by Edwina Simpson | Mar 21, 2020 | Restaurant
Chef Kevin was very busy in the kitchen when I arrived to interview him. There was an amazing fresh garlic-y smell infiltrating the restaurant area from the kitchen. He was finishing up making a garlic herb butter which he showed me and said he would join me for the interview asap. 15 minutes later he appeared in his chef’s hat ready for the photo….
What made you decide to become a chef?
I always liked cooking and enjoyed it and found it fascinating since a child and always around parents adopted grandparents I grew up in Fond St Jean near Stowe and Petit Savanne in the south – there’s a little hamlet above it called Fab. It’s a small village where everyone is your aunt or uncle.
Font St Jean is the opposite end of the island from Hotel The Champs (see red pin on map below)
As a kid it (cooking) was something we had to learn- as first of 5, left by parents so they could work overseas you learn fast – in the home/hostel I grew up at age 9 I was cooking for 15 people in household.
When I was about eleven, I got a job washing pots, beating the cake, learned how to make pastries etc. locally on the weekend and after schoolwork and home economics. I have always had that love for cooking.
I grew up fast, it was encouraged not as a vocation or career but useful to contribute to the household, yet I still had to do the dirty work i.e. cleaning and sweeping etc.
I asked Kevin if there was a rota so that chores were shared, he said not really…
There were only verbal rotas so as non-blood child, I did the hard graft. I was the male version of Cinderella.
Are you the classic grumpy chef everyone fears, it doesn’t seem like it?!
Some people are a bit afraid of me. I must be in a good mood. I can snap in and out of it. Creative people, we want to be left to our own devices, but we still have employers and must keep them happy. So slowly we manage to get our employers to let us do what we want more. I prefer a menu that’s less conventional because I have ideas and like to create. I cannot maintain a standardised menu. I like getting the leeway of being able to be creative and change the menu to get variety in our lives. Hotel guests love it. It works well in Dominica because of some produce being available at different times.
So is your family still spread around like a lot of people here?
I moved back to DA September 21st 2005. I have three sons Kinou lives here, one in UK one in US.
Tell me something funny
Once was making gourmet style my way bread pudding – there were two jars both with white stuff in it. Just grabbed and didn’t taste – big mistake – lost all that LOVE when I tasted it just before it went in. I’d put salt instead of sugar. So glad I didn’t waste time baking it!
Also I was 19 I went to work at a small hotel resort in the BVI’s and I was making pumpkin soup and it was suggested I put cinnamon in it. I stirred quite a lot of dried powdered cinnamon as it didn’t smell or taste like cinnamon. That was when I learned that herbs and spices in powder form is much stronger. We fixed it but adding more pumpkin and coconut milk. Then it turned out great. I hadn’t encountered using dried herbs for cooking until then (only for baking).
What’s your favourite item on the menu?
I have no favourite on the menu because menu changes so much but I do love Italian and French, especially Mediterranean food.
I over 20 years with Asian, French, Italian, Spanish and American chefs then went to culinary school because I was asked to. That was to a certificate. Instead of 4 years I did fast track as already had experience so did it in 2 years – at Johnson and Wales University in Providence Island.
Come join us for a delicious meal any time Thurs-Sunday unless you’re staying at the hotel then it’s whenever you wish…. and we are now also offering take-out of part of the menu.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
P.S. here’s my current favourite item on the menu… Thai Coconut Shrimp on a bed of sauteed vegetables, Avocado and Papaya Accra.
by Monique Jacob | Mar 18, 2020 | Hotel, Promotions, Tour Operators
At Hotel the Champs we value our relationships with the trade as much as we do with our guests who stay with us. The following list summarizes our efforts to work with the trade who book stays and experiences with us:
- Best Rates (always below published public rates, even on packages)
- Minimum of 20% below standard rack rates available to Tour Operators
- Travel Agents receive a minimum 15% commission on bookings
- Trade only packages. Some of our packages are only offered to our trade partners, giving you an edge in the market.
- Customized packages to suit your client’s needs. Through our relationships with local tour operators and guides, we are able to design what you want at great rates (some add-on package amenities are also commissionable)
- One-Stop-Shop. There is no need to go to multiple service providers, we will make the local arrangements for your clients.
