Christophe Harbour’s First Resort Components Debut on St. Kitts 

The Beach House Restaurant and Bungalows at Turtle Beach:
Luxury Blended with Authentic Appeal

~~Adz:Right~~ ST. KITTS, October 24, 2008 – The opening of The Beach House restaurant and Bungalows at Christophe Harbour have brought new levels of style and sophistication to St. Kitts. These offerings are the first components of Christophe Harbour, a 2,500-acre resort on the island’s southeastern peninsula that will also include a Mandarin Oriental hotel, luxury real estate, Tom Fazio-designed golf course, mega yacht harbour, upscale shopping, and more.

The Beach House is an inviting 60-seat restaurant and 30-seat open-air lounge. Housed in a Colonial-style structure refreshed with Caribbean and contemporary design, The Beach House frames panoramic views of the ocean and the nearby island of Nevis. Boaters can tie up at the restaurant’s private dock, sip tropical drinks on the veranda, or relax in palm-shaded hammocks.   
 
The Beach House is further distinguished by a simple yet sophisticated medley of menu offerings, as well as the combined expertise of Executive Chef George Reid and Managing Director Eustace “Guish” Guishard.  Reid, an award-winning hospitality professional formerly of Cap Juluca Resort on Anguilla,  guided three distinctive restaurants there, including the Resort’s signature restaurant, Pimms. At The Beach House, Reid has developed an eclectic menu that highlights Caribbean-influenced cuisine that incorporates Spanish, French, Asian, African, and Dutch influences. The menu is complemented by the restaurant’s extensive collection of aged rums and Cuban cigars. 

Reid’s notable entrees include three of his own favorites: Steamed Big Eye Snapper Oriental, Oven Baked Miso Chilean Sea Bass Steak, and Pan Roasted Maple Leaf Breast of Duck. According to Reid, his special favorite is the Big Eye Snapper Oriental, for its texture, freshness, aromatic flavor, and simplicity. This dish is served stacked on jasmine-scented rice, with curried napa cabbage, ginger, and scallions, with a sizzling sesame and soya jus. 

Guishard, who has earned some of the luxury resort industry’s highest accolades, manages The Beach House operations. He was instrumental in the restaurant’s recent stylish transformation from a casual beachside bar & grill to an airy, sun-filled, and sophisticated pavilion.

Before taking the helm at The Beach House, Guishard was General Manager of Cap Juluca, and was part of its development team. During his 1997-2006 tenure there, Cap Juluca was consistently cited among the Caribbean’s best properties, and received five-star recognition from Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and the Andrew Harper Hideaway Report. Cap Juluca was consistently ranked a top Caribbean and international hotel, 2003-2005. Guishard was recognized by his industry peers in 2005 with the Caribbean Hotelier of the Year award. 

The Beach House was designed with sensitivity to the unique local environment, and incorporates environmentally oriented and sustainable initiatives. These initiatives include advanced wastewater treatment; rainwater collection for irrigation; solar hot water heating coupled with energy efficient cooling, lighting and appliances; seaweed collection and composting for reuse in landscaping; and recycling of building materials throughout construction.

Just steps away from The Beach House are four luxurious bungalows, also managed by Guishard, designed for the exclusive use of prospective real estate clients. Located a few feet from the beach, the 1,222-square-foot bungalows blend naturally into the surroundings and impart the aura of a lush outdoor overnight experience. Each bungalow features Amish hand-hewn logs, wood-shingled roofs, and custom mahogany shutters and doors. Large glass and louvered sliding walls slide open directly to the beach, revealing expansive views. Each Bungalow also offers a private plunge pool, gazebo, and outdoor shower. 

~~Adz:Left~~ “My desire was to capture a pioneering spirit,” says John Haley, director of Architecture for Kiawah Development Partners, and the architect for the Bungalows. “That spirit is reflected within the materials used, to convey the notions of tranquility, retreat, and inviting the outdoors inside. Logs were hewn square, for a more refined profile, and left to weather naturally, as were the wood shingle roofs and decks. These considerations allow the Bungalows to blend into the landscape.”  

The stylish interiors, designed by Jackye Lanham, reflect elements of the natural local surroundings, welcoming and enveloping visitors. “John and I worked very closely in the development of the interiors of the Bungalows. We wanted the exteriors and the interiors to be a seamless transition, bringing outdoors in, and indoors out. Everything is very simple, but I gave each bungalow a ‘pop’ of island color by introducing tropically inspired fabrics restraint – not overdone. The bungalow spirit is one of relaxation, comfort, and informality, with a St Kitts style.”

Like The Beach House, the Bungalows are crafted to promote sustainability and preserve the surrounding environment, using similar composting and sensitivity practices. 

The Beach House restaurant is open daily to the public for lunch and dinner. The restaurant and bungalows together provide the opportunity to indulge in the premier aspects of Christophe Harbour’s luxury development.

“We are delighted to give travelers and local residents a taste of the luxurious offerings to come,” says Buddy Darby, chairman & CEO of Kiawah Development Partners.
 For more information on the Bungalows at Turtle Beach or offerings at Christophe Harbour, visit www.christopheharbour.com.  For Beach House reservations, call 869-469-5299.

Christophe Harbour – An Incomparable Resort for St. Kitts

Launching in 2011, Christophe Harbour will be a luxury resort that will propel St. Kitts to the forefront of high-end tourism in the Caribbean. Christophe Harbour Company, a venture led by Kiawah Development Partners (KDP), is the manager of the master development company for Christophe Harbour. Christophe Harbour Company, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, and several prominent real estate, golf design, architecture, environmental, and engineering companies have joined forces to create an incomparable master-planned resort. Christophe Harbour, located on the more than 2,500-acre southeastern peninsula of St. Kitts, is planned to include a mega-yacht harbour as well as an impressive collection of restaurants, shops, boutiques, five-star hotels, oceanfront and hillside homesites, villas, and a must-play Tom Fazio championship golf course. For more information on Christophe Harbour, please visit www.christopheharbour.com.