And the story you’re about to experience with Chef Kuylen (pronounced Kwee-Ln) will take your taste buds on a cultural and inspiring journey through Belizean history.
Meet our new chef, Sean Kuylen. Born and raised in beautiful Dangriga, Belize, Sean’s passion for the kitchen was nurtured by one of his greatest influences-his mother. Appreciation of Belizean cultural cuisines was fostered from a young age and later fused with other styles when he ventured abroad in 2004. Through training at the City College of San Francisco, Chef Kuylen learned American and French cuisines and did internships at both the historic Cliff House in San Francisco and the Canadian Pavilion in the Epcott Center at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. He returned to Belize in March 2008, where for a year and a half, he worked as Head Chef at Hamanasi Resort in Hopkins Village, Stann Creek.
Now Chef Kuylen has joined the Ka’ana family as Executive Head Chef. His challenge, he says, will be to put a different spin on Belizean cuisine. “Some people say there is no such thing as Belizean cuisine”, Chef Kuylen shares. But like Leela Vernon asks in her popular Creole song, “Who seh (Belize) noh have no culture?” Chef Kuylen answers and says “Belize does have exquisite cultural cuisine!”
La Ceiba Restaurant will be taking an exciting direction under Chef Kuylen. Our creative modern flair will be infused with classic Belizean flavors to take our menu to another level. We invite you to join us on this new culinary journey—a journey, which according to Maya belief about the Ceiba Tree, will act as a portal between earth and heaven.
Followers on Twitter! Visit Ka’ana’s Martini Lounge Bar anytime this month, use the Promo Code: “Dame un Martini por favor!” and when you order your 1st Martini, you’ll get a 2nd martini free! Offer is valid for martini drinks only and ends August 31, 2009. You may only use the Promo Code once for the duration of the promotion.
Facebook Fans! Today is Facebook Friday! Be the first to guess what the picture displayed is and win a free Fantasy Dinner for two! If you’re not a fan and would like to join in our Facebook promotions, become one by following the link:
Add us and be the first to know about new upcoming events, great packages, and the buzz at Ka’ana. Drop us a line, share photos, videos, and comments on your Ka’ana experience—we’d love to hear what you have to say.
And for Twitter fans, that’s right, we’re also on Twitter. You can follow our posts and keep up to minute track with what’s happening at Ka’ana.
A big smile has recently appeared on one of our mango’s. We are not sure if it is a new strain of fruit or a happy guest or a happy member of staff.
In any case, smiles are abundant at Ka’ana.
Just come and see for yourself.
Pictured are Leonardo from our Landscaping Department and Choco Brothers, Calvin and Mario, from our Maintenance and Tours Department and One Happy Mango called “Charlie”
In an effort to deliver a high quality food and beverage experience, Ka’anas’ management team and restaurant staff spent the evening in the Martini Lounge Bar with Pamela and John from Rumfish y Vino in Placencia, Belize. Pamela Solomon has been a professional in the wine business in the States for many years before she and her husband decided to buy a restaurant in Belize and start importing wines. Her specialist area is “Italian wines.”
Pictured are Nick, Luky, Alex and Polo from the hotel with Pamela and John and some of their best friends (AKA great Italian wines) As the slurping wore on well into the night and at least 20 different Italian wines from all regions of Italy were checked out you can be assured of some exciting new Italian wines on the list and in the rooms as soon as they are delivered to the resort next week.
This was such a hard part of the staffs day to day work lives but we like to point out that no glasses or wine bottles were injured during the filming of this event. The staff certainly have a new found respect and enjoyment about Italian wines. Ka’ana will follow this up with an organised Italian wine tasting at the end of May also hosted by Pamela and John.