- FAM Trips. We love the trade and we welcome you to visit on familiarization trips so that you get to know our staff and property before sending your clients
We have dedicated personnel working with the trade, so please email Monique at
trade@hotelthechamps.com with your questions or booking inquiries. You may also call and WhatsApp us, +1(767) 615-3533 (Monique) or +1(767) 616-3001 (Lise) for assistance.
by Edwina Simpson | Mar 14, 2020 | Dining, Guest review, Pool
We aren’t sure how many of you book your hotel stays through online travel agents or directly with the hotels themselves. There are advantages to both sides. We do love looking at our reviews as they’re real guest experiences which we are proud of and now are going to share some with you. Below is a selection from 3 of the biggest online travel agents: Booking.com, Airbnb and Tripadvisor.
There are many more wonderful reviews on these sites you should check out. We look forward to having you to stay (again?) so you can experience our special hotel on the nature island! We encourage you to book direct with us for the best deals.
by Edwina Simpson | Mar 7, 2020 | Special event
Name: Sabrina
How long have you worked here? Since November 25th 2010, it was Thanksgiving which is how I remember so precisely. Things have changed since the departure of Ross. I used to have to work late more often, so it was a late night on Thanksgiving but that doesn’t happen these days.
What’s your favourite item on the food menu? Pork loin with peppercorn sauce
How far away do you live? Lagoon at the end by Purple Turtle – this it the far end of Portsmouth and Purple Turtle is a popular beachfront bar and restaurant…so i just get a short bus ride and walk up the hill to come to work.
Sabrina in front of the re-purposed plastic bottles curtain
What’s your favourite spot in Dominica? I like Purple Turtle’s beach parties (these happen most Sundays). I went to the parade for Carnival which was really fun this year. Last year I didn’t go because I had a small baby who is one year old now, so doing things like that is a bit easier.
We were sitting in the dining room during the interview and were interrupted by a hotel guest who had a piece of plant in his hand that looked like LionTooth and he was asking for Aloe Vera, she said she would get him some in a minute when done with the interview. I promised not to take much longer. The next thing she was going to do was going to do would be to show the guest which plant was the Aloe Vera and make sure he had a piece.
So you like helping guests? Yes I really do, but it’s funny because some guest come from another world and are used to getting everything NOW i.e. immediately, things are more developed where they are from. We are used to island time and we help them get used to it too. We work with what we have.
I stated that some things at the hotel were pretty awesome, like the chairs that hang from the tables in the dining room instead of being on the floor, making it easier to clean.
Sabrina: Yes, there are so many improvements that have been made like that and the shade blinds make a big difference in the restaurant. It was really an experience – us staff – me and two colleagues walked from our homes in Lagoon to the hotel the morning after the storm, through all the wreckage and helped re-build from that moment on.
We are sure you will enjoy meeting Sabrina when you visit or remember her well from your stay.
by Edwina Simpson | Mar 2, 2020 | Hotel
Hotel The Champs has been awarded the Top 5 of hotels in Dominica by Travelmyth – the hotel search engine for sophisticated travellers seeking unique hotel experiences.
We are proud, yet not that surprised – what with our location so convenient for many amazing attractions as well as our beautiful views and swimming pool, we are pretty idyllic and hope you agree!
We would like to thank Travelmyth for this recognition and congratulate our staff for another year of achievements and smiles. Book your room today!
by Monique Jacob | Feb 25, 2020 | Diving, Hiking, Syndicate, Tour Operators, Travel Tips, Waterfall
A Sample “Playlist” to Discovering Dominica
From North to South, East to West, Dominica has so much to explore. At The Champs, taking the traditional bucket list up a notch, presenting a playlist guide to the best of Dominica, with options from easy to extreme.
- Drift down a “River of Dreams”
A river for every day of the year, so why not take a ride. For the easy-going traveler, an Indian River boat ride is the most relaxing choice and it’s only five minutes away flowing through the town of Portsmouth. For the more adventurous, let’s go tubing down the Layou or Pagua Rivers.
- Take a “Misty Mountain” hop (hike)
A must-do on the Caribbean’s most mountainous island is a hike. The Champs is close to Dominica’s tallest peak, Morne Diablotins. The 4 to 6-hour return trek isn’tfor the faint at heart but if that’s your speed we will arrange with certified guides.
