Ka’ana presented the first of a series of events highlighting prominent Belizean artists or personalities. Intended to be intimate events that give visitors the opportunity to listen to and speak with the artist, these evenings will also highlight the culinary team’s abilities in providing customized local menus; while Master Mixologist, Polo Arguelles showcases his specialty drinks at half off the menu prices.

This first event shared the work of renowned artist, Pen Cayetano. A gifted visual artist and musician, Pen has made a name for himself both locally and internationally. With his recognized artwork and performance, guests had the opportunity to enjoy a night of great food, drinks, and entertainment.

Whether you delved in Pen’s paintings, sipped on Polo’s specialty martinis, snacked on our Artisan’s hors d’ oeuvres or danced to the vibrant rhythm of Pen’s drum, we here at Ka’ana thank you for invigorating our night!

At a recent sales meeting for the Signature Travel Network, a presentation was made about today’s affluent traveler and their different market segments. These included Active & Adventure, Beach Resorts, Family & Friends Travel, and Culture & Discovery. With that said we’ve gotten a number of people who’ve asked about the third market share on that list and whether or not Ka’ana – this luxury resort in San Ignacio – is also a Belize family resort. Yes we are! As an inland resort, our appeal is the ability to do adventure touring and children about 5 years and older are in absolute heaven here. The ability to play in the jungle, ride horses, swim in caves, zip line and climb Mayan sites is unparalleled, not to mention that it ensures a good night’s sleep at the end of the day.

Our proximity to the major touring attractions means minimum travel time and maximum adventure time. At Ka’ana Belize Resort, we thoughtfully combine the comfort and elegance of a modern resort with a friendly, welcoming ambiance for those seeking a relaxing Belize family vacation. Children under the age of 12 stay absolutely free when sharing rooms with an adult. Extra beds and babysitting services are also provided upon request for a minimal fee.

If you choose to stay on site our amenities include complimentary wireless internet access, televisions with DVD players and an outdoor Infinity pool. You can even get involved in preparing your own meals by joining a Culinary Class at our restaurant which provides healthy, well-balanced meals with fresh local ingredients sourced from our on-site Belize organic garden. Our Culinary Team will gladly tweak their gourmet menu to please younger palates.

For those who read this blog and are still thinking about that last market share, the “Culture & Discovery” one, stay tuned for our next blog post that will introduce some incredible new touring options that immerse travelers in the culture and facilitate the discovery.

“Every Meal Should Tell A Story”!

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.

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.