Attention fellow males. If you’re tired of hearing your better halves complain that you’re clueless about sweeping a woman off her feet, Banyan Tree Bintan has the solution to your problem. It’s called Dinner on the Rocks and it takes the concept of eating out to a whole new level. You don’t just go “out” for makan. You travel to a luxury resort to enjoy a romantic dinner for two.

Picture yourself and your companion, which in my case was my lovely wife, walking 100m down a candlelit boardwalk to your table — set on a large rock by the water’s edge. Now, imagine yourselves enjoying a lavish dinner as the waves of the South China Sea crash onto Bintan’s pristine beaches.

Dinner on the Rocks is one of Banyan Tree Bintan’s seven dining experiences. And the experience — eating divine fusion cuisine beneath the stars with the love of your life — is nothing short of enchanting.

Banyan Tree area manager Francois Huet had instructed his chefs to “go crazy” in incorporating international and Indonesian culinary influences in the menus.

The highlights of our seven-course dinner were the grilled shitake mushroom cappuccino and the main course, a choice between grilled sirloin of Wagyu beef in Thai red curry foam or gratin of stone crab and tiger prawns in lemongrass beurre blanc.

The mushroom cappucino was a warm brew of sublime tastes and the main courses were delectable. The tender Wagyu beef and subtle Thai curry were a flavourful match and the crab flesh melted in the mouth.

DESTINATION DINING

Banyan Tree Bintan’s seven dining experiences are collectively known as destination dining in resort-speak.

Launched in 2006, it lets guests enjoy fine dining in spectacular locations, like the 8th hole of the Laguna Bintan Golf Club.

Prices depend on the destination and range from US$99++ ($135) to US$168++ per person. Guests can either book a destination in advance or after they check in. Non-guests may also book a dining destination, subject to availability.

The variety of dining locations gives the resort flexibility in accomodating groups. While Dinner on the Rocks is tailor-made for two, Dinner at 8 — at the golf club’s 8th hole — can seat up to 70 guests.

RESORT LIVING

Banyan Tree Bintan overlooks a secluded bay on the north-western tip of the island.

In a bid to preserve Bintan’s pristine environment, each villa is built on a platform supported by columns. This meant that building crews did not have to cut into the slopes, preserving much of the dramatic landscape.

This philosophy was extended to the landscaping of the resort’s sprawling grounds, which follow the island’s naturally hilly terrain. If you’re not up for walking, fear not, as Banyan Tree provides a fleet of buggies to ferry guests within the resort. Think of it as your very own taxi service without the peak-period surcharges.

I stayed in a one-bedroom Bayfront Pool Villa that had a large living area, sundeck, outdoor jacuzzi and infinity pool. This left me with a dilemma of sorts — which part of the villa should I take in the spectacular sunsets from?

GIVING TO GAIA

When you’re situated in one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world, it only makes sense to do your part to protect your environment and help others appreciate nature’s bounty.

Which is why Banyan Tree launched its Bintan Conservation laboratory last September. The lab is the group’s first such facility in Asia and will focus on outreach programmes to schools in the vicinity, research and education.

One of the resort:’s projects involves repopulating the islands’ coral reefs. Another sees the planting of some 2,000 trees per year until 2017. The project, which started last year, aims to offset part of the carbon emissions created by the resort’s operations. Similar efforts are being implemented by Banyan Tree resorts in Bangkok, Lijiang, Phuket, Ringha, the Seychelles and Maldives. - TODAY/sh