Posts Tagged ‘lunch’
Ewwww, gross!
That’s the typical reaction most newcomers to Tobago have at their first sight of the island’s signature dish, Curry Crab & Dumpling, or CnD for short. I mean just check the photo… That’s about as scary-looking a collection of edible entities as have ever been set before me!
In the case of CnD, though, all that ugly adds up to something insanely yummy, and just as importantly to your visitor experience on the island, something uniquely Tobagonian…
Martinique never ceases to amaze me with the absolutely superb quality of its cuisine, and the absolutely innumerous places where you can find it. Whether it’s a roadside BBQ, a shack on the beach, or even a fast food joint, you’re virtually guaranteed an exceptional dining experience anywhere on the island. I’ve traveled here nearly 10 times since 2006, eating at dozens of different places along the way, and never encountered a bad meal (except for one ill-conceived venture to a Tex-Mex place). Yesterday, though, I thought my luck had finally run out.
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Earlier this year, I wrote about traveling to Grand Cayman and enjoying my first taste of turtle. Predictably, this was not one of our more popular posts. Reader responses generally ranged from outrage to disappointment. Turtles are cute and endangered; how can anyone think of eating them?
I can see where my detractors were coming from (though most ignored the conservation side of the story), but I’m wondering how these same people will feel about the subject of today’s Taste of the Caribbean: the regal, if not ravenous Queen Conch.
The search for great roti is a common pursuit that Patrick and I engage in when we make our separate trips to the Caribbean, but since we just so happened to be together in Barbados earlier this year, we decided to do something a little different. Instead of simply finding the best roti spot on the island, we’d actually pit a traditional local place, like The Roti Den, versus a fast food joint.
Yes, you read that right – in Barbados they have fast food places that serve roti. Better said, they serve a close facsimile of roti. Even better said, they serve some crap they call roti.
I had no intention of letting my stomach dictate my itinerary during my visit to Grand Cayman earlier this year, but I found so many surprisingly wonderful eateries here that I just could not resist. Singh’s was the most surprising; Grape Tree, the most scenic. The best combination of both, though, was definitely Vivine’s Kitchen.
I found Vivine’s on this driving adventure through Grand Cayman’s blissfully sleepy East End. Like a lot of the best authentic West Indian eateries I’ve come across on my travels, it’s located right alongside the road, so it’s virtually impossible to miss. Just look for the sign above and park on the other side of the road just down the hill.
There are several nice advantages to life in Barbados born of the island’s unique geographic position a good 100 miles further east into the Atlantic than the rest of its Caribbean neighbors. World-class surfing conditions and amazing seaside natural wonders artfully carved by the ever-pounding Atlantic are two of my favorites. Of course, where there are pluses, there are also minuses, and for lovers of shellfish Barbados has a big one: no lobster.
Okay, I shouldn’t say “no lobster” as there’s bound to be at least a small number hanging around the coral reefs that ring the island. There’s also this rare creature some consider to be a lobster, but really it’s not.
It’s mean, I know. The Easter Bunny just got done spoiling us with colored eggs, toys, chocolates and candy, and I’m already calling for him to be cleaned, sliced, cooked and served. It may not be nice, but rabbit makes a pretty healthy meal, and after all those Easter sweets, he kinda’ owes us one, don’t you think?
In the Caribbean, rabbit is not as ubiquitous a menu item as pork, beef, chicken or even goat, but in certain communities it’s prized highly. One of those places is Dominica, where my new friend and Dominica-native, Evans Bruno from Virgin Islands Delite, says rabbit dishes go hand-in-hand with big celebrations.
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