#local flavours

Healthy Holiday: Detox in Lombok

Published on February 8, 2019 in Recreation by Helmi Saarekas

Dreaming of a tropical holiday to cleanse your mind and body from stress, chemicals and environmental toxins? Thanks to the runaway success of ‘Eat Pray Love’, everyone associates Bali with yoga retreats, soul-searching and D.I.Y. detox.

But what about its more secluded neighbor island Lombok? In many ways, this lush evergreen landscape with its pristine white-sand beaches are even better! Crack open a coconut and drink to healthy holiday paradise found.

Take a look at these tips for choosing the right accommodation, nutrition program, fitness activities and spa treatments to create your unique wellness vacation in Lombok.

The Anandita Lombok villa staff serving fresh juice

Located on picture-perfect Sira Beach on the north shore of Lombok, The Anandita has all the elements for a healthy holiday. This private sea-front villa has four luxurious bedroom suites, sprawling grounds, private swimming pool, a deserted white-sand beach and attentive staff at your service.

Healthy Hydration

Hydration is key. Drink a half liter of water when you wake up and at least three liters throughout the day. The heat and humidity can easily dehydrate you – especially when you’re active.

Try Jamu, a traditional Indonesian healing and detoxifying drink used to cure everything from weight gain to flu. All you need is a shot-glass-sized serving. The main ingredient is turmeric, whose powerful healing properties include helping your liver with the detoxifying process. Make a trip to the attractive Tanjung Traditional Market to buy some fresh or powdered turmeric to add to any drink.

Avocado-banana juice is an excellent power boost. The healthy fats in avocado help you to slim down while banana fights against bloating. Remember to order your fresh fruit juice without sugar, as it’s normally added.

Sip on a young coconut while watching the sunset. It goes without saying, fruity cocktails are a no-go during detox. Coconut water is a delicious refreshing drink packed with vitamins and minerals.

Island Nutrition

Good news! You don’t have to restrict yourself to a juice-only fast during your healthy tropical getaway.

_{As any D.I.Y. detox-er already knows, short-term low-calorie cleanses are not successful programs for detoxification and long-term weight loss, as they can rob your body of vital nutrients and cause you to lose weight through fluid rather than fat loss.}

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Spilling the beans – Chef Meaw’s Panang Curry, Villa Wang Nam Jai, Phuket

Published on December 17, 2018 in Dining by Elite Havens

One of the highlights of staying at a private villa on your vacation is that you get to sample superb food prepared exclusively for you by skilled in-house chefs – many of whom have trained at internationally renowned restaurants. Elite Havens’ villa menus showcase an extensive range of Asian delights to cater to every guest’s tastes, but of course each chef has his or her own particular specialties that shouldn’t be missed. With much coaxing and cajoling, we’ve persuaded some of our chefs to spill the beans and share their favourite recipes with us here.

Penang Curry Recipe

In Villa Wang Nam Jai’s sleek modern kitchen, Chef Meaw cooks up the largest prawns we’ve ever seen to make her delicious Penang curry.

Chef Meaw

Penang Curry recipe
Ingredients:

1 large fresh prawn (or 4-5 smaller fresh prawns)
1 cup of coconut milk
3 tbsp. Panang curry paste
1 ½ tbsp. fish sauce
1 tbsp. palm sugar
1 large red chili sliced
4 – 5 Kaffir lime leaves thinly sliced
A small handful of pea eggplants
Oil

Chef Meaw’s Panang Curry ingredients

Directions:

Step 1. Heat up a griddle pan and a frying pan.

Step 2. Wash the prawn and cut in half (leave the shell and head on).

Step 3. Oil the prawn and when the griddle pan is hot place the two halves of prawn flesh side down.

Step 4. Add ½ cup coconut milk to the frying pan and let it come to the boil at a medium heat, making sure to stir.

Step 5. Add the Panang paste to the frying pan and stir in for 2 minutes and then add the remaining coconut milk and continue to stir for 1 minute.

Step 6. Turn the prawn.

Step 7. Add the palm sugar and fish sauce to the frying pan and stir and then add the pea eggplants.

Step 8. Once the prawn is pink, add to the frying pan and cook on a low heat for a 1 – 2 minutes.

Step 9. Add some of the sliced chili and sliced Kaffir lime leaves, leaving some for garnish.

Step 10. Place on a plate and garnish with the remaining red chili slices and kaffir lime leaves.

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Spilling the beans – Chef Fah, Twin Villas Natai Beach

Published on November 14, 2018 in Dining by Elite Havens

One of the great expect of staying in a luxury private villa is the superb food prepared exclusively for you by skilled in-house chefs – many of whom have trained in internationally renowned restaurants. Villa menus comprise of an extensive range of Asian delights and cater to every guests’ tastes, however every chef has his or her very own ‘special’ recipe that proudly reflects their culinary expertise. After a little arm twisting we have managed to prise the standout recipes from a few of our chefs.

Comprising of two beachfront villas on spectacular Natai Beach, Twin Villas offers a 10-bedroom escape ideal for families or groups. This stylish, fully staffed haven features two 12-metre pools, modern kitchens and inviting living areas. A gorgeous event venue with inspiring sea views, just 30 minutes from Phuket airport.

Chef Fah

Chef Fah, the amazing private chef at Twin Villas, reveals how to make local Fried Crab with Curry Powder, using crabs caught by the local fishermen.

