Island Favorite, Chef Chris Aycock, Takes the Helm At Mahogany Bay Village Restaurants
Last week I received an invitation to a party at Mahogany Bay Village – a grand re-opening of their restaurant with a new chef—a new chef to MBV’s kitchen but definitely not new to Ambergris Caye.
Chef Chris Aycock has lived and worked on this island for most of his life – since he was a kid. He was one of the founding owners and long time chef at Ambergris Caye hotspot, Blue Water Grill. He then worked as the Executive Chef at Rain Restaurant at Grand Caribe Resort. And after some time in the States – where he ran restaurants in both Colorado and Hawaii, Chris is back in Belize. Taking the reins at one of the island’s largest resorts and restaurants, Verandah at Mahogany Bay Village.
Jeff and I headed down for the party and to support our friend, Chris.
Mahogany Bay Village is located about 1.5 miles south of San Pedro town. (For a full guide to Ambergris Caye – click here) The main building for the hotel/resort is The Great House which contains the lobby, lots of seating areas, a outside beautiful bar and pool and the Verandah Restaurant.
We were there at 6pm – but in Belize, though an invitation might say the party starts at 6pm, many of the guests don’t arrive until 7…or later.
But it gives me a chance to take some photos of the beautiful furnishings in this very grand room. It’s all so perfectly Out-of-Africa-gin-and-tonics-after-a-day-on-the-savannahs chic.
The front desk on the opposite side of the room.
Pretty cocktails and even prettier small plates.
The menu for the passed plates. Everything sounds delicious. Chef Chris is an amazing sushi chef – you can see it in the menu.
I stopped taking pictures after these…the food was absolutely delicious. And the dinner menu looks amazing too. One of those menus where every single thing sounds like one you want to try. A menu that has you negotiating with your tablemates to make sure you can taste from everyone’s plate.
A peek inside the main inside dining room since we were not able to stay for dinner.
And then just out the door to the pool…one last couple enjoying the water as the sun set.
As the room filled, we snuck out. We have a big golfcart ride home to North Ambergris Caye! Management was welcoming Chris to the team and introducing him to those who don’t know him yet.
The food is amazing – Chris is going to be a great addition.
One more look at the pretty pool.
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Now that’s a tasting Party! I’m impressed that an event like this, where the dress code in many places would be business to formal, here in Belize it’s just island casual. In fact it’s so laid back that the piano man is barefoot! Most interesting picture: the champagne flute. It’s actually leaning…
I was playing around with the picture…I couldn’t figure out if the bar was tilting or the tray or the glass… 🙂
I noticed that the angle of the champagne is level with the bar shelves behind it.
The last photo has a squadron of UAP’s flying over the pool.
Did you see those UFO above the pool?? I bet they were wishing they could come in an induldge!
That would be cool but alas, my IPhone 14 leaves dots on my night time pictures. I keep meaning to read about it…if it’s “a thing” or I just don’t know how to work my phone!
Ha. Now THAT would be a SCOOP!