Simon Mansion Restaurant
smothered Chilean sea bass that passes my plate and nearly knocks over my Green Garden, a martini-like libation that consists of vodka, cucumber, bell pepper, mint, and celery. Even though Simon Mansion may not be a part of the resort’s all-inclusive package, it’s worth going the extra mile with your American dollar.
ONE NIGHT WITH SNOOP DOGG
The spacious lobby of the Hard Rock has a cathedral-tall ceiling (another thatched roof) and plush seating for guests coming and going. A flute of champagne is placed in my hand, and I am also given a map of the grounds. It’s as big as a theme park; trams run on schedules, shuttling guests between the resort’s main building and the rest of the facilities built on 121 lush acres. My room is one of the many decadent “Caribbean suites” that comes with so many indulgent amenities, it makes me question whether or not I have to leave my bed during this three-night stay. Private balcony, check. Dual showers, check. My own liquor dispenser. Check, check. And to top it all off? Situated in the center of the multi-leveled room is a Hydro Spa Tub. Right away I make a mental note to take advantage of the two-person bath and incorporate the chilled bottle of champagne and chocolate truffles into my inevitable “me time” later that night.
and lunch buffet (the 12-ounce brisket is beyond words). There’s also Ciao and Pizzeto for guests craving Italian fare and brick-oven pizza, respectively, and Isla, for diners looking for Caribbeanflavored fish and poultry dishes. Finally, serving up a mouthwatering menu of California-Caribbean fusion, Kerry Simon’s Mansion Restaurant is where “taste is the featured performer in this rock opera of modern comestibles that nourish the body and the soul.” Designed after the Top Chef winner’s own home, it’s the perfect place for a pre-concert dinner. The restaurant is divided into different rooms, much like a house, the bar at the front resembling a chic library. The wall behind the bar has been constructed to look like a massive bookcase, adorned with hundreds of hardcover spines while the cocktail tables are illuminated by bronze desk lamps. While sampling one dish after another, I stop to savor the coconut curry-
I’m wearing a black blazer over a black button-down shirt. Had I worn an earpiece hooked up to a stealth mic, I could pose as one of the many burly security guards who line up the entrance to Oro Nightclub, a venue where $15,000 will get you a VIP table on the balcony overlooking the massive dance floor. Warming up the crowd for the night’s headliner is Cash Cash, the New Jersey-based EDM group that’s coincidentally slotted on my iPod’s vacation playlist (two must-listens: “Overtime” and “Take Me Home”). As the clock strikes midnight, the fashionable clubgoers inch closer to the stage on which Snoop Dogg is expected to perform. Luckily for us, we’re enjoying the view from the VIP balcony where the bottle service is non-stop. I suddenly feel like I’m experiencing every rap video cliche at once. I keep my camera in one hand and a glass of Moet in the other while I stand on the staircase and wait for Snoop to arrive. And he does. The roar of the crowd is deafening, but all is good once he breaks into his 20-year-spanning discography of hits. “Gin and Juice” gets everyone going. So does “Sexual
Let the pampering begin.
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD When it comes to vacations, the term “all-inclusive” sounds as beautiful as any picturesque sunset. It can bring tears of joy to any vacationer looking to sample every type of cuisine imaginable. And Punta Cana’s Hard Rock resort offers nearly a dozen dining options. There’s the massive, museum-like Zen, a hibachi-style Asian bistro, Ipanema, where one can indulge in Brazillianstyle meat dishes, and Toro, a steakhouse that doubles as a breakfast 99
Eden Pool at night June 2014 - BELLO