Chef Phoebe Bright joins
world-renowned Michelin
Chef Anita Lo in Saudi Arabia!
This is quite an honor for Phoebe,
winner of "Best Chef" in Vermont!
(Daysie Awards, 2022)
Don't worry, though - she'll be back
February 3rd!
During her brief absence,
we will be serving our full menu.
The world is our oyster, right?
Chef Phoebe's Global Culinary Adventures
Follow along as our award-winning Chef & Co-Owner
periodically travels and assists her dear friend and mentor,
world-renowned Michelin Chef Anita Lo!
N E X T S T O P
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
January 26 - February 3
"The Skinny"
900 People,
5 Chefs,
10 Dishes per Chef,
4 Day Prep Time, and ...
1 Day Food Tasting Event!
I'll be posting details as I get them, as well as photos, videos and commentary.
- Mandy
Safe Travels, Chef Phoebe!
* Chef Phoebe departs from
Burlington International Airport on 1/27 @ 1:28pm
* Departs Newark Liberty International Airport, 1/27 @ 7:40PM
* Departs from Frankfurt International Airport (Frankfurt, Germany), 1/28 @ 12:15pm
* Arrives in King Khalid International Airport (Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia), 1/28 @ 7:55pm
Returns Friday, 2/3
The Big Event ...
is a musical concert that will be paying tribute to 81 year old Mohammed Abdu in an arena named after him. He is described as "Artist of the Arabs."
The Team of 10 international chefs, three which are Michelin (i.e., Anita Lo) and their hand-selected assistants (Chef Phoebe being one of the few) are cooking for hundreds of "Middle Eastern Royalty."
Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia ...
here we come!
February 27 - March 3
The Menu!
3 Cold Appetizers:
-Celery Root “Sesame Noodles”
-Hamachi Crudo, Yusheng Style
-Smashed Cucumber Salad
3 Hot Appetizers:
-Wild Mushroom Soup
-King Crab Wontons
-Clams with Black Beans and Ginger
4 Entrees:
-Ma Po Eggplant with Rice
-Duck Breast with Hoisin and Grapes
-Longevity Noodles with Beef
-Sichuan Lamb ChopsCold Appetizers:
ps
Chef Phoebe's Awesome Riyadh Culinary Adventure!
🐪 DAY !: Travels
Chef Phoebe departed for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from Burlington International Airport with a layover in Frankfurt, Germany!
🐪 DAY 2: Arrival at the RiyadhKing Khalid Airport.
Saudi Arabia time: 8:26pm
Click here to view.
🐪 DAY 3: Lunch time
See below for
more photos --->
🐪 DAY 3: Lunch time
See below for
more photos --->
🐪 DAY 3: Taxi Ride
Chefs Anita and Phoebe enroute to the Mohammed Abdo Arena will they will be prepping and cooking for four days with the fifth day being the big event!
Watch this fun short video!
🐪 DAY 3: The Arena
🐪 DAY 3: Looking towards Riyadh from their hotel ...
🐪 DAY 3: Just in from Chef Phoebe: all hands on deck for sure! This is their first day of prep!
Click here for a video and a glimpse of both Phoebe & Anita!
🐪 DAY 4: Lunch & getting to know the "players" ...
Not having permission to work before Noon daily, lunch is served prior to everyone’s nine hour prep day.
Click here for a short video with "hellos" from folks ...
🐪 DAY 4: The Lunch Area
Phoebe shows us where they share meals together and the surrounding courtyard.
Click here for a quick tour of their facilities when not in the kitchen.
🐪 DAY 4: The day's prep begins!
The day’s big prep begins and will continue for 9 hours straight!
Check it out!
DAY 4: The Chef Line-Up
Click to enlarge.
🐪 DAY 5: Team-Building Lunch
Always a group lunch before their 8-11 hour shift. Phoebe points out that the Michelin Chef to her left in the photo “is such a great person! And, pretty darn famous in Spain, as well.” Her name is María José Martínez, owner and head chef of Lienzo Restaurant. On Maria’s left is … you guessed it, Chef Anita Lo!
