Below is a list of dishes that Elise loves to cook— inspired by the food we ate growing up, the places she visited, and the products of successful kitchen experiments. The result is an eclectic and nutritious menu featuring international inspiration from South Asia, Central America, the Mediterranean, and North Africa.

Patatas Bravas with Lemon Garlic Aioli and Chorizo
Crispy potatoes in a tangy tomato-based sauce, served with scrambled eggs, chorizo sausage, and lemon garlic aioli. Accompanied by homemade sourdough bread.

Mushroom Omelet
A blend of crimini and portobello mushrooms cooked in red wine, folded into an omelet with a three-cheese blend and rosemary. Served with home fries and Gouda grits.

Eggs Benedict
Perfectly poached eggs with homemade hollandaise on fresh-baked English muffins, topped with crispy woven bacon squares.

Huevos Rancheros
Eggs served on freshly made corn tortillas with black beans, chorizo, sautéed onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, and avocado. Accompanied by chipotle salsa and sour cream.

Gallo Pinto
A traditional Costa Rican breakfast featuring black beans and rice, cheesy scrambled eggs, fried plantains, avocado, and homemade corn tortillas.

Quiche
Flaky crust filled with onions, leeks, mushrooms, smoked ham, and Swiss cheese.

Egg Strata
Toasted bread pieces soaked in egg and baked with cheese, mushrooms, and sausage.

Homemade Bagels & Smoked Salmon
Freshly baked everything bagels served with cream cheese, smoked salmon, onions, egg, capers, fresh dill, and lemon wedges.

Crepes
Traditional thin French crepes served with cinnamon sugar, maple syrup, mascarpone, and fresh berries.

Breakfast Pastries
Homemade muffins, pain au chocolat, croissants, and sticky cinnamon rolls.

Ahi Tuna with Chimichurri Arugula
Seared ahi tuna steak paired with fresh chimichurri, quinoa, arugula, and avocado.

Four Cheese and Mushroom Flatbread
Homemade garlic crust topped with asiago, romano, parmesan, goat cheese, and a medley of portobello, crimini, and button mushrooms. Finished with arugula and balsamic reduction.

Five Spice Chicken Bánh Mì
A Vietnamese-inspired chicken sandwich on homemade French bread, topped with a fried egg. Served with a ginger sesame salad.

Tuna Niçoise Salad
Mixed greens, pan-seared tuna, hard-boiled eggs, green beans, potatoes, and capers, all dressed in a lemon-garlic vinaigrette.

Spicy Grilled Shrimp Tacos
Grilled shrimp served on homemade corn tortillas with cilantro lime slaw and a side of Mexican street corn.

Yellow Submarine
Inspired by a family favorite from Atlanta, Georgia—muenster, havarti, and fresh sprouts on a whole wheat roll with mustard and homemade "rainbow" mayonnaise.

Mediterranean Pita Bar
A build-your-own spread with homemade falafel, chicken kabobs, grilled vegetables, tzatziki, lemon tahini sauce, hummus, olives, and homemade pita.

Caprese Salad
Fresh mozzarella and tomatoes drizzled with basil oil and balsamic reduction, topped with Maldon salt and roasted pine nuts.

Indian Sampler
An assortment of homemade garlic naan, fried paneer, and vegetable samosas. Served with raita, mint chutney, and tamarind chutney.

Homemade Hummus Platter
A selection of hummus flavors—creamy Israeli, lemon, Za’atar, and roasted red pepper—served with pita triangles, mini sweet peppers, cucumbers, and baby carrots.

Bruschetta
Crispy homemade Italian bread topped with fresh tomatoes, diced garlic, and olive oil.

Gazpacho
A refreshing chilled tomato-based soup served with fresh bread.

Marinated Tuna Poke
Hawaiian-style tuna poke served over sticky rice with plum sauce.

Ceviche
A vibrant Peruvian dish of raw fish cured in lemon and lime juice with chili peppers, onions, and cilantro.

Stuffed Endive Boats
Crisp endive filled with pear, gorgonzola, walnuts, and honey.