When you head down to Cayo, be sure to stop by the resort even if you are not staying at Ka’ana and ask for our new Italian greats, one thing for sure, drinking Italian wine it’s better than owning a Lamborghini, why? It doesn’t come in Yellow and it can’t give you a heart attack when the check comes………
Ka’ana Boutique Resort & Spa, a new luxury resort located in the Cayo District of Belize, features private helicopter transfers from Belize International and Municipal airports. The convenient forty minute flight provides discerning travelers with spectacular views of the rainforest canopy, pine forests of Mountain Pine Ridge, and 1000 foot falls, considered the largest waterfall in Central America. Champagne service is provided on arrival at Ka’ana’s private helipad located conveniently on property. Starting January 5, 2009, Ka’ana’s Romance package, ideal for couples and honeymooners, will include the one-way scenic flight
Hotel guests gathered in the Martini Lounge bar with Ka’ana’s General Manager, Nick Davies to sample some Pinot Grigio. The objective apart from just having a fun little get together was to select a new Pinot Grigio to compliment the existing Santa Margarita which made it onto Ka’ana’s first list and has stayed as a staple favorite ever since. After much chewing and slurping (not a lot of spitting, they were all great), there was a unanimous verdict. Sartori, from Venezie, Italy was the clear winner and will make it onto the new list which will be delivered in a couple weeks. There is still some tasting to be done, so if you are heading Ka’ana’s way, remember to ask what’s on the investigation list! Pictured with Nick are Donna and Fernando from Toronto, Ontario; John and Sally from Indianapolis, Indiana; honeymooners Jonas and Nan from Maryland, and Mike and Cindy from Belize.
Preparing your own three-course dinner with the assistance of award winning chef Manolo Castillo is something else entirely. After expressing his own personal interest in cooking, guest Gregg Santo was invited to join Chef Manolo in preparing a delicious customized dinner consisting of involtini mozzarella, with parsley and basil olive oil; tom kah gai Thai soup, followed by a chocolate mousse with grand mariner.
Changing from his chef uniform to dinner attire, Santos slipped back into the restaurant in time to surprise his partner with his culinary talents. The evening was a great success and lots of fun for everyone.
Representing Ka’ana Boutique Resort, Executive Chef Manolo Castillo receives three medals at the 2008 Festival Gastronomical in Guatemala City. The two day event held September 9-11, 2008 at the Grand Tikal Futura Hotel attracts professionals from around the globe seeking top culinary honors.
Chef Manolo received first place in the team leader category. Directing a team of six, he successfully prepared a three-course meal in ninety minutes from a surprise basket of ingredients provided by the organizers. In the individual competition, Chef Manolo received second place for his rabbit terrine with pea and cold wasabi soup entre and third place for Tom Yum Gai, a popular Thai soup.
Chef Manolo was the only competitor representing Belize. “This is a big honor for the country”. said Ian Lizarraga, Ka’ana’s Resort Director. “We are very proud of Manolo’s accomplishments”. Recently opened in September 2007, Ka’ana Boutique Resort is a luxury resort in the Cayo District of Western Belize.
In keeping with its mission to empower, support and develop hotel personnel to be the leaders in their own fields, Ka’ana encourages employees like Chef Manolo to achieve excellence. La Cieba restaurant at Ka’ana Boutique Resort is open to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Guests can sample a wide selection of gourmet dishes prepared by Chef Manolo and his talented staff.
Resort Accepts First Award From The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry
San Ignacio, Belize -“ August 20, 2008 -“ The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry named Ka’ana Boutique Resort Tourism Employer of the Year. This is the first tourism award for Ka’ana, which opened in September 2007.
“Ka’ana is not only the premier boutique resort in Belize, but also the most respected place for tourism professionals to work,” said Eva Garfield, Deputy General Manager at Ka’ana.
The prestigious award was accepted by Resort Director Ian Lizarraga at the First Annual Employer of the Year Gala Event, held on August 15 in Belize City. The Rotary Club of Belize developed and co-sponsored the Employer of the Year competition along with the Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
“One of the greatest ways to give back to a community is through its people,” said Colin Hannan, Owner. “The Ka’ana family strives to make a positive impact on Belize.”
The Employer of the Year competition is intended to encourage employment practices that follow the tenets of the Four Way Test, a four-question ethical guideline used by Rotarians. Ka’ana Boutique Resort was one of two tourism finalists nominated for the award.