Check her out:
https://www.restaurantelienzo.com/en/lienzo-family/
Phoebe reports that yesterday “was a really crazy busy day with several unexpected challenges with regards to the equipment … which always adds a little more stress. But, you need to roll with the unexpected!”
I asked her if she’s learning a lot and she was quick to say she makes a mean dumpling and intends to introduce it to The Paddle upon her return. It seems that Chef Anita really relied on Phoebe’s knife skills in which she truly excels.
Lastly, she read me her Valentine’s menu that she will be offering ~ oh my, our dinner guests will be thrilled. That I can promise!
I miss Phoebe. I know her dog, Willoughby does. Friday can’t come soon enough. I’m also so proud of her and her accomplishments. I couldn’t ask for a better business partner or friend, for that matter!
🐪 DAY 6: Coming home! She's waiting at the Riyadh airport to fly to Frankfurt, followed by Washington, DC to Vermont!
Yippee!
Extra Photos
From Chef Phoebe in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Yours Truly - Chef's Phoebe Bright & Anita Lo
Phillippe, the event's consultant
Checking out the food options for the menu.
Strategizing
Gas $1.40!
The Arena's logo
Phoebe made a friend ...
Chef Anita Lo at The Paddle!
Photo credit: Chef Phoebe Bright
TO BE ANNOUNCED!
If all goes as Chefs Phoebe and Anita are planning, this Michelin star chef will be visiting us in the FALL 2023 as both a fisherwoman and guest chef.
If you might be interested in attending this very special private dinner at The Paddle, please fill-out the contact information below. We will keep you informed of the event specifics as they are worked out.
NOTE! Please write in the email subject field: GUEST CHEF DINNER
*** Oh, be sure to tell me how many in your party!
Thank you, Mandy
Ask Chef Phoebe
a question!
Email me with a question (or comment) and I'll forward to Chef Phoebe in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia! I'll post all answers or her comments below on this page!
Thanks and have fun with this,
Mandy
Questions & Comments for
Chef Phoebe!
She wants to hear from you!
"First Impression"
From Peter M. (1/29/23)
Hi Chef, I'm truly curious what was your first impression of arriving in Riyadh?
Thanks, Peter M.
Chef Phoebe's response:
Hi Peter,
Well, I just got here but my very first impressions were all about the transportation!
* The driving is crazy and fast with no lanes,
* There are so many cars and trucks on
the roads weaving in and out of each other's ways and ...
* The price of gas is $1.40 per gallon!
I will say I'm meeting so many kind and generous people. I'm really looking forward to this time with Chef Anita!
Stay warm back there in The Sates,
Phoebe
Chef Phoebe's previous adventure ....
Chef Phoebe Bright joins
world-renowned Michelin
Chef Anita Lo in The Maldives!
This is quite an honor for Phoebe, winner of
"Best Chef" in Vermont!
(Daysie Awards, 2022)
Major New Year's Eve Announcement
For the first time in 17 years, The Paddle will not be open for this special evening. It is with mixed emotions that we will be closed.
Here’s why:
Chef Phoebe Bright has been asked to assist her mentor and dear friend, a prolific world-renowned chef, Anita Lo, in a rare appearance cooking for a selective group in the beautiful Maldives!
Anita is a Michelin star Chef, has earned three stars in the New York Times, is an Iron Chef Winner and holds the title of a Top Chef Master.
Out of all the chefs Anita could choose, she reached out to our own Chef to join her at the InterContinental Maamunagau where they will be cooking six course meals over four nights.
This is a tremendous honor for Phoebe and for The Paddle. Although she is extremely excited to work with Anita and further hone her culinary skills, she is saddened that we will not be able to offer NYE dinner. “I care deeply about our guests, Mandy, and I hope they understand why we are closing this one big night,” she wrote me recently.
I assured her that you all would for this is truly an opportunity of a lifetime. It’s is Phoebe’s hope that her gifted friend, Anita, will join her in The Paddle’s kitchen as a “Guest Chef” this year - and, when this happens, you all will be the first to know.
Recently, Anita was featured in a documentary, The Heat - A Kitchen (R)evolution.
Chef Anita Lo at The Paddle!
Photo credit: Chef Phoebe Bright
TO BE ANNOUNCED!
