Have you seen our Royal Herb gardens yet? Yet another green initiative at the resorts, the Chef ’s Garden project was the brainchild of Executive Chef Enrique García and his team. The first one was started next to Tradewinds Restaurant at The Royal Caribbean. Other gardens followed at The Royal Haciendas and The Royal Sands during 2012. Rosemary, oregano, coriander, basil, mint, tomatoes, chilies and even chaya, a plant native to the Yucatán which resembles spinach but is much more nutritious, have been planted at the different locations.
At The Royal Haciendas, a larger plot of land was allocated for the herb garden cum orchard. Herbs, tomatoes, onions, lettuces, radishes and 15 varieties of chilies are already flourishing in the garden. Pomegranate and papaya trees have also been planted and the gardeners plan to incorporate citrus fruit trees such as lime and mandarin orange.
Organic techniques are being used to raise the plants and diners at the resort restaurants will soon be able to sample the fruits of their labor. Apart from providing fresh produce for the resort kitchens and for members to use for the meals they prepare in their units, the flowering herbs will also attract butterflies and the stingless Mayan honeybees that are native to the Yucatán.
