F & B : AUTHENTICITY
A private dining experience at
Amanbagh includes authentic music .
EXPLORATION THROUGH
FOOD
W hether guiding guests to an unexpected destination or creating one onsite , some innovative hotel F & B programs are taking guests outside of the traditional dining room to surprise and delight them with cultural insights and authentic experiences , giving them more than a good meal .
Set on the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala , Casa Palopó is nestled amid dozens of villages , each with its own distinct culture . The hotel offers guests many ways to explore this colorful region , including an artisanal cheese tour at the base of the Toliman volcano .
Boarding a boat at the hotel ’ s private dock , guests travel to the farms of Santo Tomás Perdido , which specialize in handmade Guatemalan cheese . After a demonstration of the cheese-making process , guests enjoy a cheeseboard with pairings that include “ miel de flor de café ,” a honey made by bees frequenting local coffee flowers .
“ This is a private farm and not a typical excursion for visitors in Lake Atitlan , so we are glad to work with them to introduce these delicacies to travelers ,” says Claudia Bosch , owner , Casa Palopó . “ Guatemala is a bit of an undiscovered gem , and moreover , an amazing destination for food . [ We want to ] submerge travelers in the country ’ s culture in an unexpected way . We source products from the farm … we are taking guests to the root of where some of our products come from .”
Across the world in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan , Amanbagh brings authentic experiences to guests in its own backyard . The Aman Resorts property is a verdant sanctuary within a walled compound once used by the Maharajah of Alwar as a base for his tiger hunting expeditions . Within the walled resort lies an organic garden and a traditional “ gwaadi ,” or village hut — the site of authentic Indian cooking classes .
“ The venue is set in our in-house organic garden , connecting our guests with the real Rajasthan ,” says Harish Nair , general manager , Amanbagh . “ The
44 HOTELS October 2015 www . hotelsmag . com