Sunset at the Palms Sends Positive Vibes From Jamaica
The All-Inclusive Resort Shares Its Love for Rum Drinks, Fun Fruits and Friendly Goats
May 13, 2020
Sunset at the Palms is an adults-only, all-inclusive, treehouse-style resort in Negril
Photo Credit Sunset at the Palms
Sunset at the Palms, an adults-only, all-inclusive, treehouse-style resort in Negril, Jamaica, is providing a break from the current reality by sharing fun recipes, photos and heart-warming stories of its friendly pet ambassador, Betty the Goat!
But first, let’s get into the Jamaican mood. Click here and you’ll hear KALI GRN, an up-and-coming reggae singer from the west side of the island. (That’s the side of Jamaica where you’ll also find Sunset at the Palms.) He began singing at church at age 7 and started performing professionally in 2017. This link is to his song “Be Thankful,” one of his most uplifting songs. For more info about KALI GRN, you can check out @originalkali on Instagram, @kaligrnmusic on Twitter, or KALI GRN Music on Facebook. Enjoy his music and get into the mood as we do a little virtual vacation, island-style!
Reggae singer
KALI GRN Photo Credit JobythePhotographer
Let’s kick things off with drinks: Sunset at the Palms serves Jamaica’s famed Blue Mountain coffee, and Jamaicans know how to make it even better by adding a special ingredient to the iced coffee : sweetened condensed milk. But let’s face it: Most people aren’t going to Jamaica to drink coffee. They’re there for something with a bit more kick – preferably sipped out of a coconut shell. For those who prefer a little rum to get things going, here’s a favorite at the resort’s swim-up pool bar:
The Bob Marley
INGREDIENTS
– Frozen strawberries
– Frozen mango juice
– Frozen mango juice mixed with Blue Curacao to get a green color
– 1 ounce of Appleton White Rum (made locally – and you can visit the distillery when you’re on the island)
– Pineapple and cherry, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
– Blend strawberries and pour them into a tall glass as a bottom layer for this drink.
– Pour frozen mango juice as a second layer.
– Mix frozen mango juice with a little Blue Curacao until you have a greenish frozen slush. Pour on as the top layer of the drink.
– Top off with rum.
– Garnish with pineapple and cherry … and now you have a liquid Rastafari flag!
Some of you may be drawn to the drink in the photo above. Others may be drawn to the background, which looks like a jungle. That’s because it IS a jungle, of sorts. Sunset at the Palms isn’t the typical stucco-and-concrete resort you find throughout the Caribbean. Instead, it’s a resort within a lush garden. You walk among palm trees and beautiful flowers to get to your treehouse-style room, and there are plenty of colorful birds along the way. On Tuesday mornings the groundskeeping crew offers a nature walk so guests can learn about the flora and fauna here. Here are a few things you might see on that tour:
This is one of hundreds of brightly colored flowers on property
A “doctor bird,” one of many species of hummingbird on the island.
Doctor birds are only found in Jamaica and they’re the country’s national symbol.
The best part of the nature tour is when you encounter the most magnificent of all Jamaican creatures … the goat! Many families in Jamaica have one (or more), and there’s an entire little family of goats at Sunset at the Palms. It all began with Betty, who joined the groundskeeping crew three years ago and who immediately enchanted staff and guests alike. She behaved more like a dog than a goat, and she craved attention from any human who was within earshot. Eventually she was joined by a boyfriend, Royal Brown, and they had an official wedding ceremony in November 2017. And then came the babies, the only “kids” ever permitted at this adults-only resort. The first few babies stayed at the resort, but these days when they’re ready to go out on their own, kids are gifted to staff members who then start or expand their own herds at their homes.
And this is the first pair of kids, Bill and Bella, when they were just a few days old.
Coconuts are indeed a guest favorite, and below is a recipe starring coconut. This recipe adds chocolate chips, which are optional.
Jamaican Coconut Muffins
INGREDIENTS:
– 2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1/2 cup sugar
– 1 teaspoon baking powder
– 4 tablespoons (half stick) butter, room temperature
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1 cup coconut milk
– 2 eggs
– 1/3 cup canola oil
– 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
– 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes, divided
DIRECTIONS:
– Preheat oven to 400°.
– In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, butter and salt.
– In another bowl, combine coconut milk, eggs, oil and extracts.
– Stir wet ingredients into flour mixture just until combined.
– Fold in coconut.
– Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full.
– Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
– Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to wire rack. Serve warm.
MAKES 1 DOZEN
We’ll leave you with this parting photo so you can see why Sunset at the Palms earns its name each and every night. Home to plenty of sand and a beautiful beach, the resort’s sunsets are peaceful and serene like this:
To book a visit to Sunset at the Palms, please visit www.thepalmsjamaica.com.
Sunset at the Palms, a treehouse-style, adults-only, all-inclusive boutique hotel in Negril, Jamaica, offers a full sensory experience for those who are seeking rest and relaxation. The exotic tropical resort touches the senses with its natural beauty, garden setting, superior food, private beach and guest services. This chic and intimate hideaway is perfect for discerning guests seeking the most blissful beach experience in Jamaica. For more information about Sunset at the Palms, visit www.thepalmsjamaica.com.
