Stunning villas and award-winning accommodations, sugar-sand beaches and championship golf are just the beginning. At Anguilla’s CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa you’ll also discover – hands down – some of the best food the Caribbean can offer. To get the inside track on what makes this food scene tick, we spoke with none other than CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa’s Executive Chef Jasper Schneider.

What is your personal food philosophy? 

Less is more. Cook it simple. Always use the best and highest quality food whenever possible. And then do the least to it. 

Who/what influenced this philosophy?

My mentor and friend, chef Eric Ripert.

In re-creating CuisinArt’s restaurants, what was your aim, and how did you incorporate your philosophy?

I aimed to use all the amazing and fresh bounty from our hydroponic garden and the sea. I am so lucky to have immediate access to these two sources that it would almost be a sin not to take advantage. And how much simpler can you get? Again, fresh product yields simple yet powerful taste. 

In what ways do you hope the CuisinArt guest dining experience is unique in the Caribbean?

I want our guests to walk away saying, “I can’t believe I just had that kind of meal in the Caribbean.” It’s still my passion to cook and create good food no matter where I am, so it’s important to keep pushing. Providing five different dining outlets also allows us to highlight all the variety in products and ingredients, so our guests walk away with a pretty comprehensive and unique culinary experience. 

How can guests make their CuisinArt romantic event special when it comes to food(s) they choose?

I really try to learn from the guest…what they like, where their palate is going and how they want the food to make them and their guests feel throughout the event. Without sounding too cliché, it’s so important to just listen; it’s their special night, so how can I make that memorable? Like any other creative person, you strive to achieve the balance of their likes with your touch.  

For more on Anguilla’s CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, pick up the Fall/Winter 2014 issue of Destination I Do Magazine for our full review.