As you have been reading in last week’s blogs, Amelia Island makes the perfect Girlfriend Getaway Weekend:  amazing accommodations, large array of culinary delights, outdoor activities to see and experience the beauty of nature, unique shopping opportunities and spas that pamper a woman’s soul.

The one element we have not spoken about is that a Girlfriend’s Getaway needs to be MEMORABLE.  If you don’t create memories, in my opinion then the mini vacation kind falls short.  Well, not in Amelia Island and certainly not at the Ritz-Carlton!

As the saying goes, “Seeing is believing.” Millions of Americans tune into cooking shows in hopes of discovering what really goes on behind the kitchen doors.  But in the world of fine dining establishments, secrets are often guarded jealously.   Just what do the chef’s in professional kitchen do to make their food taste better, look better?  At Salt, The Grill in the Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, we found out and at the same time enjoyed one of the most memorable meals of our lives.

As we stepped into the Salt kitchen, we were escorted into a private dining room.  A glass partition (which allowed our gossip sessions)  separated us from the kitchen’s main line and its team of bustling chefs.

We became spectators of a brilliant production with our own private box seats.  Flaming skillets were expertly handled by ladies and gentlemen in crisply, starched, white chef’s jackets.  The aroma of fresh garlic wafted through the air.  Searing Ahi Tuna sizzled.  Servers perform final inspections of perfectly presented dinner plates.  The sommelier swirled robust red wine, critiquing his recommendations for the evening.  The chef de cuisine stood watch, ensuring every detail was executed to perfection.  We were present to witness the split-second timing and creative decision-making of a team of chefs who hallmark Salt’s superlative food and service.

The Seat in the Kitchen is a customized ten-course, five-hour feast which is paired with a selection of exquisite wines for each course.   Not only were we treated to a few cherished culinary secrets; we had the opportunity to interact closely with the chefs while they worked their magic. 

After our tantalizing third course, Kim, Kelly and I decided to leave our private dining room and mingle with the professionals.  With aprons and chef hats on,  we got behind the stoves and experience the night to its full capacity.  Not only did we chop, stir, see, taste and explore, but we even got to serve meals created by Chef Richard Laughlin.

The girls and I had one of the most MEMORABLE nights of our lives.  I don’t think the people inside the kitchen were expecting such an animated group of women.  We took our role of participants seriously.  I like to believe they enjoyed our presence, as much as, we enjoyed being with not only great professionals, but people that truly love what they do every day of their lives.

Keep living and loving!   Ciao!