The newest addition to the culinary scene on St. Croix has plans to make their mark “in a big way.” Gwan Mannyé is a family run establishment that opened its doors in September 2021. Owners Christopher Monbelly and Dean Baptiste, Jr. are the uncle nephew duo with St. Lucian roots that wanted to pay homage to their family’s homeland when naming the restaurant. Monbelly is the current owner of Ital in Paradise, a vegan and vegetarian restaurant in downtown Christiansted. By teaming up with his nephew, it allowed their offerings to branch out and grow. “We wanted to have something that catered to everyone, regardless of their dietary preference,” said Baptiste. “At Gwan Mannyé, everyone is represented in our restaurant offerings.”
Meaning ‘in a big way,’ Gwan Mannyé offers contemporary Caribbean cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients. Baptiste shared the challenges that come with keeping it local and how the restaurant manages through it. “You can only source so much on a daily basis,” said Baptiste. “This is why our menu changes daily – it fluctuates based on on-island availability.” Whipping up delectable delights in the kitchen are Head Chef Mark Davis and Sous Chef Terrance Bryson. Together, they work on creating a menu that has something for everyone. The daily menu always includes chicken, meat, seafood, vegan and vegetarian dishes. With the fluctuating menu, it is rare to find the same specials appear from one week to the next. When asked how they manage guests wanting a previous dish, Baptiste revealed the level of confidence he has in his kitchen staff. “We have so much faith in our chefs that we know they can create something that would blow you away or surpass your expectations.” This challenges the chefs to be creative on the spot without having to be restricted to a specific menu.
Gwan Mannyé is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast and lunch hours are from 7am to 2pm, dinner 4pm to 10pm. For more information, visit their Facebook page and Instagram page or call 340.715.7979.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
The Virgins Islands Tech Village project is estimated to cost around $40 Million, and is part of the economic revitalization effort on St. Croix. Senators recently showed support for a bill that authorizes the use of 18 acres of land for The Virgin Islands Tech Village in Estate Lower Love. The University of the Virgin Islands’ Research and Technology Park Corporation said the project proposes 18 acres of farmland, a farmer’s grant program and a first-of-its-kind revenue sharing program among local farmers. During the discussion on rezoning agricultural lands for RT Park development, issues on improving the leasing process for farmers had also been raised.
To read more about this, see the full articles from The Virgin Islands Consortium (click here) and from The Virgin Islands Daily News (click here).
Learn how to dance like a pro at St. Croix Ballroom & Latin Dance Studio! Owners Garincha and Jennifer Hilaire have over 20 years of knowledge and experience in the art of dancing and brought their expertise to St. Croix. After honeymooning in St. John, the couple fell in love with the idea of island living. They decided a larger island was more their speed and chose St. Croix as their home, moving to the island in October 2020.
Garincha & Jennifer tried to find a social ballroom and dance spaces on the island and realized there weren’t any. From there, St. Croix Ballroom & Latin Dance Studio was born offering various types of dance styles under one roof – salsa, swing, tango and ballroom. Originally, the couple planned on creating a dance club. “We wanted to create a space where groups of people could come together and dance,” said Garincha. However, the COVID-19 pandemic made that option impossible; instead, they opened their dance studio in June 2021.
Three types of lessons are offered – private, group and practice – with each one offering different benefits for the student. Private lessons are one-on-one coaching and is the most efficient way to learn how to dance. Students can practice any style of dance they want; questions are answered right away and lessons take place at the convenience of the student. A manual is provided to track progress, learning and development. Group lessons are always fun and energetic. With these lessons, students can use it as repetition and to fine tune what they’ve learned in one-on-one lessons. “Our group lessons are great because of the people who attend.” There is no need to be shy as the groups are noncompetitive where everyone supports one another. Practice sessions round out the offerings with a real-life setting featuring disco lights. Here, students get to apply the material they’ve learned and are supervised throughout the session. According to Garincha, it is ideal to have all three forms to be a well-rounded dancer. However, you can mix and match lessons as you choose.
As a beginner specialist studio, anyone who feels they have two left feet should come and see their teaching method. “We can make anyone a believer that they can be a great dancer.” The first lesson, which is a private lesson, is free. This ensures that each person enjoys their time with St. Croix Ballroom & Latin Dance Studio before making a decision to join. At that time, the pricing, packages and other offerings will be discussed and decided on.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
Crucian-born Shanya Williams always had a passion for fashion. Her worldly travels deepened her love for this form of self-expression in a way she never expected. After visiting places like Thailand, Australia, Costa Rica and Caribbean islands like St. Lucia and Jamaica, Williams was “intrigued by the different cultures and how they represent fashion.” Enter Kasavah – a bohemian lifestyle boutique with a modern twist. This intimate space nestled in the historic Caravelle Arcade in downtown Christiansted features earth-friendly, eco-friendly apparel and accessories for women and children. Kasavah’s style offers modern hipster vibes with an edgy twist. “My goal for Kasavah was to make it appealing to a wide range of people,” said Williams, “and introduce a style that was different from the norm found on St. Croix.”
