Herceg Novi,
03
February
2021
|
12:01
Europe/Amsterdam

Distinctive culinary experiences at One&Only Portonovi in Montenegro

Destination Dining on the shores of Boka Bay

Regarded as one of the hottest destinations for 2021, Montenegro is set to become a hub for world-class dining with the opening of One&Only Portonovi on the shores of Boka Bay, which will be welcoming guests from 1 May 2021. The resort will be home to some of the finest culinary experiences on the Adriatic Coast, including a Riviera-style Italian restaurant, farm-to-table Montenegrin cuisine celebrating fresh, local produce, and Asian fusion dishes alongside vibrant DJ sets at Tapasake Club.

The resort’s executive chef is Chris Mare, an award-winning South African chef who previously helmed the kitchen at One&Only Cape Town in South Africa, putting the resort on the map as a champion of local producers and specialty farmers. Chef Mare has introduced a similar commitment to showcasing the very best in regional produce at One&Only Portonovi. “It is incredibly exciting to be able to develop the culinary concept for One&Only’s first European resort,” said Chef Chris Mare. “One&Only Portonovi will offer an exceptional dining experience, celebrating quality ingredients sourced from the surrounding sea and mountains. Our aim is to reflect the flavours and culture of Montenegro and to focus on beautifully executed, seasonal dishes.”

The resort’s signature restaurant will be Sabia, a refined Riviera-style restaurant overlooking the beautiful Boka Bay, serving Southern Italian cuisine with a focus on fresh, locally sourced seafood and vegetables. An elegant and modern menu that celebrates Italian roots and the historical influence of his homeland in Montenegro has been curated. A Raw Bar will serve crisp crudo vegetables, while menu options include organic sorghum salads, homemade whole-wheat pasta dishes and grilled seafood with olive oil and herbs. Offering indoor and outdoor dining, with mesmerising views of the Adriatic coastline and mountains, the dishes will be complemented by an extensive wine list leaning towards Italian blends, as well as hand-crafted cocktails including seasonal fruit pulp prosecco, barrel-aged Negronis and homemade spritzers.

Following the success of the namesake restaurants at One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives and One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius, Tapasake Club will be an evolution of the experience into a stylish pool club, with a resident DJ playing soulful tunes throughout the day, spirited sunset sessions and contemporary Japanese cuisine. The restaurant will serve tapas-style dishes of ceviche, carpaccio, sushi and sashimi, as well as a selection of marinated fish and meats cooked over hot coals, along with salads, vegetable tempura, and spicy, flavoursome small bites. A modern interpretation of desserts will tempt guests, while the sake bar will offer experimental cocktails blended with the Japanese spirit. Effortlessly transitioning throughout the day, pool club guests will be able to enjoy bites at the tapas counter or retreat to the pool with a personal bento box, before the sun sets and the tempo picks up for atmospheric evenings.

Regional ingredients and Montenegrin-inspired dishes are showcased at relaxed main restaurant, La Veranda, where guests are welcomed into the open kitchen by the resort’s Team of chefs. At breakfast, baskets of croissants, waffles, pancakes and a ‘doughnut of the day’ will be freshly made. A large gluten-free offering will be available, and the deli corner will serve a selection of charcuterie and cheese, as well as smoked salmon boards. The lunch and evening menus will focus on local produce and popular Adriatic dishes from the mountains and the sea, with an emphasis on Mediterranean seasonal flavours. Signature dishes will include healthy salads made from ancient grains such as farro, spelt and quinoa, as well as leaf and legume salads. The Providore will house a wide selection of fine charcuterie and cheeses, both local and European, while La Veranda’s evolving a la carte menu will feature sharing platters of roasted grilled meats and catch-of-the-day seafood. The dessert selection will encapsulate the destination featuring tulumba with bagrem honey, cherry strudel and fresh fruit tarts sitting alongside chestnut and chocolate mille-feuille. The restaurant will offer a wine cellar housing an expertly crafted selection of regional and European wines.

La Veranda will also offer meals according to the Chenot Diet as part of the Chenot Method® for guests that want to lead a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. Following an exclusive global partnership with leading health and wellness brand Chenot, One&Only Portonovi will be the first One&Only to offer Chenot Espace, a transformative journey of detoxing and resetting the body. Diet is one of the key pillars used by Chenot to promote vitality and boost energy levels, and these lighter menu options will be tailored for guests following Chenot programmes.

Guests at the Caminetti Bar, located in the Palazzo will enjoy a comfortable, residential atmosphere with spectacular views over the terrace, gardens and beach. ‘Caminetti’, meaning ‘little fireplaces’ in Italian, will be a cosy spot to meet friends, stop for a bite to eat, and enjoy an aperitif or post dinner drink. The cocktail list will feature skilfully mixed drinks ranging from classic recipes to unexpected and modern blends, and an extensive fine loose-leaf tea selection draws inspiration from the destination, featuring rare ingredients such as olive leaf and saffron flower. Hand-squeezed juices and quenchers prepared from fruits in season will be served, and a freshly baked morning and afternoon pastry selection will showcase the region’s ingredients such as berries, honey, walnuts, pistachio and stone fruits. The dining menu at Caminetti Bar will feature high-end modern dishes, with a creative and contemporary approach to presentation, with dishes including truffle lobster, house-made brioche, house-cured salmon, shucked oysters and yuzu granita.

Caminetti Bar will also offer an elegant pre-dinner caviar menu, serving a choice of Ars Italica caviar of exceptional quality, coupled with complementary flavours and a selection Louis Roederer`s finest champagne. Pairings include classic garnishes on a buckwheat blini, through to the more contemporary such as prawn tartare featuring Sevruga Caviar, or a soft poached quail egg and champagne crème with Oscietra Caviar and steamed baby potato.

A variety of bespoke dining experiences will be available at One&Only Portonovi, available to book via the experiences team. Flexible in-room and in-villa dining will also be available 24 hours a day. Suite One, Villa One and Villa Two all feature large refreshment centres stocked with boutique, organic tea blends, Illy coffee machines, international and regional wines and spirits as well as tempting house-made treats and organic snacks, selected to match guests’ taste preferences. Suite One features its own wine vault, housing bottles from the region and Europe, whilst Villa guests can enjoy customised and personalised menus with a choice of foods from regional and international cuisines. Outdoor dining and open-air cooking will also be a highlight.

Situated on the Adriatic Coast, Portonovi is an easy drive from Dubrovnik (one hour), Tivat (50 minutes), and Podgorica (two and a half hours) airports, all of which are served by a variety of airlines, and well equipped to handle private jets. All restaurants are available to both One&Only guests and outside guests upon reservation.

For reservations or more information, please visit oneandonlyresorts.com

One&Only

Created exclusively for the ultra-luxury market, One&Only is conceived as a hallmark of excellence. Set in some of the most beautiful locales in the world, each award-winning resort offers guests a distinctive style and personality borne of its local culture, a genuine hospitality and a lively energy that is unrivalled. The exclusive collection includes One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives; One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius; One&Only Royal Mirage and One&Only The Palm in Dubai; One&Only Palmilla and One&Only Mandarina in Mexico; One&Only Cape Town in South Africa; Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley in The Blue Mountains in Australia; One&Only Desaru Coast in Malaysia; and One&Only Nyungwe House and One&Only Gorilla’s Nest in Rwanda. As part of the new portfolio, One&Only will be opening One&Only Portonovi in Montenegro in 2021. Additional resorts in development include One&Only Kéa Island in Greece and One&Only One Za’abeel in Dubai as well as communities of One&Only Private Homes around the world. More information on One&Only is available at oneandonlyresorts.com