If all goes as Chefs Phoebe and Anita are planning, this Michelin star chef will be visiting us in June as both a fisherwoman and guest chef.
If you might be interested in attending this very special private dinner at The Paddle, please fill-out the contact information below. We will keep you informed of the event specifics as they are worked out.
NOTE! Please write in the email subject field: GUEST CHEF DINNER
*** Oh, be sure to tell me how many in your party!
Thank you, Mandy
Chef Phoebe's Awesome
Maldives Culinary Adventure!
Follow Chef Phoebe as she assists her dear friend and mentor, Chef Anita Lo, in preparing four exclusive meals at four different restaurants in the resort.
I'll post at least once daily!
🏝️ DAY 1 - Travels!
Sunday, 12/25
Chef Phoebe Bright is at JFK in NYC! First leg of her totally Awesome Culinary Maldives Adventure … this lovely Jet Blue flight attendant tapped her on her shoulder as she was meandering to her next gate and inquired if she was Chef Phoebe from The Paddle.
Apparently, she lives in Burlington, VT and follows us. Very cool! Come along with me as I track my business partner over the next two weeks. Should be a lot of fun!
Hugs and Merry Christmas,
Mandy
🏝️ DAY 2 - First Layover!
Monday, 12/26
Chef Phoebe is in the brand new Istanbul International Airport and it s the main airport in the city. It is considered to be the largest airport in the world.
Interestingly, Istanbul straddles two continents - Europe and Asia. The airport is in the Europe side.
🏝️ Click here for a personal message from Phoebe in the Istanbul International Airport.
🏝️ DAY 3 - Meeting the Resort's Chef!
Phoebe arrived this afternoon (her time) without her luggage. Hopefully, her suitcase will find itself to her room within the day.
So, what did she do?
Arriving a day earlier than Chef Anita, Phoebe went out and met the Executive Chef of the resort, InterContinental Maamunagau - Kjose Deepesh. According to her, he’s “so cute and kind.”
In case you want to know, she’s 9 hours ahead of us here in Vermont.
Selfie taken by Phoebe …
🏝️ DAY 3 - A Maldives Sunset
It took over two days to arrive at her final destination and I think she just needed to sip a beer and watch the sun set. I know I would.
🏝️ DAY 4: Meeting of the Culinary Minds!
Chef Anita Lo arrived today at the resort, InterContinental Maamunagau, a day after Phoebe’s arrival. Now, the fun, and the culinary magic, begins …
🏝️ DAY 5: First Day of Official Work - Prep Time!
Click here for a personal message from Chef Phoebe.
🏝️ DAY 5: Meet our Team! The guy to my right is the general manager of the resort - “JB” and he’s from France. Of course, next to me is Chef Anita. On her right is Executive Chef Jose Deepesh followed by one of his line cooks! We’ve got a great team!
🏝️ DAY 5: Prepping Octopus
Click here for a short video.
🏝️ DAY 6: Breakfast Time!
You'll hear Phoebe chatting in the background.
Click here.
🏝️ DAY 6: Dinner Menu for the Lighthouse Restaurant!
🦪 Spot Prawn Crudo with Mint Iced Oysters in Vichyssoise
🐙 Grilled Octopus with Garlic Chives and Fingerlings
🐟 Torched Wahoo with Avocado, Blood Orange and Broccoli Rabe
🌸 Grapefruit and Elderflower with Jicama
One of 6 restaurants at the resort, The Lighthouse Restaurant is truly serves as a unigue dining experience:
“Begin the evening with a 360-degree view of the resort and the Indian Ocean on top of the lighthouse before you sit down to vibrant flavours crafted from the finest seasonal ingredients and seafood; where each dish is brought to life by the passion and expertise of our culinary team. For a more intimate setting, opt for a private table on the terrace or a candle-lit table on the beach at our signature restaurant.”
- InterContinental Maamunagau
🏝️ DAY 6: Good Morning Video for Mandy ...
Thanks so much, Anita & Phoebe!
Click here!
🏝️ DAY 7: Biking home to her villa!
This AWESOME video just arrived and it made me smile from ear to ear and laugh out loud, too! Not only is Phoebe Bright talented in the kitchen, … she’s quite the on-the-scene reporter!
Click here for her fun commentary.
