menu offers five courses of selections from all over the Orient. I would recommend the potstikers and sesame crusted snapper filet. Manor is a gorgeous outdoor restaurant serving a la carte diner by the pool. This is a more laid back dinner with some suprisingly sumptious Caribbean entres. We thought that the Dine Around program was the "icing on the cake" for our stay at Sandals Royal Plantation. Although we had fabulous meals at our resort, I would highly recommend guests take advantage of what Sandals Grande Riviera has to offer as well. I am really impressed with the dining options Sandals offers in this area of Jamaica.

Well, I don't need to ask if you'll go back to Sandals Royal Plantation. We've already taken care of that and have you booked for 11 nights next year!
Yes, we're already looking forward to a longer stay this time and reconnecting with some of the friends we made during our stay this year.

What are the three words you would use to describe your dining experience?
Very well done.

[For more on Sandals Royal Plantation, see our recent blog on that resort]