OK, so it's a short film. Three minutes, to be exact. And it's the final episode of my Grande Lakes adventure. A videographer from Florida-based visual production company Megapixel Pro followed my mom and me on every step of our culinary journey. The result is a slick hold-onto-your-chef-hats montage that's all clacking castanets and sultry-slow-mo-bites — not to mention more than a few strange facial expressions by yours truly, preserved for all posterity, thank you very much.
One of my favorite moments that didn't make it in was when the chef who you'll see carving a gorgeous leg of Iberico ham — which goes for about $100 per pound in the States, mind you — dropped not one, not two, but three slices on the floor! He tried to pass each one to me as it balanced precariously on the edge of his carving knife. Instead of making it to my mouth (or even my eager fingers), they plunged limply to the tiles. When the first one dropped, I gasped: "That's like $70 you dropped right there!"
(I know, I know -- the math is wrong. But, please, I'm a writer!)
The experience was phenomenal, though. The chefs at Grande Lakes — Mark Beaupre, Daniel Yates, Thomas Horner, and many others — displayed such enthusiasm for food, from their tenderly kept organic garden to their relationship with a local farmer who supplies this massive hotel complex with fresh eggs. The food I was presented was whimsical and daring, and also well researched — few of the chefs had even been to Spain, but you'd have never known it by their knowledge of the cuisine.
There are only a dozen of these "Savory Savior" experiences available (yes, you too can star in [YOUR NAME]: The Movie!). To learn how you can be one of the lucky few, read my story for globorati here.
PS Looking to score some big brownie points with your foodie significant other this Christmas? Think Grande Lakes!
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