#WeekendsInBermuda : Marcus' at Hamilton Princess

As odd as it may seem, when living in Bermuda it can still be pretty easy to get caught up in the daily hustle and bustle of work, home, family and such (you know, 'responsibilities'). Often, you can lose sight of the fact that we call paradise 'home' and that there is much to be enjoyed with such a privilege.  So while weekends may be filled with grocery shopping, laundry, or errands around town, it is still important to pause for a few minutes and find that place where you can sit back, inhale that Bermudaful air, take in stunning vistas and (of course) have a great meal.  One such place is Marcus’ Bermuda at the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club.  ​

If you've been following along with is for awhile, you know that we're not strangers to Marcus'.  There was that time we ordered the entire left side of the menu, and that other time when we got to see Marcus himself in action.  On this occasion, we picked an especially warm and mild Saturday afternoon to sample their recently released lunch menu.  Seated on their beautiful wrap-around patio, we were entranced by  views of the harbour while being entertained by a fleet of sailboats passing by. The sounds of cool reggae vibes played in the background just loud enough to sing along to favourite tunes yet it didn't disturb the table conversation.  Essentially it was the perfect setting for a midday getaway.
​
The lunch menu is filled with popular small plates from their regular list of options, as well as sandwiches and entrees for every palate, and a prix fixe option for those who might fancy a set meal. We settled on their frequently talked about Fish Chowder Bites and a garden salad to start and sandwiches as our mains.  We covered the popular chowder bites back on our first visit in July and true to form, they didn't disappoint with their authentic Bermudian flavours and tangy rum dipping sauce.

​The Marcus’ Garden Salad is no standard spring garden salad mix tossed with cucumbers, carrots, grape tomatoes, and balsamic dressing. This artisanal creation is a blend of gourmet greens, shaved radish, and sliced fennel (ok, with a few tomatoes and cucumbers for the diehard traditionalist), dressed with just a hint of lemon vinaigrette.  Honestly, it was such a pretty salad that it was hard to disturb those colourful veggies and eat it (but we got over ourselves and dug in).

​On Marcus’ recent visit to the island, we had the opportunity to watch the master in action as he demonstrated some of the dishes now being served during midday hours. One of those was the Mississippi Delta Catfish Sandwich. It was a highlight then, and we're glad to report there was an equal amount of happiness this time around. Coated in cornmeal, topped with braised collards and pepper mayo, the short version to describe this southern-inspired sammie would be just plain tasty.  But what really captured our attention and hearts was the mountain of kale that is served along with it.  Crispy, lightly salted and melt-in-your-mouth kale – this is definitely one of those dishes that needs to be experienced for yourself to truly understand our excitement.  

​We also sampled their Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Dockyard IPA BBQ sauce, cucumber apple slaw, and Parmesan Fries. Tender grilled chicken, layered between Marcus' delicious interpretation of johnny bread and topped with lettuce, tomato and thinly sliced pickles. The slaw and BBQ sauce come on the side so that you can slather at your own discretion – and boy, did we slather. The BBQ sauce was rich and tangy with a subtle kick. Add a touch of the cool and creamy slaw and we are right back in down home southern heaven.
 
Now Parmesan fries are frequently on local menus but they are definitely not all made equal. These crispy, skinny, julienne of potatoes were a pleasant surprise. Like...you could taste the Parmesan. And the Parmesan tasted like real Parmesan.  You know, the aged kind – full of flavor with a hint of sharpness. Good to the last matchstick.

With bellies almost full, it was a great debate as to whether we should have dessert or not. BUT, then we were told about rum cake, aaannnnddd sorbet.  Specifically, Pinot Noir sorbet. Sold.  To balance out our pending overindulgence, we ordered the rum cake without the ice cream and then shared their trio of sorbets.  Roasted Pineapple and Ginger, White Grape, and Pinot Noir Sorbet were the offerings of the day and they each proved to be delicious. We particularly loved the Pineapple Ginger which was juicy and spicy.  The red wine sorbet was another favorite even if it was because we loved the idea of taking wine and turning it into a cool refreshing dessert (and quite frankly, they nailed it).

​Two and a half hours later, after taking in the views and soaking up some sun, we reminded ourselves that it was time to return back to reality and pick up those grocery as we plan our meals for the week. Thanks Marcus’ for making our #WeekendsinBermuda a food-lovers dream.