18 years ago this month my husband and I said "I do" in front of 100 of our close friends and family at St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church in Gustavia. It was a magical ceremony at the historic church topped off by a show stopping aria of Ava Maria performed by Laurent, a singer with a voice of an angel by night and a baker by day!
A quick Moke ride through town with a pit stop at Le Select brought us to Maya's for cocktails and dinner. Ours was the first wedding party that Maya and Randy had ever put on at their charming waterside restaurant that they opened in 1984.
It was a night like no other complete with live music, orchid strewn tables, planters punches, Maya's delicious wahoo brochettes and fireworks followed by the most beautiful wedding cake.
Ever since that day our frequent visits to the island are never complete without one, two or ten memorable meals at Maya's. They have been there for us when celebrating birthday's, anniversaries, baptisms, Thanksgiving's, Christmas', and New Year's Eve and we are honored to call them and the beautiful Dora our friends. Randy and Maya's warm hospitality is the perfect "welcome back" to our beloved island. Oh how I love me a night at Maya's!
My kids are crazy for Maya's chicken and as much as I've tried to pry the recipe from her I haven't been successful to date (but I keep trying)! However having been dining there for almost 20 years I have an inkling of how to make it. Here is my version of Maya's Chicken for you to try at home:
Serves 4:
- 1 1/2 pounds of chicken breast cut into small bite size pieces.
- small can of coconut milk
- 3-4 tablespoons soy sauce
- medium size fresh ginger
- 3-4 shakes of red pepper flakes
- stems of fresh lemongrass
- tablespoon of coriander
- couple pinches of curry powder
- cup and half of Jasmine rice
- steamed broccoli
Combine coconut milk, soy sauce, fresh grated ginger, pepper flakes, lemongrass, coriander, and curry powder. Whisk ingredients and pour over chicken. Cover and let marinate for a few of hours. When it's time for dinner take it out of refrigerator and bring to room temperature. Heat a skillet with olive oil and place chicken pieces in the skillet. Sear the chicken by pressing down with a spatula and flipping regularly so pieces cook through thoroughly (approx 10-12 minutes) In the meantime prepare the jasmine rice and steamed broccoli per usual. Serve chicken pieces on top of steamed rice and broccoli. Dinner done!
xoxo
MB