SHAYNA: WE BEGAN AT ONE OF
MARTINIQUE'S TRENDIEST CRITIQUE
HOTELS.
THE FIVE-STAR VILLA HAS AN
OUTSIZED PERSONALITY AND A VIEW
TO MATCH.
TAKE YOUR PICK, THE INFINITY
POOL, OR THE VIEW FROM YOUR
ROOM.
THE TASTE OF MARTINIQU BEFORE
WE HIT THE ROAD AND HEAD NORTH.
JUST ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THIS
BEACH I HABITATION, BUILT IN
1658 AS SUGARCANE PLANTATION.
TODAY, MANY OF THESE 185 ACRES
ARE AN ECOTOURISM SITE.
>> I LIKE TO SHARE THIS.
SO THAT ALL THE WORLD COULD COME
AND SEE.
SHAYNA ORIGINALLY FROM THE
SOUTH OF FRANCE, HER FAMILY TOOK
OVER 25 YEAR AGO, LONG AFTER IT
HAD BEEN ABANDONED.
THE PROPERT BACKS UP ONTO A
BIOLOGICAL RESERVE THAT IS HOME
TO A NATURAL WONDER.
TH IS THE MOST FAMOUS TREE AND
ALL OF THE CARIBBEAN.
>> IT'S LIKE THE IMAGE OF A
SMALL PARADISE.
IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL.
SHAYNA: A MIMOSA TREE, IT'S THE
LARGEST TREE ON RECORD IN THE
LESSER ANTILLES.
IT IS MORE THAN 300 YEARS OLD,
WITH FOLIAGE SPANNING 2.5 ACRES.
>> IT WAS INTRODUCED IN
MARTINIQ BECAUSE THE LEAVES
CLOSE UNDER THE RAIN AND WHEN
THE SUN IS SHINING, IT OPENS
AGAIN.
IT'S EXCELLENT FOR GROWING COCOA
AND COFFEE.
SHAYNA IT WAS VOTED THE BEST
TREE IN A COMPETITION ORGANIZED
BY THE NATIONAL FOREST OFFICE.
>> THE NICEST TREE OF FRANCE IS
IN MARTINIQUE.
SHAYNA: ALSO AN ACTIVE COCOA
FARM, AND THEIR CAREFULLY
PRESERVING THE RUINS HERE.
>> YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE
SUGARCANE FACTORY FROM THE MILL
DOWN TO THE FIREPLACE.
SHAYNA HOW LONG WAS IT AN
ACTIVE PLANTATION?
QUESTION ACTIVITY STOPPED IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE 18TH CENTURY.
SHAYNA AT ITS PEAK, 250 SLAVES
TOILED HERE.
THAT IS IMPORTANT HISTORY.
>> IT SHOULD BE OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC TO BE VISITED.
SHAYNA: UP A DIRT ROAD, ANOTHER
HISTORIC SITE.
SINCE 1783, THE POTTERY VILLAGE
HAS SOLD ARTS AND CRAFTS, MOSTLY
RED CLAY POTTERY AND OTHER LOCAL
GOODS.
THIS IS MARTINIQUE'S FAMOUS
MODERNIST FABRIC.
LOOK AT THIS.
-- FAMOU MADR FABRIC.
AS EVERY DAY THE CHEF CRAFT
THESE BELOVED SUITES.
OUR GUIDE GERALDINE INTRODUCES
US TO A SPECIAL TREAT TODAY.
>> W ARE HERE TO SHARE A CAKE
MADE WITH SWEET ALMONDS.
THIS ONE IS PARTICULAR, IT'S
MORE AUTHENTIC.
IT'S MADE WITH COCONUT AND SWEET
POTATOES.
IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND
WHAT IS INSIDE, YOU WILL BECOME
THE QUEEN.
SHAYNA IT'S A TINY FAVOR HIDDEN
INSIDE T GALETTE.
I HOPE I G IT.
LOOKS LIKE CHEF VALERIE IS
READING THE GAME.
-- RIGGING THE GAME, BECAUSE
VOILA!
THE QUEEN.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN, ALL SIGNS
POINT TO THIS BEACHSIDE
RESTAURANT.
THE OWNER IS FAMOUSLY KNO AS,
GET THIS, CHEF HOTPANTS.
>> IT'S VERY WELL-KNOWN IN
MARTINIQUE BUT ALL OVER THE
WORLD ALSO.
IT'S A NEW WAY TO DO IT.
AND STAY VERY CLOSE TO OUR
TRADITION.
SHAYNA: BUT FIRST, WHY THE
NICKNAME?
>> I THINK MY LEGS ARE REALLY
GOOD.
SHAYNA: IN HI KITCHEN, HE
SHARES HIS TAKE, A BLEND OF
FRENCH AND CREOLE.
IF YOU WANT TO TASTE IT, WE
CAN DO IT JUST FOR YOU BECAUSE
YOUR PLEASURE IS OUR PLEASURE.
SHAYNA IS CREOLE RISOTTO WITH
CRAWFISH AND SWEET POTATOES.
>> I WAKE UP WITH A DREAM AND I
TRIED TO MAKE MY DREAM MY FATE.
ANTHON THE HOTEL IS FAMOUS FOR
ITS NIGHT SCENE AS WELL.
SHAYNA: A LOT OF OF ACCLAIMED
CHEFS COME AND WHEN THEY ARE
THERE, THE PLACE IS PACKED.
AND WHERE YOU SAW THE
PLANTATION, THEY HAVE OVER 60
ACRES OF COCO PLANTS ON THE
PROPERTY, WHICH IS AMAZING.
A LOCAL MANUFACTURER TAKES THE
BEANS AND TURNS THEM INTO
GOURMET CHOCOLATE, AND I HAD
SOME.
IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE, MELTS IN
YOUR MOUTH.
ANTHON ALSO ON MARTINIQUE, A
BANANA A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR
AWAY.