Ginger-Marinated Pork Tenderloin with Peanut Sesame Noodles
Savory pork tenderloin served with roasted bok choy, mixed vegetables, and peanut sesame noodles.

Roast Chicken Breast and Butternut Fettuccine
Tender chicken breast paired with butternut squash fettuccine, topped with gorgonzola and toasted walnuts.

Roasted Vegetable Hummus Bowl
Za’atar-spiced roasted zucchini and grape tomatoes with tofu, served on a bed of freekeh and cucumber salad, topped with lemon hummus and olives.

West African Peanut Soup
A thick and nutritious soup of sweet potatoes and peanuts, topped with tofu, scallions, and crushed peanuts.

Black Bean Soup
A hearty, flavorful soup, made from a family recipe, rich in protein and history.

Tarka Mahi Mahi
Seared mahi mahi topped with a sauté of mustard seeds, garlic, slivered almonds, and olive oil. Served with basmati rice and aloo gobi.

Chilean Sea Bass
Paired with spaghetti squash and scampi butter.

Smoked Tea Red Snapper
Served with tangy mango salsa and butterfly pea flower rice.

Grilled Lobster and Porcini Port Wine Risotto
Butterflied lobster atop a decadent porcini mushroom risotto. Served with grilled lemon and herbed compound butter.

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake
A crisp sugar shell encases a warm, gooey dark chocolate center. Served straight from the oven with homemade vanilla ice cream.

White Chocolate Cheesecake
Silky cheesecake drizzled with a blueberry coulis.

Tiramisu
Traditional Italian tiramisu topped with dark chocolate shavings and chocolate-covered espresso beans.

Pies
An array of homemade pies—pecan, pumpkin, apple, sweet potato, blueberry, and peanut butter—served with homemade ice cream.

Vegan Flourless Chocolate Cake
A plant-based, gluten-free dessert made with Dutch cocoa, melted dark chocolate, dates, and coconut oil. Served with dairy-free vanilla ice cream.

Almond Kringle
A Danish-American pastry filled with rich almond cream and baked into a buttery crust. Served with fresh fruit and whipped cream.

Sorbets and Sorbettos
Refreshing dairy-free options, including lemon, raspberry, watermelon, and dark chocolate.

During charter, I prepare all baked goods from scratch.

Sourdough
Homemade souradough cinnamon rolls, sourdough artisan loaf, sourdough bagels.

Yeast
English muffins, artisan no knead loaf, burger buns, crossaints.

Vodka: Tito's

Rum: Zacapa, Flor de Caña, Cruzan and Mt. Gay

Bourbon: Makers Mark, Bullet, Crown Royal

Gin: Hendricks and Bombay

Tequila: Casa Amigos

Champagne: Moët

Prosecco: Ruffino

Red/White Wine ($30-$40 bottles typically)

Cordials: Grand Marnier, Disaronno, Grahams Port

Beers: Corona, Carib, Red Stripe, Ciders, High Noons

“The Best week of my life”

My mind was blown on arrival by the scale of Ocean Vibes

Max, you packed our Itinerary with surprises, I had no idea what to expect and by the end of each day we’d packed in so much that I couldn’t remember how or where the day started. The color of the water, the beautiful bays, the white sand, turtles, Rays, Pipe fish, Barracuda, yachts, Islands…..

Elise the food was amazing, Thank you. Difficult to pick a favorite from so many fabulous dishes but OMG the Pulled pork and the pork loin I will dream about these flavors.

Thank you Max for putting you heart into giving us all such a magical time. I will remember this week forever.

Pip

Thank you for an unbelievable week on Ocean vibes, You have poured your heart and souls into making every element of our trip so very perfect. We have loved every minute and have had the most amazing time exploring the BVI. From turtle spotting, Pain killers, Max’s world famous Anegada beach bar pub crawl, beach days, Champagne sailing, water toys, Snorkeling and Elise’s outstanding food….. It has all be truly amazing.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, we have made memories that will last us a lifetime.

Forever Grateful
Charlotte, Hektor, Georiga and Florance.