- Go chasing “Waterfalls”
Across the length and breadth of Dominica are multiple waterfalls for a very Nature Island experience. Three of our easy favorite choices are Milton (Syndicate) Falls, Chaudière Pool, and Emerald Pool.
- Look out for the “Three Little Birds”
Syndicate Nature Trail within the Morne Diablotins National Park is by far one of the best places to go birdwatching and see Dominica’s indigenous parrots and many of the over 190 species of birds on the island.
- Go “Into the Deep”
We embrace all the water that comes with being at the center of the Caribbean. At the Champs, we organize the best dive excursions with our local dive shops, dive training and certification is also available. If you don’t want to dive, let’s go whale and dolphin watching. Dominica is the whale watching, capital of the Caribbean.
- Lounge next to “Castles made of Sand”
Yes, Dominica has beaches, actually, Portsmouth and surroundings have some of the island’s best beaches. Let our team put together a beach picnic and drive you to Coconut Beach, Picard Beach, Purple Turtle Beach, or Toucarie Beach. All are within 5 to 15 minutes of The Champs.
- Let that “Pony Run”
Exploring Dominica by horse sounds like fun. Take a guided horseback tour along historic forest trails in the Cabrits National Park and end your ride on the beach into the water. 
- The lake is boiling “Hot, Hot, Hot”
Dominica is home to the world’s second-largest Boiling Lake. The six-hour guided hike through Valley of Desolation takes you along unique terrains to a world wonder that will take your breath away.
- We are a welcoming “Famalay”
There are so many things to do in Dominica we can’t list them all, but our knowledgeable staff are here to help you find something to suit your tastes, just ask.
by Edwina Simpson | Feb 22, 2020 | Dining, Hotel, Restaurant
Name: Tamara
Role: Breakfast and morning tasks as required. It’s a small hotel where we have to be flexible.
Tamara was given no warning of the interview and I hadn’t met her before so she was a little reserved at first but opened up easily and seemed very friendly and happy to talk to me.
Tamara standing in front of the fly curtain – made of bottle caps
(In case you’re interested there will be a separate post about the antique clock and barometer on the wall next to Tamara.)
How long have you worked here? Since December 3rd 2018
What’s your favourite item on the food menu? Waffles, but I don’t usually have breakfast at The Champs, I have oatmeal at home before I head to work, starting at 7am. I usually finish at 2 or 3pm.
How far away do you live? 25 mins walk mostly up the hill on the way, just behind IGA Supermarket in Picard. Of course after a day at work it’s a less tiring walk downhill to get home.
Where’s your favourite spot in Dominica? My home village is Cottage where I go and watch them play rounders, I used to play too but can’t really join in and practice because live here. Cottage is just north of Toucari Bay, so by public transport would take far too long to get to us on a regular basis reliably.
Cottage, just north of Toucari Bay (The Champs is just off the bottom of the map)
What are your hobbies? I make candies like ginger and peppermints and sell them at family and friend’s shop. I also make sorrel jam which is available at The Champs.
Breakfast and lunch breads are all made by Tamara as well as apple pie.
Stay tuned for more insights into our staff members!
by Edwina Simpson | Feb 14, 2020 | Dining, Hiking, Travel Tips, Waterfall
The second part of this daytrip includes the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site – Emerald Falls – but lets not forget from last week that after the hike to Salton Falls lunch is now in order.
Turn right out of Salton Falls and after about 2 minutes driving a straight road you will arrive at Pond Casse roundabout. You take the second exit/go straight across it and after about another 3 minutes you will see Zeb Zepis Bistro on your right.
Zeb Zepis Bistro
We’re big fans of this restaurant – a mixture of French and Creole influences; some really delicious and creative locally sourced food. Cash or local cheques only. Closed Mondays.
After lunch you can turn right out of the restaurant and head towards Emerald Falls; you will see a road that turns to your left and the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Emeralf Falls is after on your left, well signposted. But before you get there you will come across a vegetable and fruit stall on the left side of the road known as the Farmacy, the proprietor of which will no doubt introduce you to a fruit or vegetable you’ve never heard of.
The Farmacy
Emerald Falls is part of the Morne Trois Pitons National Park. You can buy a one time entrance ticket for $14ECD or $5USD of pay for a week’s pass to many other sites on the island for $33ECD or about $12USD. The path is well paved and walks gently round and down to the beautiful pool and fall of about 50 feet/15 feet.