Williams knew having a business on St. Croix was going to be a challenge. That’s why she didn’t hesitate to open the boutique during the throes of a global pandemic. “This was a personal goal for me to open during the pandemic,” said Williams. “If we can get through this and be successful, we can literally do anything.” Opened on November 27th, 2020, Kasavah was welcomed with open arms by locals and visitors to the island with an unwavering support that surprised Williams. It became clear that many craved this free-spirited, hipster apparel and there was truly something for everyone.
Shopping at Kasavah is more than a shopping experience but a lifestyle! When you enter the boutique, you will quickly discover that every garment and accessory is a statement piece. The featured brands in Kasavah originate from countries and continents that many on St. Croix wouldn’t normally gravitate towards. Additionally, the clothing for most of the brands are rooted in sustainability and made with organic materials.
Kasavah is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 5pm. For more information and to shop online, visit their website at www.Kasavah.com. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates on what’s happening in and around the boutique.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
Studio 360 is your one stop shop for wellness on St. Croix. This state-of-the-art chiropractic wellness and movement center combines chiropractic wellness care with a functional fitness center. Together, these pieces create an environment that supports the goal of helping the body heal itself. Designed with holistic wellness in mind, Studio 360 owners Amanda & Kendall Holmes opened the center in late 2017 after the devastating hurricanes Irma and Maria. “Right after we unloaded the equipment into the space, Irma came with little to no damage and Maria soon after,” said Amanda. Unfortunately, hurricane Maria’s 175-mph winds caused catastrophic damage to the island. Although everything was still in plastic, their plans on opening were delayed due to the storm.
Despite the delay, Amanda and Kendall were determined to open Studio 360. With no power for 4 months, they provided personal training sessions at their home and did wellness visits at the studio in the heat. Amanda stated how badly people wanted care after dealing with the stress of the storms. “This is why we train – to stay healthy.” In doing so, the couple was able to help many and be resilient during the tough times post hurricanes. Creating a healthy community is the purpose and mission at Studio 360 because “a happy community equals healthy people.”
Studio 360 stands out from other fitness centers with their focus on functional movement, which is a new area of exercise, and wellness. The studio strives to help patients achieve an optimal level of wellness where they’re not coming in because of an issue but maintaining overall health before an issue occurs. In addition to the chiropractic wellness session and fitness classes, Studio 360 offers acupuncture, massage therapy, diet and nutrition consultation and reiki, a relaxation, stress reduction and holistic energy healing practice that helps manage health and wellbeing. Their specialty equipment is also one of their standout features, most specifically the K-Mill 360 which was created and designed by Kendall. This multi-directional treadmill allows for movement in all 360 degrees where one can burn up to 52% more calories than walking alone. Using this one-of-a-kind piece of equipment allows muscle utilization in all the ranges they were designed to move, creating a balance physique, stimulated nervous system and improved posture.
Studio 360 is located at Five Corners in Estate La Grande Princess in the old National Guard Building. For more information about Studio 360, visit their website at www.studio360vi.com or give them a call at (340) 514-8376.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
The White-crowned Pigeon is a near threatened species and we have been seeing them in our front yard! Christie lays out seeds for them and we enjoy their occasional visits. Coincidentally, we came across an article by writer and photographer Robbie Lisa Freeman in the Los Angeles Audubon that mention the White-crowned Pigeon on St. Croix. Freeman is doing a series about birding in the US Virgin Islands and part 1 documents the birds she saw at St. Croix’s Southgate Coastal Reserve and more from her birdwatching experience.
As pointed out in the article, St. Croix has a lot of sweet spots for birdwatching. The Southgate Reserve, St. George Botanical Garden, the East End Nature Preserve and Marine Park, Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge, Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, Buck Island Reef National Monument, The Nature Conservancy’s Estate Little Princess preserve, and more have been designated as wildlife sanctuaries to protect nesting habitat and destinations for birdwatchers to admire these amazing creatures.
We encourage you to read the full article here, and we can’t wait to read the rest of the series when it publishes! You can follow Freeman on Instagram @freebird2020LF to see her birding images.
