Ivan's

It's a local hangout called Ivan's Place, and there is a sign on the side of the building, but you have to look for it. The first time I was in there in mid-October of 2007, I met Ivan, who had just sold the establishment to someone else. It's in the Simpson Bay Yacht Club area, on the Dutch side of St. Maarten, just off the road, and there's a big sign in the front, proclaiming it a "Gelateria". Hard to miss.

My first lunch there was less than memorable. 7 dollars got me a side salad and a greasy, lumpy quiche of ham and mushroom, not the firm consistency that I'm used to in the States. I really should have gotten the crepes, which looked delicious. But the creatively adorable clay pot muffins (small sweet breads baked in a miniature clay flower pot) are incredible, especially the poppy seed muffin! Well worth the 3 bucks.

There's also, as the sign indicates, gelato, ice cream, and frozen yogurt, as well as a variety of French baked goods. I wasn't too impressed by my tropical paradise sorbet, but I heard that their freezer was acting up lately so that may have affected the consistency.

The new owner is French, and the original staff (including the French chef) is still there so returning patrons don't seem to miss a thing.