Travel Blog 35: Barbecue Restaurant at JW Marriott Phu Quoc, Vietnam
If you have been a follower for adsactly, I bet you've come across this travel article where I introduced the most enchanted hotel in the world. This unique themed hotel in Phu Quoc is stunningly beautiful.
To summarize the hotel in general, it's a University themed hotel by JW Marriott. The stunningly built hotel at a pristine beach with a perfect sunny temperature is definitely a paradise for many. This hotel was designed by a notable American designer and emphasize on the French colonial architecture. With great influence of a French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, the hotel is now named as "University Larmarck".
Despite the amazing architecture of this building which is highly influenced by the bygone French colonial days. Every space and corner within this property is filled with surprises. One of them that I admired the most is definitely the top-notch restaurants like the fine-dining, chemistry-themed bar, seaside barbecue restaurant and also the international dining hall.
As much as I love dining at each and every one of the restaurants, nothing beats the open-air dining at the seaside while enjoying a grilled fresh catch seafood. Every day, the restaurant get their fresh catch from a local fisherman who pulls up to the beach in the evening for dinner serving. Loads and loads of fresh catches are displayed on the counter where the guest is able to pick and choose their own seafood to be prepared by the chef.
Since this resort is situated just off the Cambodian coast, thus; it is blessed with a plethora of seafood. Like slipper lobsters, giant squids, shrimps, lobsters and of course the rarely seen seafood; sea-urchins and oysters. Besides, if you're a fish lovers, local fishes like catfish, whole basa, and, etc.
Honestly, this barbecue restaurant is my favorite not because the food is top-notch but also the ambiance is extraordinary. The set up is perfectly transparent where the kitchen is just right in your eye where you can definitely see how the chef prepares and cook your meal with all of their heart. Despite this is a barbecue restaurant but it remains a trace of luxuriness.
The decorations and setting of the restaurant set a perfect picture of how a beachside restaurant should be. Especially the blue paintings and detailed work set all around the restaurant. From the flooring to the counter bar with the detailed work of art never fails to amaze me.
A foodie like me, it's impossible for me to hold myself back from ordering seafood being displayed on the counter. Thus, this is some of the food that we had. Let me walk you through one by one.
If you have your typical Japanese sea urchin mindset. It's actually pretty distinctive from what you expect. Instead, it has a bright orange interior, the sea urchin in Vietnam is totally different. Honestly, I wasn't sure it is because of the species or just the preparation method. Instead of it being creamy, it's actually was actually a surprise. The use of local spices and ingredients bring the flavor of sea urchin to the next level. Peanuty flavour, sour, salty from the fish sauce is definitely nothing like anything that I've tried before.
Well, I told myself, it's now or never. Getting out of my comfort zone to try different seafood like the sea snails are something strange and interesting at the same time for me.
If you're afraid, well, you shouldn't be. Sea snails are totally safe to be eaten. Even if it's not a common food to be eaten in European and in the Americas, this is pretty common to be eaten here in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. Despite it having a pretty chewy texture like clams and a little slimy, it actually doesn't have strong flavors or any gaminess that will put you off. Thus, many of the dishes using clams or sea snails are usually cooked with a stronger flavor and herbs.
Like this, it is cooked with local spices like lemongrass, basil and a tinge of spiciness. The little heat from the chilies and the lemongrass used definitely bring these simple looking snails into an addiction for many who have tried it.
I absolutely love clams. Mostly because I love the texture and I am pretty much exposed to this kind of dishes since I was young. However, this kind of cooking is my first time. Grilled clams with peanuts and scallions are unique but what was better is the in-house made the lime-mint sauce. The tangy flavor goes perfectly well with the clams and it definitely widens your appetite.
You'll know what freshness means if you had one. A fresh fish can be tasted with natural sweetness and without any stench or hints of fishiness. Well, the juicy fish with the smoky charcoal flavor is to die for. Although it seems to be a simple dish, however, to grill a perfect juicy fish is not an easy task. The milky flavored fish that is lightly seasoned with salt and pepper is top-notch.
No one leaves without ordering a slipper lobster. Even though it's not the cheapest, but it's totally worth it! To our surprise, the lobsters came with popping shrimps eggs. If you've been to a Japanese sushi restaurant and heard of the name "Ebiko", that's the shrimp eggs. The popping shrimp eggs with the bouncy yet tender flesh from the lobster are really indulging.
We really enjoyed our dinner with the crashing of the waves and a constant sea breeze by the beach. If it's possible, we are looking forward to visiting the place again in future.
Check out some of my recent posts at the links below:
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Travel Blog 30: The 8 Authentic Street Eats in Bangkok That No One Tells You Link
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!steemitworldmap long 103.984020 lat 10.289879 Barbecue Restaurant at JW Marriott Phu Quoc, Vietnam d3scr
Thanks for the nice informative post.
Absolutely stunning pictures
I see-food, seaaaafood :P
Sea Urchin looks awesome! And Good job for trying Sea Snails! Yay for "Now or never"mindset!
It was the last day in Phu Quoc, and I thought, why not try something new. Instead of being regret later on, at least I tried it. It definitely have some acquired taste but I really like the texture, chewy like clams.
Looks like paradise to me.
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Oh, the food looks amazing! I would love to try the milk fish sometime! The restaurant is really elegant and beautiful, and looks like a wonderfully comfortable place! Thanks for sharing this lovely adventure with #steemitbloggers 😊
What are the large baskets on the beach in the top photo?
I am extremely glad you like it :) Besides the slipper lobster, the milkfish is my favorite! It's so soft and juicy.
The large basket is actually a boat made out of the woven bamboo. It's a Vietnamese style boat that is most famous in Hoi An. Instead of the long and thin boat we used to see everywhere around the world, the boat in Vietnam is totally different and unique. If you are heading to Vietnam by chance, try hoping onto one of this boat :)
Thanks for the answer! They are delightful looking boats, and make great decorations for the beach when they are not being used! 😊
Wow the seafood look so nice! So much seafood!!!
And what do you mean by a University themed hotel? Do they have restaurants that looks like lecture theatres? :P
Seafood is BAE 😍 thanks for sharing