Nestled in the Mayflower Bocawina National Park, Stann Creek District is a sophisticatedly rustic eco-friendly resort, Mama Noots, run by repatriated Belizean Nan Ramirez and husband Kevin Denny. The resort takes its eco-attitude seriously and just doesn’t use the “eco” label” due to its chic fashionableness. They walk the walk, besides talk the talk. Noots uses wind, water and sun for its entire energy sources. They have an 80 foot windmill, a mini hydro-electric system and solar collectors.

  View of Mama Noots cabin

The chef sisters create dishes similar to the way a jazz musician improvises tunes. Both start out with something familiar and then embellish, twist-n-turn and re-mix it into something new and intriguingly spicy. Nan and Tey brew up a wicked pot of cowfoot soup and of special note for this critic, they manage to take the sliminess out of okra, thus giving cowfoot soup an entirely different, more pleasant texture. They also pull an ingenious switcheroo on the traditional tamale called “tamalitos de chaya” served with pumpkin seed dressing. The duo wrap the tamale in chaya leaves instead of banana leaves so the whole thing is edible with the added taste of Mayan “tree spinach” just for innovation’s sake.      

Mama Noots has had a very low profile in its four years in existence. With the inspired cooking found at this backabush resort, that low profile won’t be low for long. Mama Noots can be contacted at 501-606-4353. Bon Appetit and belly full.