“March – Green Team Newsletter”

Our Organic Garden and Current Production

What is an organic garden?  An area where plants are produced by obeying the laws of nature — Industrial pesticide and fertilizer use is disallowed in our garden – Naturally produced fertilizers such as ash, compost, manure and organically produced pesticides and herbicides are encouraged – Integrated pest management systems (IMPS) practices are applied to prevent and combat pests and diseases. 

What are we producing?  A small scale fruit and vegetable productions is now at full swing in our newly established organic garden.  Healthier fruits, vegetables and herbs are now available for guests and staff in the restaurant and staff kitchen.  Watermelon, cantaloupe, pine apple, papaya, carrots, passion fruit, green onions, peppermint and basil, just to name a few, are now in production.

We invite you to come and get a tour of our organic garden! 

 

“Vets Without Borders from Arkansas, February Clinic”

We continue to have a fantastic 2012 for the animals in Hopkins, Sittee River and nearby villages.   The Carroll County Vets Without Borders from Berryville, Arkansas, returned for their 5th visit to Hopkins! Dr. Tina Cone, Ramona Hambrick and Anita Beeson had a fantastically fun… and incredibly busy… trip to Belize.  Over the course of four days of surgery (including one day when the air conditioning went out), the team was able to complete 18 spays, 17 neuters, a limb amputation, a femoral head ostectomy, dentals, a tumor removal, and entropion (eye surgery), several lacerations and over 80 exams!  Amazing!

Tina, Ramona and Anita also made it by Saturday puppy class to help clean up the park, help hand out dog food (one of our best HBHS programs) and hand a few kids treats they had brought along with them.   Hamanasi contributed once again to the HBHS program with accomodations, lunches and allowed the vets to take some time off from their busy schedule and go on one of our snorkeling trips to the Southern Barrier Reef.

Every time the Carroll County Vet team visits Hopkins, things go well. Old friends are reacquainted, and new ones made.  As always, we look forward to their next visit.

“Hamanasi Guest Book – February 2012″

On behalf of Hamanasi Staff and Management, we want to thank everyone that visited us for the month of February.  We hope that you all have a great vacation experience with us and we can’t wait to have you back!

“Keep doing what you’re doing and stay true to your vision and the Belizean culture.”

Michele Carroll, Dallas, TX

“Keep up the great work.  Staff could not be nicer. ”

Gail and Frank Julie, Larchmont, NY

“Our vacation was perfect above and beyond our expectations; thanks to Hamanasi ~ we wouldn’t change a thing!”

Cindy and Bruce, Calgary, AB

“Most friendly and welcoming staff we have ever experienced – Thank  you!”

John and Jane Pope, Greensboro, NC

“Exceptional, professional and friendly.   First class all the way.”

James and Martha Hannon, Colorado Springs, CO

“Staff was probably the friendliest and most eager to help of any resort I have visited – Five Stars!”

Sean and Linda Quinn, Ontario, Cananda

“Keep up the high standards.”

Ned Hickey Family, Marlborough, CT

“Absolutely excellent – friendly, accommodating, remembered names this sets resort apart from others.”

Jeff and Kristi Carius, Boulder, CO

“Overall lovedBelize, the resort and the exceptional staff.”

Barry and Maryl Featherstone, Pendleton, OR

 ”Staff was helpful, energetic, enthusiastic and always happy and available.  The most impressive group I’ve ever encountered.”

Adolf and Kelli Maas, Bothell, WA

“Royal visit to Belize”

Prince Harry is expected to arrive in Belize on Friday, March 2nd, 2012 as a part of the celebration to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s II Diamond Jubilee. The Prince will be visiting Belmopan and San Ignacio during his whirlwind visit to Belize for which the Belize Tourism Board in collaboration with the Government of Belize has organized a packed schedule of activities for him to maximize his visit to the country.

Hopkins was chosen as the destination to represent the Garifuna Booth in the street festival welcoming Prince Harry to Belize. Chef Bernard from Jaguar Reef Lodge along with our very own Chef Sheridan and Chef Marcia were chosen to prepare and serve Prince Harry and all invited guests with our traditional delectable Garifuna dishes. Along with the Garifuna booth, there will be a Creole and Mestizo Booth.