🏝️ DAY 6: The Finishing Touches ...
Chef Anita Lo completes the octopus dish before being presented to the table.
“Grilled Octopus with Garlic Chives and Fingerlings”
🏝️ DAY 7: Preparation for the NYE Gala
Chef Phoebe Bright is a natural at reporting! Watch here as she describes the festivities planned for tonight at the Intercontinental Maamunagau in the Maldives. The dinner menu is 12 pages long.
Phoebe and Anita are guests of the General Manager and his executive team. Should be a fun time! There are 300 employees on for this big event - double the number of resort guests, she tells me.
🏝️ DAY 7: A "Hi" to me!
Ahh … she has the Executive Chef say “hi” to me! He’s in charge of tonight’s huge NYE gala. Check it out!
🏝️ DAY 8: Being Silly with Yellowfin Tuna ... just click here!
🏝️ DAY 8: A Quick New Year's Message!
Want to listen in? Click here!
🏝️ DAY 8: Meet the Resort's Chief Butcher!
Click here to see Phoebe's interview - it's sweet!
🏝️ DAY 9: A PopUp Dinner
Tonight, Chef Anita Lo, Phoebe and the rest of their team will be back at The Lighthouse Restaurant preparing an outdoor feast, aka PopUp Dinner, for the resort’s guests. Apparently, everyone will dine on the beach under the stars. Sounds glorious! Here’s a gorgeous photo of the restaurant snapped by Phoebe, along with Chef Anita’s menu and her assistants. Bon Appetite!
🤔 Interesting Fact: Anita and Phoebe are the only Americans at the Intercontinental Maamunagau - including the staff and guests!
The PopUp Menu:
🦪 Live Scallop Crudo with Celeries
🥔 Textures of Potato with Caviar
🐟 Miso Marinated Sable with Crispy Silken Tofu in Bonito Broth
🥩 Grilled Beef Tongue and Braised Cheeks with Tokyo Turnips and Karashi
🍞 Poppyseed Bread and Butter Pudding with Meyer Lemon Curd
🏝️ DAY 9: PopUp Dinner!
Here’s a short video from Chef Anita Lo and Phoebe as they get ready for last night’s “PopUp Dinner” on the beach outside the Lighthouse Restaurant.
🏝️ DAY 9: Dinner on the Beach!
Last night's PopUp Dinner on the beach at the resort's Lighthouse Restaurant was a huge success, reports Phoebe. Despite the power going out, everyone enjoyed their delicious dinner:
🦪 Live Scallop Crudo with Celeries
🥔 Textures of Potato with Caviar
🐟 Miso Marinated Sable with Crispy Silken Tofu in Bonito Broth
🥩 Grilled Beef Tongue and Braised Cheeks with Tokyo Turnips and Karashi
🍞 Poppyseed Bread and Butter Pudding with Meyer Lemon Curd
Thoughts from Phoebe:
* "The beef cheeks dish is so, so, so good. I know it sounds strange but it's amazing. You would love it. You braise the beef all day long to make it really tender. Add veal stock, water, onions and garlic. Then, you take the liquid and reduce it and that becomes the "smear" fir the dish. We should definitely do this at The Paddle - its amazing."
*"The beef cheeks, when done, is like beef stew meat but so much better. I'm going to try it back at The Paddle."
* "For prepping, I had to make every element the same size - the potato with the caviar, the celery for the salad ... it's truly a work of art."
* "It's a bit challenging when you're accustomed to working in your own kitchen, knowing where everything is, then you need to adapt to a kitchen environment which is completely unknown. And, you want to put out a exceptional dishes - a learning experience for sure. But, I love it though I miss The Paddle."
* "I go to the kitchen every morning, even though I don't have to be there, to say hello to everyone. These people that work here will make you smile. They're amazing."
See below for photos --->
🏝️ DAY 10: Loads of Fish!
Phoebe reports: “Every day between 5:30-7:00pm the fish feed outside by villa. It’s pretty cool when it’s dead calm. Today, though, it’s so so windy, almost like a monsoon!” 💨 She adds: “I hope the wind doesn’t blow me off my bike on this wooden highway (as I call it) going back to my place. it’s really quite something today.”
