Upon entering the resort, I was handed a cup of hibiscus tea with rosemary and agave which was so calming, I spent the rest of the night drifting asleep while watching Netflix. The next day, I asked executive chef Charly if my nervous system had suddenly regulated itself after a life spent working in fashion and being the eldest sister — or this was an intentional move on behalf of the kitchen. "From the moment you walk in, everything is designed to calm you," he explained. "We have music playing at a specific frequency; a calming lavender scent in the air; and in the tea, we put a spice — mostly lavender, rosemary, cinnamon — which is all calming."
"From the moment you walk in, everything is designed to calm you."
According to Charly, every aspect of the culinary experience at Palmaïa serves a specific intention, even down to the local farmers they partner with. "We try to get the best quality ingredients possible," he said. "We need to be aligned with the ethos of the suppliers that we work with because food is a vehicle of energy."
Guests come to Charly for a personalized menu based on their concerns or preferences. If their goal is to lower their cholesterol, increase their fiber intake, or just to satisfy their sugar cravings in a healthy way, Charly identifies the best options at the resort's restaurants like the popular food truck, Charly's Vegan Tacos, or Ume, which serves Thai cuisine.
"I'll ask 'how many times do you eat a day, around what times, what's your workout level, do you fast, do you prefer sweet or salty foods?'" Charly said. "Then, I'll curate a custom menu. We consider calories, vitamins, enzymes, and more to serve a certain purpose. Some of our dishes are meant to transform your body into an alkaline system, some are good for increasing your gut health through fibers, and so on."
And while the resort offers a plant-based-first menu, they also take a non-judgmental approach toward guests seeking non-vegan options. "We created a system called add-on if you're not vegan," Charly said. "For example, you can get risotto or add on shrimp or parmesan cheese. That goes for every meal so everyone feels welcome."