It is being said that the Prince wants to dance to the Punta music and drink our Beliken beer. There will be professional cultural dancers and entertainment for this event.

We are all super excited and even more incredibly honored for this once in a lifetime opportunity and we want to welcome Prince Harry to Belize!

 

“Hamanasi Guest Book ~ January 2012″

A big “Thank You” to all our guest that visit us on January 2012. Because of you all we started the year 2012 with a bang!!! We hope that you all had an amazing Hamanasi experience! We do hope to see each and every one of you again sometime in the near future.  All the best from Hamanasi staff and Management.

“Everyone was so friendly.  Wonderful place to come to relax and get away from it all.  Thanks for making our stay an unforgettable experience!”

John & Cynthia Haynes, Magnolia, TX

“Hamanasi is perfect! Everybody we dealt with at the resort was exceptional. Thank you!”

Dylan Harrop and Brianna Israel, Ontario, Canada

“We really appreciate staying at a resort where there are efforts not only to have a small foot print but to make Belize even more beautiful.”

McPeake Family, Providence, RI

“The service here is the very best I have encountered anywhere!”

Phillip Von Mucke, New York, NY

“We love this place and will return, I can’t imagine anything being better than the experience here.”

David and Rebecca Kosmitis, Magnolia, TX

“The treehouse are built in a way that is very considerate of the surrounding nature. Very friendly and accommodating.”

Debra Brandwein and Raymond Muro, Los Angeles, CA

“Fantastic~ very friendly and great hospitality. Keep up the great work!”

Rob and Lisa Heiar, Albuquerque, NM

“Applaud your efforts to keep the environment pristine. Keep it low key and peaceful just like it is.”

Brenda and Dennis Conaway, Worthington, IN

“We enjoyed the educational experiences while being on vacation! A great time!”

Kari Sapris and Family, Decatur, GA

“Hamanasi really gives a good impression of Belize and its wonderful, safe, friendly variety of people and activates. I will encourage others to visit.”

Donna White, Bridgeport, CT

“All service personal was excellent ~ best service we’ve ever had in years of travel!”

Dean and Susi Mitchell, Leakey, TX

 

 

“Hamanasi Chimichanga”

Are you ready for another one of our delicious recipes? The Chimichanga is among our guest favorite desserts. Let us know which one was your favorite!

Hamanasi’s Chimichanga

Ingredients:              For 1 filled Chimichanga Flour Tortilla

Flour Tortilla                 1, large

Bananas, large              3, peeled and sliced medium thick

Almonds, sliced            2 Tbsp.

Brown Sugar                  ½ cup

Butter                               1 Tbsp.

Cinnamon Powder        ½  tsp.

Raisins                              2 Tbsp.

Vanilla Extract                 ¼ tsp.

      Preparation

  • Place all ingredients in a small pot and allow to simmer  or  cook down for about 15 minutes until ingredients appear caramelized, brown and soft.
  •  Allow to cool on stove top then take one Flour Tortilla and fill.
  •  Secure tortilla closed with frilled toothpicks.
  •  Deep fry the Chimichanga in a deep pot of how oil or a deep-fryer until tortilla is golden in cooler all around.
  •  Remove from fryer and allow to drain for about a minute.
  •  Carefully cut off crunchy ends (optional), you should have 4 servings from one Chimichanga burrito.
  •  Top with vanilla ice-cream and drizzle with caramel sauce, enjoy!

 Happy Cooking & Eating

From

The Hamanasi Kitchen!

“2012 TripAdvisor Travelers’s Choice Awards”

Trip Advisor ~ World’s most trusted travel advise announced the winners of  its 2012 Travelers’ Choice® awards.

Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort was awarded 2nd for Top 25 Hotels for “Best Service” in the World and 3rd for Top 25 Hotels in the World.  Julie Cassitini-TripAdvisor says “In total, 3,943 properties globally have been recognized this year with dedicated lists featured for 30 countries and eight regions worldwide. Unlike any other hotel honors, TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winners are based on millions of valuable reviews and opinions from travelers around the world.”

Many other properties in Belize such as The Phoenix Resort, Xanadu Resort and Coco Plum Resort were also awarded by Travelers’ Choice 2012.

Your Hamanasi family sincerely thank you for choosing us as your vacation destination and took time to write and share your Hamanasi experience with the world.

 

 

 

 

“Bigger and brighter smiles”

Heidi and Chuck Pittman stayed with us at Hamanasi Resort on November 2011, and they took one full day out of their busy adventure schedule to do Dental Hygienic Presentation to all the children from the Holy Family Hopkins School.

Heidi is a Registered Dental Hygienist from beautiful Colorado. Chuck, her husband accompanied and assisted Heidi on her dental presentations, and had the children smiling and expressing positive examples on what they do to keep their teeth healthy and clean.  Each child was given a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss as a motivation to continue to take care of their teeth.

    

 

 

Principal, teachers and smiling children were all very thankful for this generous gesture. We are all very appreciative and welcome to all our guest that want to participate in helping our community especially where the children are concern as they are our future.

 

“Hamanasi Guest Book – December 2011″

A warm “Thank you” to all our December 2011 guest and we wish everyone a Blessed and Prosperous 2012. From the Hamanasi staff to our entire guest this month, thanks for coming and we hope you had a great time and we can’t wait to have you back!

“Keep the resort friendly an intimate the way it is right now, your staff is the best!”

Tony & Jean Caggiano, Centennial, CO

“Service is excellent, Hamanasi is excellent. We had a wonderful vacation. The best green resort we’ve ever stayed at!”

Eric and Lanita Hazard, New York, NY

“Everything is perfect.”

Rod Harp & Cathy Carter, Sierra Vista, AZ

“You really go the extra mile to ensure your guests comfort and enjoyable stay. Eco friendly efforts very commendable and well thought out.”

Brian and Nili Alben, Vista, CA

“Staff was outstanding. Traveled around the world and the staff here were most excellent!”

Anton and Tiel Litchfield, Anboy, WA

“Very well and genuinely done. Loved the overall peaceful, responsible, welcoming atmosphere.”

Theresa Anderson and Family, Tarzana, CA

“Thank you very much for all you’ve done for us this week! The most impressive eco-service I have ever seen. Great job, keep it up guys!”

Olga Yakimakho, Washington, DC

“You really feel like you’re in paradise here, everything is easy so you really feel you’re on vacation – beach right here, scuba diving so accessible.”

Scott Davis and Family, Highland Park, IL

“Everyone was wonderful. You can tell people like working here – it shows in every aspect of the resort!”

Mhairri Cuthbert & Curt Woodhall, Canada

“We had a great time. Perfect small resort experience, staff very good, fun bonding with other guests, great excursions and eco-emphasis!”

Doug & Magda Kertscher, Altanta, GA

 

 

“Hamanasi Caye Lime Pie”

Our home-made Caye Lime pie is one of our guests favorite desserts, and we are happy to share the recipe with you!

HAMANASI’S CAYE LIME PIE

Ingredients:

Mix together all at once:

  • 2 cans                        Condensed Milk
  • 2                                    Egg Yolks
  • 1 tsp.                           Vanilla Extract
  • 1 c.                                Lime Juice

 Method:

  • Mix all of the above ingredients together with a paddle and pour into a graham cracker pie shell and bake for about 25 minutes on 350°F. 
  • The pie should be more firm than lose when shaken to check for doneness. 
  • Chill for 2 hours in the freezer to firm up pie prior to serving.

 

Garnish by caramelizing thinly sliced Lime wheels with White Sugar in a skillet.  Cook until the sugar and lime becomes dark.  Remove from heat and allow to cool down before using.  Slice generous portions of the pie and place the lime on top.


Happy Baking & Eating

From

Hamanasi’s Kitchen Staff