🏝️ DAY 10: Running into Anita!
Cute short video of Phoebe running into Chef Anita Lo. Phoebe Bright is on her way to her villa after the gym and Anita is heading out to go fish!
Watch here.
🏝️ DAY 11: Prepping for Gala Wine Dinner!
Phoebe shares with us a quick video of the Wine Bar where Chef Anita Lo and she’ll be serving a very special dinner (see below). She tells me that some of the wine bottles are $12,000 offerings. 😳 Watch Phoebe's quick video!
They’ve been prepping all day for tomorrow’s feast!
GALA WINE DINNER
🐟 Toro Tartare with Oshinko and Caviar on Milkbread
🇫🇷 Moet et Chandon Brut, Champagne, France
🍲 Foie Gras Chawan Mushi with Sunchokes
🇪🇸 Muga Rosado Rose Rioja, Spain
🦪 Seared Scallops with Black Winter Truffles, Uni and Celtuce
🇫🇷 Louis Jadot, Pouilly Fuisse, Burgundy, France
🦆 Pan Roasted Breast of Duck with Sesame and Kabocha
🇦🇷 Las Moras, Black Lable Malbec, Argentina
🍓 Yuzu Tofu Custard with Strawberry
🇮🇹 Prunotto Moscato d Asti, Off-Dry, Italy
🏝️ DAY 11: Looking awesome!
Off to dinner with Chef Anita Lo ~ it’s 6:30pm in the Maldives!
(Looking great, my friend!)
🏝️ DAY 12: "Bamboo Lobster"
Chef Phoebe learns how they catch the lobster from the holding tanks for the steamer ...
Phoebe's reaction is priceless!
🏝️ DAY 12: Loads of Fish!
🐠 Chef Anita Lo sure knows her phylum Chordata!
Click here to watch!
🏝️ DAY 12: Checking out the Seafood!
Anita Lo loves to fish and loves to cook
(a lot) so it's no surprise that she finds the seafood market fascinating: watch here!
🏝️ DAY 12: Take a Walk with
Chef Phoebe ...
as she shows you will they will be serving tonight’s dinner - the Gala Wine Cellar!
🏝️ DAY 13: The Last Evening!
Her last night with Chef Anita Lo …
Phoebe reports that tonight is a collective effort among all the kitchen chefs and staff to present a Russian Buffet and that they’re responsible for the Shortrib Borscht with Creme Fraiche and Meyer Lemonik dishes.
✈️ Tomorrow, she’ll be flying home with a Sunday arrival! Yippee! We have missed her.
🏝️ DAY 14: Go Fish!
“The fish were going nuts this morning,” reports Phoebe. This video was taken right outside her villa’s little deck. Just amazing.
🏝️ DAY 14: Homeward Bound!
Yippee! Chef Phoebe is on her (long) way home! She flew into Male, the Capital of the Maldives, on a puddle jumper from the resort. Next, Istabul, Turkey to JFK to … (drum roll, please!) Burlington, VT! I’ll be picking her up tomorrow afternoon and I can’t wait! And, I think her little Willoughby misses her Mom a lot!
P.S. She'll be meeting up with Chef Anita Lo in Istanbul, Turkey to fly to NYC together.
See below for more photos --->
🏝️ DAY 14: "It's a (Maldives) Wrap!"
Beautiful photo taken by Phoebe on her last night in The Maldives.
For Phoebe:
Ahh, this moon shining the way,
A beacon of thanks for many a day.
It’s a “good bye” of sorts,
I do believe …
Lending a glimpse of her very last port.
Now, it’s time for our Phoebe to return,
For a little dog and all concern.
We’ve been watching full of glee,
For you have been missed, especially by me!
- mh
🏝️ DAY 15: The Paddle Pups have spoken!
Phoebe returns this afternoon ...
and this is her German Wirehaired Pointer, Willoughby.
🏝️ DAY 15: The Paddle Pups have spoken! Phoebe returns this afternoon ... and this is my oldest German Wirehaired Pointer, Wyeth. 13 yo
🏝️ DAY 15: The Paddle Pups have spoken! Phoebe returns this afternoon ... and this is my youngest German Wirehaired Pointer, Wilbur.
