A full moon.
Peculiar behavior.
A time to celebrate.
For another reason to get in the spirit, let’s talk about the full moon and the ever-popular full moon party. At first thought, my mind jumps to the Full Moon Party at Morada Bay. Live music, a junkado parade, circus performances, fire dancers — it’s always a wild night. These parties are great, when the time is right, but sometimes you’d much rather watch the moon, while being close to nature in a serene setting. If that’s what you’re seeking, it’s time to take a trip to OCEAN2000 at the Pelican Grand Beach Resort.
Every month, in celebration of the full moon, OCEAN2000 offers An Evening Under the Moon dinner event. Imagine sitting out on the veranda, taking in views of the ocean, being spoiled with a gourmet dinner and watching the moon rise — yes, the perfect experience. So when I was invited into the restaurant to experience this for myself, I happily accepted.
With the energy of the full moon surrounding me, I headed down to OCEAN2000, Pelican Grand Beach Resort’s oceanfront restaurant. I made my way past the lounge and the indoor seating area of the restaurant and headed out to the veranda where a formal table was set up for the group. After taking out my camera (food shots are a must-do), sipping on Champagne and mingling with group, I made my way to the table where I was about to enjoy a 5-course dinner prepared by Chef Todd Lough and observe the beauty surrounding me.
The dinners follow the same schedule as the Full Moon calendar (the next one will take place on Wed., May 14, 2014) and because chef focuses on what is in season, a different menu is offered each month — with a variety of choices for diners to choose from.
Our dinner began with a savory tartlet filled with caramelized red onions and Cabrales blue cheese. It was just a taste to begin with, but our mouths were watering, as decadence was awaiting us.
Next in line, came a small plate and I opted for the Grilled Octopus Salad — something I tend to order every time I see it on a menu. The tender piece of meat was cooked perfectly on the grill making it succulent and delightful. It was served with red pepper garbanzo pureé, toy box tomatoes and micro cilantro aji amarillo vinaigrette, a wonderful accompaniment — making this one of best octopus dishes I’ve had in quite some time. They have my vote for adding this to the menu.
As the evening continued, the excitement rose, as the group continued to enjoy bite after bite of Chef’s creative cuisine, snuck away to have our cards read by astrologer Bea Kobran (an added bonus that is included in the dinner price), watched the moon rise ( there were telescopes on site) — and felt one with nature.
Cost for the Evening Under the Moon dinners is $75 per person. This includes a 5-course dinner, oceanfront views, astrology readings and access to the telescopes for closer viewings. The next dinner will take place on May 14th and you can see the menu here. For more details on the dinners and to see the upcoming schedule, visit Ocean2000 online.
OCEAN2000 Restaurant + Lounge is located at the Pelican Grand Beach Resort, 2000 N. Ocean Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale; 954-556-7667