Florida - 2
You would, correctly, expect J.W. Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort and Spa to have a splendid spa. It’s a detached building with three floors, much of the ground floor given to a highly popular Starbucks. The gym up on the top floor is only reached at night by 48 concrete fireman's steps.
Actually, the gym is about to be renovated, switching to Technogym and will be accessible 24/7 by the main staircase, which is glorious because as you rise, rather than taking the elevators, you're looking out into more of this fabulous greenery – see above.
It's essential to dinner, at Bourbon Steak, decorated by Tony Chi and outstanding - the combination Chi and food by Michael Mina really works. It's a tall room and it's dark, the overall space is broken into various areas. Some walls and the flooring are small squares of wood, from a ship wrecked in Lake Eyrie centuries ago. There are, in amongst all this, two gigantic, floral displays – see below.There's one area where families with small kids tend to sit (it's lighter and brighter) but Girlahead’s party sat in a corner area with comfortable tan leather bankettes.
Acoustics are superb - you hear your neighbour, but not even the neighbouring table. The waiters are experienced. They greet returnees as though they're cousins. The simple menu, a single sheet on a solid backing, is carefully explained. First came amuse of two-centimetre cubes of fried polenta. Very simple, very easy to eat, very nice. There was no bread, but that was not needed because next came three metal cups, each containing a different kind of fries, with three dipping sauces (it was possible to make dinner just from that!) The meal-proper started with a shared ahi tuna tartare, mixed and blended skillfully at table, and served with triangles of thin, crustless white bread. The special of the day, lamb rack, was the biggest lamb on this planet… Girlahead’s 10oz American hanger steak was absolutely perfectly cooked and came simply on a white plate with just a minimum of jus - and gigantic steak knife. The side of creamed spinach was addictive and again would have made a meal all by itself. Desserts looked tempting, but one scoop of chocolate ice cream was more than enough. Everything blended together like an orchestra. This was a really outstanding meal.
In fact this first experience of staying in a J.W. Marriott was outstanding and sets a hard template to follow. It's a well-oiled machine that knows what it's doing and manages to incorporate convention-goers and such special events as ‘if you want to be ten times wealthier, join us for a couple of days. It’s the team that makes it all extra-special, however. Raj Mohan’s Manager, Brian Parsons, was smiling, genuinely, even at height of checkout on a momentarily-raining Sunday. This is also a place for multigenerationals checking in with walkers and strollers and tiny Pink Pony wheelies among unbelievably enormous amounts of luggage. And for those who just want to play golf or lie by the pool or lie under and gaze at the banyan tree that was here long before the hotel….