Ask Chef Phoebe
a question!
Email me with a question (or comment) and I'll forward to Chef Phoebe in The Maldives! I'll post all answers or her comments below on this page!
Thanks and have fun with this,
Mandy
Questions & Comments
for Chef Phoebe
9 Hour Time Change
From Deb D. (12/27/22)
“I’m so happy that you are on this magnificent journey. I’d like to know how you are handling the 9 hour time change so far?”
Chef Phoebe's response:
The adjustment to the 9 hour difference from USA EST is not so bad. Because of the long travel time (18 hours door to door not counting layovers), it’s been two days from the time you leave to the time you arrive in Male!
Male is where all the “big“ planes land and then you are transferred to a sea plane to travel to your chosen paradise! This plane ride is majestic to say the least. As you hover above the sea, there are literally hundreds of unusual looking large rings of shades of blue with the perimeter of these varying in size. These rings (isles under the sea) are glowing blue - as if they were plugged into some electrical current. A sight to behold, indeed.
Honestly, you are immediately taken away from any type of concern that you may have or fatigue you may feel from the nine hour time difference.
Time here in the Maldives is very manipulative. Your chosen paradise is on their own time zone. They are either one or two hours ahead of Male time giving the guests more sunset time in the evening.
So in other words, if it’s nine hours difference in Male its either 10 or 11 hour difference on your chosen island. Here in Maamunagau, we are 1 hour ahead of Male. Talk about time being manipulated.
Anyway, I hope this answers your question, Deb. The last thing one should be concerned with is how they feel once they get here. You’re literally taken away to an entirely different world … that more than encourages you forget about time.
Best,
Phoebe Bright
See Phoebe's photo below --->
Swimming from the Villa
From Tristan C. (12/29/22)
"Phoebe, it looks amazing. Are you able to just jump in and go swimming from your bungalow"!
Chef Phoebe's response:
Yes, it's awesome! I can walk right out to my little deck where there's a small infinity pool. To the left of my photo, there's a few steps that go directly into the ocean.
The other morning I saw the most amazing huge fish jump out of the water, too. It's pretty shallow so it's great watching and very relaxing after being in the kitchen all day. The set-up is over-the-top. Thanks for the question, Tristan.
See Phoebe's photo below --->
Will Chef Anita ever visit The Paddle?
From Rebecca T. (12/30/22)
Hi Phoebe! I'm just curious if your friend, Chef Anita Lo, will ever visit you at The Paddle? My husband and I would love to sign-up if there's a special dinner. I think I read there's a possibility somewhere.
Chef Phoebe's response:
Hi Rebecca,
The answer is yes! She's planning on coming up to South Hero in June for a week or so. And, we'll do at least one dinner that will be limited, of course. I'm sure Mandy will announce this far in advance.
I have to say I think Anita is very excited to walk in the world that we live in - it's such a departure from her world. Plus, she loves fishing! I'll be introducing her to a friend of mine who is a professional fly fisherwoman.
Best, Phoebe
See Anita's Instagram
photos below --->
Envious!
From Hailey H. (1/3/23)
Hi, Chef Phoebe,
I've always wanted to vacation in one of those water villas in the Maldives. Actaully, it's been on my bucket list.
Are they all that they're cracked up to be?
Appreciate your thoughts!
Chef Phoebe's response:
Hi Hayley,
In a single word - yes! I find my little "home" so private and completely stocked with everything one would need. At this resort, you walk out your door to an infinity pool and, if one chooses, can take a swim in the Indian Ocean.
I suppose most Maldives resorts have bikes like the one I have. It's definitely a must since I'm so far away from the main resort.
The resort, itself, has everything a guest might need.
The weather is beautiful despite the occasional cloud cover.
The real bonus is the people here ~ they are so happy and really want you to have a wonderful experience. I've made some good friends on the staff for sure.
The only negative thing I can say is the long travel time from the US. With my long layovers and the time change, I was a bit restless. But, hey - it's worth the trip! As a side note: The trip home won't be so bad because of the time change and I have a flight plan with smaller layovers.
Feel free to contact me at The Paddle when I'm home. I'll be happy to share lots more with you!
See below for some photos I took off the resort's various web pages --->
- Mandy