Best Culinary Experiences of 2017

Callawassie Island welcomes visitors, vacationers and residents with its own sense of warmth, balance and connection. The richness of Lowcountry cuisine is a balance of acceptance and imagination. Callawassie Island cuisine carries on that appreciation of Nature’s generosity here, where land and sea mingle so intimately, and it adds the perspective of having become the home of people who’ve been everywhere and sampled the festive dishes that come with achievement. To be simple, fresh and at the same time sophisticated is a rare combination, mastered every day in the kitchens of Callawassie Island.

Bluffton, SC—Situated in the South Carolina Lowcountry between Charleston and Savannah, Palmetto Bluff is the East Coast’s largest remaining waterfront property. Committed to conservation, the 20,000-acre development is surrounded by 32 miles of riverfront and features nature trails, two vibrant village centers, complete with river access, boat storage and canoe club, the AAA Five Diamond Montage Palmetto Bluff resort, and a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Palmetto Bluff’s annual food festival Music to Your Mouth is a three-day epicurean experience that brings together some of the biggest names in Southern food, drinks and music. Each year, a collection of “Culinary Salons” invites guests to interact directly with chefs and other personalities in an intimate, creative setting.

Tulum—Experience Villas Las Palmas Tulum Boutique Hotel & Residences, a masterful orchestration of art, architecture and hospitality where every feature and detail transports one to a world of unsurpassed luxury and sensuousness. The beachfront town of Tulum offers access to a wide variety of delicious culinary offerings, including an eclectic mix of local Mayan and Mexican flavors, as well as world-class international fare. The community provides easy access via private shuttle to all of Tulum’s best restaurants, and the development’s very own bartender and chef are always ready to whip up a snack or a refreshing cocktail.

Williamsburg, Virginia—Ford’s Colony is a top-tier Virginia residential community that offers upscale amenities like three outstanding Dan Maples-designed golf courses. But all cart paths lead to The Dining Room at Ford’s Colony Country Club. The gourmet meals prepared there for members and their delighted guests have earned the AAA Five Diamond award for culinary excellence, plus honors from Wine Spectator magazine for its extensive collection of superb wines. And the food-lovers experience continues outside the gates at the authentic early-American-style restaurants in nearby Colonial Williamsburg, a treasure of national history and culture.

Flagstaff, Arizona—Pine Canyon offers a variety of custom homes, townhomes and condominiums for residents, plus amenities like the award-winning golf course designed by architect Jay Moorish. But most members will tell you that the fine and casual dining at the Pine Canyon Clubhouse is what keeps them coming back, with casual lunches on the big patio overlooking the course and elegant dinners in the main dining room complimented by more than 1,700 choices from the wine cellar. And with the hiring earlier this year of master chef David Lapinski, the best has gotten even better.

Longboat Key, Florida - The Sarasota area’s finest dining is found at Longboat Key, with six venues to delight the palate: Sands Pointe Restaurant offers sweeping Gulf of Mexico views and local seafood favorites and Portofino specializes in classic Northern Italian dishes in a harbor-side setting. Spike ‘n Tees is an open-air eatery that overlooks the golf course, while Barefoot’s is a poolside cafe for casual lunches between dips. Court 21 at the tennis center is a gathering place for after-match meals and The Tavern offers Longboat Key’s ultimate farm-to-table dining experience, plus a unique whiskey bar that features more than 100 choice blends.

Birmingham, Alabama—Just outside of Birmingham, Greystone is an upscale Alabama community for residents with distinctive tastes. The Greystone Golf & Country Club features dining options at each of its two golf clubhouses that are always a cut above. The Founders Clubhouse offers three choices: The Trophy Room and Terrace for fine dining indoors and out, the elegant Main Dining Room for special occasions and the beautiful new Cellar 91 for casual fare with style. Equally impressive is the Legacy Clubhouse, which features a Men’s Grill for after-round relaxation and a cozy dining room.