"Don’t think there is any other place in the Caribbean with so many good restaurants," says Jean Legoubey of Plaza Caraibes. "They are not expensive and they have good food." He has traveled all over the Caribbean and notes that tourists can have a taste of France right here, they don’t have to travel to France.

One of the things that is so impressive about the island is the selection of food that it offers for the size of land that it occupies. Whether the food is Italian, French, Indian, American, Argentine, Chinese, Middle Eastern or Caribbean, nine times out of ten the cooks are natives of the lands where the cuisine they are cooking is from. When one tastes the food it becomes obvious that these establishments are truly something special.

Sargentoni Spartaco, the managing director of Spartaco Restaurant, explains that he prefers not to claim his restaurant is better than others. "The food is different with different chefs. We choose to cater to the lover of Northern Italian cuisine," he says. Born in Siena, Italy, in the region known as Tuscany, Spartaco opened his St. Maarten restaurant in 1986. He has worked in England, Italy and on both the northern and southern sides of St. Maarten. Spartaco explains that the cuisine of Northern Italy is similar to French food and is not as spicy as southern Italian cuisine. Cuisine from southern Italy uses more olives, tomatoes, sausages and heavy sauces.

"Here we use herbs, not rich sauces. We prefer natural, simple flavors. There is a big difference between Milan and Palermo!," he laughs. Sargentoni also notes that guests to the island don’t eat in the same place more than once, due to the selection available.

Selection is definitely not a problem. Grand Case, a small town on the northern side of the island boasts 28 restaurants that are all located along a beautiful beach. These restaurants cater to the romantic couple wanting to enjoy an evening meal while an evening sea breeze blows into the open aired restaurants. The Rainbow Restaurant has just this setting.

"We try to diversify our cuisine. It is oriented French, but we spice it up regularly with other dishes like Italian, Japanese and Chinese," says General Manager Nory Laidi. He is from Nice, France and has lived on the island for eight years. "The view is what made Grand Case the restaurant capital it is," he says. "We are right on the beach—lights at night make it all lit up." He couldn’t be more correct, the setting is breathtaking.

Red Snapper and Sea Bass are the most sold items on the menu at the Rainbow. As an appetizer, one should try the Fricassee of Sea Scallops or the Curry Pear Chutney. For dessert, don’t miss the Creme Brulee, made of bon bon, vanilla and dark rum. The restaurant seats guests at seven and nine in the evening, so don’t delay! During the high season, 95 percent of clientele are from Canada or the U.S., so one will feel right at home.

"All of our colleagues in Grand Case do a really nice job," says the Owner of the Rainbow Fleur Raad. "Unlike a restaurant in Washington, D.C. that does menu changes, our repeat guests come back and want the same thing," she jokes.

Christine Janot, owner of Sebastiano Ristorante, is the 2000 recipient of the Connfrerie des Rotisseurs Award given to businesses recognized for hard work.

Her restaurant was the only one on French St. Martin that was recognized this year. With 47 Italian dishes to choose from, Ms. Janot welcomes dinner guests. "We will be very happy to see you and we will take care of you," she says.

Phillipe Chaulet, President of the Office of Tourism in Guadeloupe, says "Americans are welcome to St. Martin, the capital of Mediterranean gastronomy. Health wise the food is the best." Having experienced the cuisine of many of these fine establishments myself, this writer can not agree with Mr. Chaulet more!