I never write recommendations, but 8-days cruising the BVI on S/V Ocean Vibes so exceeded my expectations, I have to relate my positive experiences.  I’ve cruised the circuit in the BVI captaining my own bareboat charter but having a professional captain and crew dedicated to impeccable service and gourmet cuisine while taking care of all the details of running a yacht gives you time to experience the BVI from a different perspective.  The fact that I perceived dining ashore to be a hardship tells a story in itself.  The vessel is luxurious and maintained in perfect shape with interior and exterior areas for gathering or just getting away.

All in all, cruising on S/V Ocean Vibes is a luxury experience and will change the way you view this most beautiful island chain in the Caribbean.  Highly Recommended!

Kevin

Our recent cruise on Ocean Vibes exceeded all our expectations. The yacht itself is beautiful, with so many comfortable places to relax and enjoy the azure waters. While the accommodations were exceptional, the crew really made our trip!

Captain Max made sure we had new and interesting places to explore each day while our Stewardess, Sue, was a wealth of local knowledge. She also made sure we had whatever we needed, whenever we needed it.

Chef Elise is a master of her craft – from handmade focaccia and croissants to beautifully plated meals three times a day, we enjoyed her delicious cuisine. I’m not one to take pictures of food in restaurants but found I couldn’t help myself when her amazing dishes appeared in front of me.

We could not recommend this experience more highly. Cruising on Ocean Vibes was an exceptionally memorable trip.

Susan

Spending a week on a luxury yacht in the British Virgin Islands was an unforgettable experience! Captain Max was incredibly knowledgeable and ensured our safety while taking us to the most stunning spots. Chef Elise prepared the most delicious meals, each dish better than the last. First Mate Sue made sure we were always comfortable and had everything we needed. From snorkeling in crystal-clear waters to enjoying sunset sails, every moment was pure bliss. Highly recommend this incredible crew for an amazing vacation!

Eli and Cecilia

Captain Max, Sue & Elise

Wow! Thank you for being so wonderful to us during our stay aboard Ocean Vibes.

We have experienced a fantastic week of wonderfully delicious cocktails and amazing table settings - thanks so much Sue.

Every meal served was exquisitely presented and made my taste buds sing - thanks so much Elise.

Captain Max - thanks for skippering us around the BVIs and talking boating with Dave. Maximizing the experience given weather and it was!

We will enjoy our experience aboard Ocean Vibes for a very long time.

Thanks again from
A very relaxed David & Kay

5+ STARS

In late March we spent 6 day’s onboard Ocean Vibes, a 70ft Sun reef catamaran. The experience was a once in a lifetime for us – the boat was amazing, luxurious and the crew (Captain Max, Crew Sue and Chef Elize) were fantastic, very accommodating and going the extra step to ensure our stay aboard was an experience you don’t forget.

Captain Max was very adept to finding the perfect anchorages and passages that considered current weather conditions. The running of the Vessel with these crew was seamless.

Chef Elize cooked up an amazing, mouth-watering array, of fine food for breakfast, lunch and dinner – including my favorite; home baked sour dough bread ..oh and the local BBQ’d Lobster – yum yum! She worked tirelessly in the galley and catered to all dietary requirements.

Crew member Sue made all kinds of “island time” cocktails – the Bloody Mary was to die for – she also put the perfect touch on everything with her attention to detail – like full water bottle in room each night before sleep. Decorating the table beautifully for every meal that elevated our dining experience to the next level.

Ocean Vibes has plenty of water toys aboard to enjoy while at anchor; and this all topped off with the breathtaking color of the water, sunsets and magic surrounds of the BVI made it the best 6 days we have spent in a very long time. We highly recommend indulging yourself in a luxurious escape aboard Ocean Vibes you will not regret it!

Kay and David

We hopped on paradise better known as Ocean Vibes 8 days ago. I have never been on a 70ft ultra luxury yacht before, had no idea what I was missing. Huge, beautifully appointed w/ high-end furnishings & spacious layout.

While the boat is so impressive, the crew of Max, Elise & Sue take the experience to another level - 5 stars & beyond.

Every dish, hand crafted gourmet meals from Elise, equalling or surpassing any Michelin restaurant.

Max’s expertise & knowledge of the area & conditions mean you will see & do all that is available here in the BVIs.

