Quintessence Hotel

What design touches does Quintessence Hotel bring into rooms and suites to make them feel like someone’s home-away-from-home?

The ones you don’t think about. We aim to provide everything our guests will ever need, including Frette linens and pillows on our special Hastens beds.

Can you share the most distinctive experience the team has designed for a guest?

Where to begin? Our guests’ wishes are our command. We’ve arranged everything from private snorkeling expeditions to exclusive wine tastings in the Q Cellar, to renting out the entire mansion for special, intimate weddings with stunning tropical flowers and place settings on the white sand beaches of Long Bay Beach.

Which dish should guests not miss on the menu?

Rack of Lamb Genghis Khan

Ingredients:

3 lamb racks trimmed and silver skin removed
1 cup hoisin sauce
Lamb marinade, recipe below

Method:

Place the lamb and marinade in a plastic bag, tie and place in the refrigerator for 48 hours, turning occasionally. Remove lamb from marinade and let stand at room temperature 1 hour before cooking. Place lamb on a rack in a shallow roasting pan and roast in a hot oven, 450 degrees, for 20-25 minutes for rare lamb, depending on the size of the racks, or longer for a greater degree of doneness. Brush with hoisin sauce during the last 5 minutes of cooking time. Let rest for 6 or 7 minutes before carving.

Lamb Marinade:

1 cup onion
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
3 tablespoons lemon juice
½ cup honey
3 tablespoons curry powder
1 ½ teaspoons cayenne pepper, ground
2 teaspoons Coleman’s mustard
2 teaspoons black pepper, ground
2 tablespoons salt
1 cup water

Combine all ingredients

What cocktail is a must-try at the hotel?

“On Wine at Q”

Ingredients:

2 ounces Tanqueray 10
½ ounce St. Germain
½ ounce Luxardo
½ ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
½ ounce freshly squeezed apple juice
½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
½ ounce sugar
Shake and strain over ice. Garnish with rosemary, slice of an apple and a slice of grapefruit.

If a guest wanted to experience Anguilla like a local, what are three things that should be on their to-do list?

1. A boat excursion to one of our off-shore cays, such as Prickly Pear Cay, Dog Island, Scrub Island or Sandy Island, to explore, swim, snorkel or enjoy a picnic.
   
   
2. Roaming around the island.
   
   
3. A visit to our heritage sites including “The Fountain,” to learn more about our rich Anguillan culture. Quintessence sponsors one of the heritage sites.

Where in Anguilla would you suggest a guest go if they are looking for design inspiration and why?

Aside from perusing our Art Gallery on-property, the bright blue waters and white sandy beaches of Anguilla always provide a burst of inspiration.

Can you share 3 to 5 off-the-beaten-path recommendations for spots to eat or drink in Anguilla?

A few local favourites include Nat’s Place in Junks Hole, Lime Keel in Island Harbour, The Strip in the Valley, Sunshine Shack on Rendezvous Beach and Madeariman on Shoal Bay.

If you had to bring home one souvenir from Anguilla, what would that be?

A hand-crafted, white sand amulet, handmade by our in-house jeweler for Quintessence Hotel, available in our boutique – Keenie's Bikinis.

What inspires you to travel?

My family and I “travel with responsibility” between our residences in Bloomfield Hills and Walloon Lake, Michigan, Sedona, Arizona and Anguilla. I also take a lot of business trips. On the rare occasion that I travel for pleasure, I enjoy seeking out new art – and new ideas from some of the world's great hotels to bring back to Quintessence.

What does it feel like to wrap yourself in Frette?

Like I’m back on the island, at Quintessence, in our Hastens beds!

Can you tell us about the design of Quintessence Hotel?

It took 10 years to bring our vision of Quintessence to life. We brought in the finest craftsmen from around the world to construct the furniture and interiors, artists to hand-paint murals, and designers to create everything from the Versailles floor patterns and vaulted cedar ceilings, to the gourmet kitchen and our state-of-the-art wine cellar. We wanted every detail to shine for the world’s most discerning travellers – and they do.

What are three fascinating things about the property that set it apart from other hotels?

1. Quintessence is named after my daughter, Quinn Tessa; the luxury boutique, Keenie’s Bikinis & Beyond, after my wife; Julians Tropical French Bistro and the Aidan Spa, after our sons.
   
   
2. Priceless art and antiques are on display throughout Quintessence, including the largest collection of Haitian art outside of Haiti.
   
   
3. Our award-winning Q Wine Cellar houses 2,000 bottles, overseen by our world-class sommelier. It includes my personal wine collection – rare vintages that I am honoured to share with our guests.

Can you share what you consider to be the most unique design feature of the property?

The hotel is beyond elegant, but with a comfortable, homey feel that makes visitors instantly at ease.