Emerald Falls and pool
The approach to Emerald Falls
There are a few curio shops at the entrance you may want to check out on your way out. You simply drive back the way you came to The Champs Hotel. We will be waiting to hear all about it. You may wish to stop at the beautiful Mero Beach on your way home if you have time and fancy another swim (you can swim in both Emerald and Salton pools), or just wait for a swim at our pool with a cocktail from the bar.
We can tell you about Mero beach in another blog sometime…
by Edwina Simpson | Feb 8, 2020 | Hiking, Waterfall
This will take up the majority of your day, so after a delicious breakfast at Hotel the Champs you can drive southbound following the coast past Coulbistrie and Mero and Layou. On the approach to Mahaut, not long after the Rubis petrol station you can turn uphill onto the Warner Road towards Pont Casse .
You will find Salton Waterfalls entrance on your right. If you get to the Pont Casse roundabout you’ve gone too far. This is a privately owned area and the entrance fee is $5EXD per person. You park at the car park at the top then follow a paved road downhill. You can hear the waterfalls from the first turning and the trail soon becomes unpaved and increasingly wild and ‘jungley’.
You will see an array of beautiful plants and flowers of course, and the path gets increasingly steep and sometimes a little slippery – you’ll need more than just flip flops.
The first falls you come to (lower down) is a double set….
Lower falls at Salton
You go back on yourself then up a much steeper path to your right (left when coming downhill)to reach the other waterfall which is much bigger and fall into a great pool for swimming in. Take great care when climbing in as there are slippery rocks
.
Upper waterfall at Salton
a little cold after a swim
Enjoy and relax ahead of the steep climb back up the hill towards the most delicious French Creole restaurant for lunch…. detailed in the next blog next week along with a few other tips!
Steep climb (the part shown is not rocky) but you should bring better shoes than flip flops
by Edwina Simpson | Feb 2, 2020 | Environs
Many of our guests who stay on a Friday night enjoy an early morning walk to the Saturday market in Portsmouth.
You see rainbows regularly in Dominica
We wanted to illustrate what the journey is like. It was a slightly overcast day which made it cool at 7am and more chance for rainbows. There is lots to see en route.
We start with a short walk down the hill through Picard, then round the bend past a local supermarket called LA Enterprise. One can find more than just the essentials here as well as some fresh items – but better to wait to see all that at the market.
Cabrits National Park behind Caribbean sea to your left as you walk to the market
The road then bends around sharply to the right when you meet the Caribbean Sea.
From here you can see the Cabrits National Park in the distance, to your left while you continue to walk along the road adjacent to the Caribbean Sea.
You will cross the Indian River, looking up it your right (Caribbean sea to your left) . Tours up this river to see wildlife are very popular, often ending with a drink at a rum bar. Speak to us for how to book when you’re here.
The bridge crossing the Indian River
Flowers on the roadside
The Indian River
As you proceed further you will pass the bus stop to your left from where you can catch rides south and also Dee’s, a small shop where you will find souvenirs and groceries. You will no doubt find many people to talk to along he way.
Minibuses at Portsmouth T-Junction
Dee’s Mini Mart – Groceries and curios can be found here
You will have passed the NBD bank on your way (to your right) if you need cash, as early in the morning the one next to Dee’s is locked (see left photo green building)
You will soon arrive at the market… you definitely can’t miss it!
Approaching the heart of the market
Pineapples
The market is busy early in the morning, as farmers from all over the north come to sell their wares. Make sure to go to the back of the market by the waterfront to see the undercover area also (you may also see meat and fish available)
You will find it’s better to ask people before taking their photo.
Our kitchen uses fresh produce grown and caught locally from this market and other local sources. You will find that our menu changes daily in accordance with what is fresh and available.
the market is busy from early mornings
a variety of fresh produce locally grown
If there is anything particular you’re interested in trying do feel free to talk to us about it. We will make every effort to incorporate it into the menu during your stay. We hope that you will feel absorbed in island life and culture and take amazing memories home with you, and possibly even a few new recipes!
fresh fish
Bananas, plantain, avocado and pumpkin
The under cover part of the market