Then there is Sue the magic that makes everything perfect.

Thank you so much for making our week magical & memorable.

Deep appreciation & fondness,
Eli & Cecilia

We cannot begin to thank you, Captain Max, Sue and Chef Elise, for a weeklong experience we will never forget.

Our experience so far exceeded our expectations and that was largely due to your care and professionalism exhibited in all facets of the trip.

Please know how special this trip was for us and that Kevin got to relive fun adventures from his youth, and I got to see, for the first time, a most beautiful part of the world.

Thank you, thank you for such a wonderful experience.

Sincerely, Susan & Kevin

What an amazing week with the best crew ever! Thank you for going above and beyond to make out adventure memorable!

Loved Every minute!
Brenda and Tim

Team Ocean Vibes

Thank you so much fot making  a special birthday – very special.

The beautiful set tables & Superb food was so good.

Taking us to shore in the tender to even provide more enjoyments and experiances

The trip was way more than we imagained.

Mary & Mike

Thank you so much for a wonderful adventure. Your hardwork was appreciated.

Audury & Greg

Thank you for your wonderful hospitality, what an amazing week of adventures, terrific food and the fun with the best of friends.

Lynn and Greg

Thank you Max, Sue & Elise, FANTASTIC WEEK and Weather. Anegada pub crawl was wonderful! Loved all the food – but especially the fresh baked stuff everyday!  Your Cheerful demeanor everyday was fantastic 😊 What a fun special time.

Thank you – Mike
P.s thanks for taking us to the willi T

And thank you for an epic cheese burger in paradise day, so much fun!

Kristan

Great time this whole week, Thanks to the whole crew for such a wonderful experience.

Gary and Charlene

You all are amazing, We could not be more thankful, Perfect week and wonderful people!

Everlyn and James

Hands down the most amazing trip I've ever been on. HUGE thank you to you all for the delightful maxtivities, delicious food, and every little detail being taken care of before we can even think about it. I have loved getting to know you guys, you made this week So special and very difficult to leave ocean vibes!! GO Bears!

- Sage

Such wonderful Memories! Many many thanks to the best crew in the BVI. l’ve loved it all. Need to return for the Ocean Vibes 2025 Dice Championship to unseat Max. You guys are great!

- Gordan

What an amazing way to speed The last week of 2024 and ring in 2025/ OV was an incredible experience from start to finish- THANK YOU!

– Lars

Thank you Max, Sue & Elise for the most amazing and unforgettable experience that we will be reflecting upon for many many years to come. The BVl's as a very special place and we are so grateful to the 3 f you for sharing your home with us. Thank you for your hospitality, knowledge, Joy and Soulful and wonderful outlook on life. We will Strive + hold out for a bit of Ocean vibes always and thank you for bringing us all together in such a way.
Happy 2025!

- Lawson

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Thank you! From the food-to the extraordinary itinerary, to the amazing; service we couldn't have asked for anything more Hope was right- you are the best crew and for sure the crew makes the trip. Many happy returns in 2025

Love Wendy

Thanks so much For such a great trip! was so much Fun !!!

- Gordi

Thank you so much for everything ! had such a fun time, loved all the Places we went to and spending time with everyone!

- Nate

Thank you for such an amazing week!

 :- Caroline

Wow! What an amazing Christmas week! What I loved about each of you so much—

Sue: coffee delivery in the morning without a word spoken!
Max: ability to answer all questions about boating with a smile!
Elise: every bite that came out of the galley!

THANK YOU!
XOXO Grace and Tim

Magic at the helm, magic in the salon, and magic in the galley! Thank you for a wonderful cruise. Please visit us so we can show you the San Juan Islands.

-Peter

You all made the most incredible Christmas week for us—thank you so much. Spectacular meals, spectacular swimming, truly the best vibes.

-Petie

I feel sorry for anyone who charters OV after us because we are kidnapping the entire crew. The boat is a treat, but our trip was MADE by Max, Sue, & Elise—their kindness and thoughtfulness were boundless. My deepest gratitude.