Curry Fried Crab Ingredients

Curry Fried Crab Recipe
Ingredients:

Fresh Local Crab (cooked and cracked)
2 eggs
2 cloves of garlic (chopped)
Curry powder 1tsp
Soy sauce 2 tsp
2 green onions (Cut into 1-inch-long batons)
1 or 2 Shallots thinly sliced
Handful of Thai Celery or coriander
Sugar 1/2 tsp
Oil
Fish Stock 2 Tbs
1 large red chili (sliced)

Curry Fried Crab Recipe

Directions:

Step 1. Heat oil in a large wok over a medium heat. Add garlic and shallots until the oil is fragrant.

Step 2. Beat the two eggs.

Step 3. Add the fish stock, soy sauce, and beaten egg. Move around the wok for about 20 seconds

Step 4. Add the cooked crab and stir until all the ingredients are mixed.

Step 5. Add all the remaining spices and green onions into the wok and stir for 30 seconds, then remove from the heat.

Step 6. Remove from the wok and place on a serving plate and garnish with chopped coriander and sliced red chili. Serve immediately with steamed rice.

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Spilling the beans – Chef Aoy, Villa Ananda

Published on October 29, 2018 in Dining by Elite Havens

One of the great expect of staying in a luxury private villa is the superb food prepared exclusively for you by skilled in-house chefs – many of whom have trained in internationally renowned restaurants. Villa menus comprise of an extensive range of Asian delights and cater to every guests’ tastes, however every chef has his or her very own ‘special’ recipe that proudly reflects their culinary expertise. After a little arm twisting we have managed to prise the standout recipes from a few of our chefs.

Chef Aoy and her specialty

Chef Aoy is the outstanding creator of food at Villa Ananda, (one of the stunning beachfront Jivana Beach Villas on Natai Beach) and has kindly offered her version of the all time classic – Pad Thai with prawns.

This is equally popular street food as it is on every menu in Thai restaurants, hotels and cafes and is arguably the National Dish of Thailand.

It can be with made with prawns, chicken, crispy pork or just tofu.

Prawn Pad Thai Recipe
Ingredients

5 peeled Thai shrimps 1 Tbsp.
chopped garlic 1/2 tbsp.
red pepper flakes 3 tbsp.
vegetable oil 2 tbsp.
fish sauce 1 tbsp.
tamarind juice 1 tbsp.
finely chopped shallot 1 tbsp.
Thai Radish, finely chopped 1 tbsp.
roasted peanuts 50 grams
palm sugar 10 grams
dried shrimps 50 grams
firm tofu, thinly sliced 150 grams
thin noodles, 100 grams
bean sprouts, 20 grams
chives, cut in one inch lengths
1 egg
1/4 lime

Chef Aoy's Prawn Pad Thai

Top tip: Prepare your ingredients beforehand and have them nearby. Timing is of utmost importance. Making Pad Thai isn’t hard; it does, however, require a fairly high level of concentration.

Directions

Step 1. Soak the thin noodles for 5 minutes in water before cooking to soften.

Step 2. Heat 1 tbsp. of vegetable oil in a pan, fry the garlic and shallot, then add the thin noodles and sprinkle with water until the noodles are soft.

Step 3. Add fish sauce, palm sugar, red pepper flakes and tamarind juice.

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Where Tropical Perfection Meets Gourmet Cuisine

Published on October 1, 2018 in Dining by Elite Havens

Thailand’s leisure island of Koh Samui holds a priority position on the bucket list of every chic traveller. With Mick Jagger, Richard Branson and the Beckhams drawn to the divine destination, the island’s enviable reputation for barefoot luxury is set in stone.

Powder soft white sandy beaches dotted with swaying palm trees and glittering turquoise shallows gently lap the shores and set the spectacular scene.

Private coves and hidden beaches abound and are easily discovered through local fisher folk who will happily transport you to these dreamy destinations – or if exquisite coral reefs for a spot of snorkeling are more your style then for a few dollars you can be transported there.

Exclusive holiday villas are always the preferred style of accommodation among the rich and discerning, and many already own a private property on the island, however the well-versed traveller knows the joys of simply renting a private luxury villa to experience the ultimate holiday.

Then there is the food for which the entire Thai Kingdom is rightly honoured…

Personal Chefs

Chefs attached to these luxury villas are unique professionals with a vast repertoire of dishes fulfilling all dining moments – snacks, kids’ choices, a broad western menu, specific diets and five-star flavours.

Order a stunning poolside seafood barbeque, a formal degustation feast for 12 people or an intimate dinner for two at a perfectly set table on the beach at sunset. It is all fabulously possible and seamlessly executed.

Chefs adore to showcase their regional specialties and to dazzle guests with their culinary magic. Start the day with a trip to the local markets, which is always a cultural immersion, and launch into a crash course in Thai cooking.

Learn to identify and select fresh ingredients to be pounded into the paste that you will turn into a creamy and lush coconut curry. Or as the afternoon heat sets in climb into a comfy hammock with a cool signature cocktail and have a chat with the villa manager about possible trips to one of the pretty waterfalls in the hinterland, a traditional sea gypsy village or a visit to one of many Buddhist temples whilst your personal chef surprises you with yet another Thai masterpiece.

Dining in any one of our luxury Koh Samui villas is a gourmand’s dream come true,

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