ORLANDO, FLA.—Grande Lakes Orlando just got a little stickier, and it’s not the August humidity. In its continued commitment to sustainability and conservation, the resort has recently seen the first harvest of honey from a new on-site apiary. Guests of the luxury property, which comprises a JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton, can now enjoy the benefits through dining experiences as well as honey-infused spa treatments at the award-winning Ritz-Carlton Spa.
The connection with area farmers and use of local ingredients ensures the “food print” at Grande Lakes Orlando is high on taste and low on waste. The citrusy honey joins several other homemade items produced on-site. From ketchup and barbeque sauce to spice rubs, preserves and pickles, the culinary team at JW Marriott Orlando takes great pride in keeping the “farm-to-fork” movement fresh for guests. Whether it’s herbs and produce that are sourced from the on-site Primo garden or meats cut and cured by the in-house butcher, plenty of variety is available to accommodate any appetite. Guests will also be pleased to know that at least 50 percent of the hotel’s seafood is sourced from certified, responsible fisheries and aquaculture farms, thanks to Marriott International’s sustainable “Future Fish” program.
“Harvesting honey on-site has given the JW Marriott Orlando culinary team another opportunity to show how passionate we are in sharing the best local flavors with guests,” says explains executive chef Chris Brown. “Knowing where the product comes from is important to us.”
Grande Lakes Orlando currently hosts two beehives in the apiary with the plan to add two more next year, doubling the production. The next batch will be harvested in September with plans to turn the honey into mead; one of the world’s first beverages made with honey.
The buzz also brews outside of the kitchen. While visiting The Ritz-Carlton Spa, guests can indulge in a signature Grande Lakes Honey Treatment, the Bee Pampered Pedicure or the Harvest Glow Hot Honey Treatment, all of which take full advantage of the natural skincare benefits of honey. Vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5, and B3 make skin glow while the thick, binding texture moisturizes and helps skin stay hydrated (while filling out wrinkles). Particularly useful in pedicures, honey’s anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties make it a natural antiseptic.
Go to the Grande Lakes Orlando.