-Betsy

Captain Max, Chef Elise and Stewardess Susanna,

Thank you so much for hosting me on the beautiful Ocean Vibes for the broker luncheon on Tuesday, and for the super fun Dock Hop last night.  You are a dream team and I enjoyed getting to know each of you on a personal level.

Captain Max - you make a mean Espresso Martini.  I vote you the best “shaker" in all of the BVI’s.

Chef Elise - Every course of your luncheon was perfected executed with stunning plate presentation, flavor profiles and creativity.

Stewardess Susanna - Your genuine kindness and natural hospitality were a joy to experience.  I loved hearing about your garden and harvesting from your own property on Tortola.

The attention to detail, top notch hospitality and delicious cuisine set you apart in your class of luxury crewed charters.  You earned 5 Stars all around and deserve to be celebrated!  🌟

I hope you have a spectacular season ahead and I hope I have the privilege of booking guests with you.

Micheale

Dear Captain Max, Sue and Elise-

Words cannot express how grateful our family of six is to have spent the week with you on Ocean Vibes! The three of you are the most kind, fun, energetic and professional team a charter boat could ever have! Thank you for making Brook’s graduation trip so special and one we will always remember! The memories we are taking home with us because of your endless hospitality our priceless. You will forever be a part of the Phelan Family! We can’t wait to do this trip with you again! Until next time our dear friends…

All our love,
The Phelan Family
XOXOXOXO

This truly has been one of the best vacations! So many memories to take home and cherish. Our Captain Max was wonderful to get to know, so knowledgeable of the best places to take us, the vessel (we always felt safe) and he even can grill up a storm! Sue was so sweet and catered to our every need. She made sure we had everything and was such a pleasure to be around. Our chef Elise was not only a delight to be around but prepared the most delicious meals. Her expertise with food is incredible and her attention to detail and love she put into every dish was amazing. Thank you so much for this truly incredible experience that was so great because of the three of you! Until the next time!

Linda

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5 stars for the best! Thank you Max, Sue and Elise for one of the most memorable experiences! I wish I could clone you all and bring you home with us. It was lovely to get to know each of you on a personal level. Best of luck! Visit us in Tampa anytime 😁

Amanda

Thank you for showing us around your home and all your favorite places. Max, Sue and Elise are a true power team. I wish you all the best and can only hope to cross paths again! PS make sure to partake in Max’s world famous Anegad beach bar Safari tour. You won’t regret it.

-Connor

Five stars. An exceedingly fun journey through the islands. Captain Max have the humor to Match his sailing expertise. She was talented in a multitude of skills that she carries out with class and professionalism. Elise showed us a kaleidoscope of flavors, prepared excellently and presented with enthusiasm.

There is no better company on the seven seas!
-Zachary and Joshua

This trip has been the stuff of dreams. Man, I can’t think that ever had such a fun, interesting, beautiful holiday. And that’s down to the care and attention of Max and Elise. Always there to provide us with top quality food, wine and service, taking us to the best places and hidden treasures, keeping us safe and amused - just simply taking care of our
every need so that we could relax and enjoy ourselves. Which we did. An unforgettable holiday. The best ever.

From the bottom of my heart,
Thank you
Sharon x

Considering my top 10 life experiences, is this has to be very near the top! A family trip like no other! An amazing opportunity to unwind and be taken care of from the moment we boarded to the very end. Max and his incredible crew made our trip absolutely seamless and was packed with adventures from start to finish. We cannot thank them enough for all their hard work,
diligence, care and attention to detail; it’s truly been a once in a lifetime experience that money can’t buy. Loved every single minute.

Thank you so much!
Dean and family xxx

“Pinch me because I might be dreaming” has been a common phrase to this trip. Salty smiles, giggles over warm breeze, turtle spotted, deserted beaches found, dreams made, expectations exceeded over and over with all trimmings and then some. An incredible boat but made possible by the most beautiful, generous people with knowledge,
attention to detail and every intention to deliver the most unforgettable experience.
Forever grateful, full of memories, full belly, full heart.

With love and gratitude,
Alex xxxx

Thank you for the most incredible TRIP of A Lifetime! BVI did not disappoint!
Heaven on earth!

