Blue Village Congress 2015

Atlantica Caldera Beach

Crete

Early in the summer season I'm back in my role as corporate executive chef for Blue Village resorts, Blue village is the Swedish subsidiary of Fritidsresor which in turn is a daughter company of the German "TUI". My early season tasks include visiting new resorts to the company, visiting new to the concept local executive chefs and visiting properties that may have struggled with internal guest satisfaction scores the previous season.

I just returned from the season opening at the Atlantica Caldera Beach resort. The resort is about 1/2 an hour from Chania airport in the town of Gerani in Crete, this beach front resort has everything you need to get away from the rat race, Caldera Beach is specially designed for family's and children without forgetting the adults.

Colour and sunshine is abundant even early in the season on Crete. Much of the local produce is sourced from the resorts own farm, how local is that.

Local specialities like Fava bean puree, tsatsiki, beets in yoghurt, taramasalata, and tuna dip are served in their traditional Tavern By The sea, an integral part of the resort and a great way to slow down and move into holiday mode.

These little cabbage rolls were so good i ate half of them before taking the picture, I winder how many cultures claim dolmardes ar their own, for us in Sweden we think of them as ours. These mini rice filled Greek cabbage rolls were fantastic, they're served as a small starter in Caldera Beach's traditional Tavern By The Sea restaurant.

Home made traditional filo pastry desserts, I took mine straight from the baking tray, some may think they're a little sweet, but who can resist them

Atlantica Caldera Creta Paradise

Crete

Just across the road from Caldera Beach Resort is the Sister resort, I was there early may for the season opening. These resorts are big and to go from winter closure to open and in operation is no mean feat. Together these sister resorts have everything you need to get away from the rat race, Caldera Crete Paradise is specially designed for family's and children without forgetting the adults.

Creta Paradise features some great swim up rooms, very comfortable you really have to drag yourself to the newly renovated buffet.

What a job to see these different kitchen environments, how they work and meet the dedicated chefs driving these diverse kitchen operations, we always take all the help we can get.

Mixed salad with roquefort dressing, apple, fennel with walnuts and avocado. The salad is on the menu at Creta Paradise Green and Grill restaurant.

Asian style grilled chicken salad, also from their Green and Grill restaurant.

Alcudia Pins, Mallorca

Alcudia Pins

Mallorca

Alcudia is about 40 minutes from the airport at Las Palmas, now at the beginning of the season in early May Alcudia and Mallorca is not so crowded, but during the peak summer season Mallorca is one of Europe's major sunshine tourist destination.

Alcudia Pins is situated direct on the beach front in Alcudia if thats not enough there are pools, splash pools children's pools scattered through out the resort. A big resort with lots of restaurants, stages, bars, snack bars and entertainment for the whole family.

From Alcudia Pins you can enjoy the beach and swim in the sea, take long walks along the beach or just lay around in front of the resort.

All of the Blue Village Resorts have fantastic gardens, plants and flowers, Alcudia Pins is no exception here there are lots of cacti, my kind of plant, theres not much watering or maintenance needed.

Paella of course is served on the buffets many different colourful and flavour full variations, they're made continuously at the open kitchen in the main buffet restaurant.

Lots of colour and flavour on the dessert buffet.

Otrium Seven Seas resort

Side, Turkey

The Seven Seas Resort, right on the coast a few kilometres from Side.

I was here at Seven Seas around the 20th of May.

Seven Sea's is a big resort also featuring Mexican restaurant / night club as well as the standard Green And Grill and the local Taverna concepts as well as a large and snack bar.

While I was here we worked on the children's breakfast buffet, an integral part of the Blue Village concept implementing more healthy alternatives, Bamse and his comic book friends are all part of the Blue Village concept.

Vitello Tonnato from Seven Sea's Mediterranean inspired Green & Grill restaurant, an experimental presentation we made together with the chefs from Seven Seas.

Pictured is another speciality turkish bread "pita" baked every day direct on the buffet in the brick oven, Lavosh is another local treat and pizza with local cheeses are also featured regularly.

Baia Di Conte

Sardinia, Italy

At the end of May I was at Baia di Conte resort, Baia de Conte lies in the national park a few kilometers outside of Allegro on Sardinia's west coast. Allegro is a great little Mediterranean city, small enough to walk around in and big enough to be interesting for the whole of your stay.

Baia di Conte resort is for the active, there are a number of tennis courts and an old Roman ruins about 500 meters from the resort, all roman ruins are old, this one features lots of rocks the same as many others, it was probably really interesting.

There are view cliffs up the road, spectacular bluffs and cliffs A good hike from the hotel, or a short ride in air conditioned comfort.

Not far from the resort is the interesting agricultural restaurant Sa Mandra, well wort a visit and dinner, step back through time and perspective.

Parmesan cheese, not like the small vacuumed pieces we buy at the supermarket, Take as much as you like.

The Pork fillet at Baia di Contes Green and Grill restaurant, served with apple jelly and rosemary jus, it tasted as good as it looks.