Day 44: Resort Day

Accra - Ahhh, the resort.  Haven from the hustle and bustle of Accra.  Today we made to three; Labadi Beach, The Golden Tulip, and the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel.  Incidentally, we learned that all three hotels/resorts are all or part government owned.  Labadi Beach was most impressive in that they had recently renovated and had a very elegant club house island feel.  Bungalow style accommodation and an elegant poolside lounge were gorgeous but strangely deserted.  It has a hallway dedicated to the display of photographs of visiting foreign dignitaries.  The likes of Tony Blair, Koizumi, Ahmadenijad, Goodluck Johnson, Princess Ann, Napolitano, Auma, and Gul have all been welcomed at Labadi Beach.  Executive Sous Chef Cecilia Kegey, who has been working here for 23 years, remembers serving the Duke of Kent upon his visit.  Most all of the food is continental unless requested by the guest.

Next up was the Golden Tulip.  This five star hotel is actually located downtown Accra instead of on the beach.  We learned that this hotel actually does catering at the state house as the facilities at the Golden Tulip are limited. They also cater for the president at his home and they catered for the Ashanti King on the occasion of his most recent seventieth birthday.  Executive Chef Lars Spannberg has 41 years experience in the industry.  He shared with us that the Golden Tulip is the biggest caterer in Accra and the only one used by exclusively by the state.  A large portion of the food served is local food. The Golden Tulip had a retro 70's vibe with lots of mustards, yellows, and browns, dark woods, and plenty of shiny chrome.  

I ended up having to visit Executive Sous Chef Esther at the Movenpick Ambassador on my own as Tim has some Guesthouse items to attend to.  It was such a contrast from the cramped, sweaty tro tro ride I took to get there.  The Movenpick is also located downtown, and completely rebuilt.  It was modeled on the legendary old Ambassador hotel that stood on this same site.  (Incidentally, this hotel is the one that housed the Duchess of Kent for the Independence Day festivities in 1957.)  Inside you will find a shopping mall complete with eyeglass store, art shop, and a furniture store that sells golden couches and chaise lounges.  Chef Esther was part of the crew that reopened the Movenpick Ambassador.  Dishes served include a combination of continental and local. Government conferences are held on site in the Executive and Ambassador Lounges.  She shared with me that they recently hosted the African Union.  Most of the restaurant clientele is made up of the local office workers, as well as Chinese construction people.  According to Chef Ester, there were many white people there now due to Ramadan.  The Movenpick is monumental in its impossibly high ceilings and marble floors, all classily accented with both Ghana and Benin large scale art pieces.