Tourism News

Gate House gets Wine Spectator Award for 6th time

Story and photo by Suzanne Nielsen and reprinted with permission of the Daily Herald.

July 6, 2007

For the sixth consecutive year, The Gate House Restaurant in Lower Hell's Gate has distinguished Saba by winning a Wine Spectator Award. An international magazine for wine connoisseurs, Wine Spectator recognizes restaurants around the world that have an outstanding wine offering and corresponding menu.

Proprietor and sommelier Lyliane Job said that the establishment, one of Saba's premier boutique hotels, now has 160 appellations and a cave with over 1,200 bottles. The restaurant is always looking for something special for their customers. Last year, Lyliane and husband Michel, a gourmet chef, toured the Cahors area of France, and expect this year to visit the Champagne region. She added that customers should always ask for wines that are not on the wine list, "You never know what I might have in a corner of the Gate House cave," she said with a wink.

The Gate House has also undergone property improvements: a huge awning was recently installed outside the restaurant, on a terrace with a fabulous view of Anguilla, St. Maarten, St. Barts, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, and Nevis. "This is definitely a prime area for appreciating the vista and watching Winair's Twin Otter. We wanted to make it more enjoyable," Lyliane said. The improvement effectively expands the seating capacity of the restaurant and provides an area for quiet reading or refreshments.

Neighbour Roger King, who operates a custom awning company in Shellburn Falls, Massachusetts, took all measurements and had the special metal fittings and canvas made to order. King, who said his family has been in the business for six generations, took two days to undertake the installation himself.

King said that the awning canvas should do just fine in the intense Caribbean sun since it is a "Sunbrella" fabric where the colour is actually part of the fibre itself. King also created a large vertical rollable awning with a clear vinyl panel to protect the seating arrangement from the side breeze.

Guests have the opportunity of fine-tuning their palette and enjoying the new oasis this weekend as the Jobs host one of their special Sunday brunches, this time in celebration of Father's Day. Guests should call 416-2416 to place their reservations.

Photo: Lyliane and Michel Job in the kitchen of the Gate House.

Click here for a larger version of the photo.


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