There were 8 of us that chose Ocean Vibes as our magnificent vessel. We utilized every space on the boat and could not have been more pleased!
The Crew! Elise, Max & Sue! They made this adventure absolutely perfect.

The food was off the chart delicious. Every morsel was prepared to perfection by Elise. She takes such pride in her presentation and preparation. Sue kept our rooms neat and fulfilled every request we had. She made us feel at home. Then there was our fearless Captain, Max! He navigated the boat to destinations we could have only imagined. The 3 of them worked so hard, yet, made it seem effortless! Our every need was met and we truly had a perfect vacation- Proper Classic! Well— with the exception of Bill not. Driving the dingy :) I guess we will be forced to return!

We are so blessed to have experienced such perfection! God is Good!

Many Thanks!
Bill & Rhonda
Joseph & Donna

Thanks for the best week!

God Bless,
Chris & Ann Marie

We are looking forward to our next trip with you guys!

Kelly & Anthony

Thank you for an amazing trip. Max, Sue & Elise are rockstars in their fields and make an amazing team. We were lucky to have found y'all. I will always remember this trip fondly.

Thank you for an amazing time! This was truly one of my favorite trips. But it wouldn't be the same without the amazing crew. All of y'all were so fun to be around and the activities and food were wonderful.

- Madison

Thanks to Max, Elise & Sue for making this such an incredible week. Everything was 5 Star, The food, The Boat, The Crew and the wonderful bays. I could not think of a better way to spend time with our dear friends from business school 35 years ago. I look forward to a repeat trip with our family. Thanks for everything - Jon

What a fabulous week to spend with old friends in a lovely part of the world. Our seamless experience was made possible by Max Sue and Elise, Max was constantly working to find the best sailing experience and the best places to anchor; Elise surprised us every day with beautiful, delicious meals that were plated like a Michelin starred restaurant; and Sue was constantly available to provide for our every wish. We look forward to returning to this wonderful part of the world with this world class crew. With our love, Terry & Gail

Thanks so much to John & Gail for inviting us all to gather in the BVI's. Such an amazing week in paradise! Max and Elise & the Liserati! Their attention to detail and attention to our enjoyment made the experience so much more wonderful. The food, cocktails, snorkeling, views, coffee, beaches ... can't capture it all. Fantastic! Such fun to spend a week with long time friends. Thanks again - Heidi.

Thank you to Elise, Max, and Sue for the most amazing adventure vacation! We have been dreaming of this trip for months and it exceeded all of our expectations, from secret snorkeling coves to delicious meals to sunset chats, this trip has been perfect! At the end of this week it feels like the 8 of us are one big family. This is a week we will never forget!

- Molly

What a way to start the new year! Thank you to Sue, Elise, and Max for making this trip unforgettable and for putting up with the Connors (sorry Max for always being late). Sue, I will think about your famous painkillers for years to come. I hope we will see you all soon - come to Boston!! xoxo Mary

Sueee, Max & Elise, thank you so much for such an awesome trip. The Maxtivities, Sue-stories & Elise-eats made this trip the best ever. I hope you all have such a great 2024! Max I wish you the best of luck coaching T-ball in the months to come! Thanks again - Willy :)

SONG FOR OCEAN VIBES

We're late to the dinghy, our scrabbles are shifty, we saw an octopus thrice, almost as good as Elise's bike ride.

Sue, we wish you good luck on your big wedding day, but don't forget how fun scattergories was to play.

Maxtivities a plenty and painkillers too, the Cannons are beyond grateful for this wonderful crew! :) - Mary, Molly, Willy

Ocean Vibes has been an amazing home over the past week. Each day we woke up to the most beautiful sights, delicious breakfast, & a fun refreshing jump (or push) into the water. The most relaxing family vacation we've had. Thank you Max, Sue & Elise for sharing your Christmas traditions with us, & for making our trip so memorable.

Outstanding captain Max

Chef Elise is the best pastry chef. We need her in NYC!

E ran fell in the water

A vocado toast was our favorite

N ecker (little) palms fit in the MoMA

V olleyball at Bitter End

I nfluneer sighting at Soggy Dollar

B eware of late night Tarpon

E xplorea Peter Island & Villa

S ue's mojitos are the best!