Featured Book

Featured Articles

Travel Safety

Featured Advertisers

Hotel Savoy Prague

Sea Kayak Advenures

Search

go

Search By Country:


Search Now:

Experiences

go

Eat! Drink! Barbados


 

My stomach lodged firmly in my throat as our jeep hit yet another mud hole at the bottom of yet another perpendicular goat trail somewhere in the middle of this Island.
Well, it certainly felt like a sheer drop to those of us who avoid roller coasters like the plague. Others though were laughing merrily, just bouncing along, waiting for the upcoming libations at one of Barbados’ ubiquitous Rum Shops scattered throughout our off-roading (actually, make that ‘no’ road) Foursquare Rum tour.

According to Aaron, our most cheerful kamikaze Island Safari pilot – er, driver – Barbados boasts a church for every day of the year. Yup, 365. Their other claim to fame is the more than 1,600 Rum Shops scattered throughout the island. Sounds like an old song: “One day of praying and six nights of fun…”

Our guide also told us some interesting facts about the Rum Industry, including the aging and maturing process, and the fact there are varying mature stages of rum. However he assured us, “you don’t have to be mature to drink it.” Whew. What a relief, because there were some of us on this run who thought that maturity was very over rated. (And of course the more rum you drink, well……)

This was actually a fabulous introduction (motion sickness be darned!) to Barbados as our group joined three other Island Safari jeeps for a day long 100 km trek through the flora and fauna of uninhabited interior rain forests to the inviting Rum Shops along picturesque coastal towns.

Our merry band of jeep-jostled explorers had all gathered to attend the 3rd annual ‘Eat! Drink! Barbados 2003 festival of culinary delights, cocktail concoctions and samplings of wine.
‘Foodies’ all – Come on! Who isn’t? – we were hooked because the event was co-sponsored by the prestigious Gourmet Magazine, and hosted by its Executive Chef Sara Moulton, known to international television fans through ‘Sara’s Secrets’ highlighted on The Food Network.

In fact at the dinner presented by Sara at the stunning Cliff Restaurant (Sauteed Scallops, Spicy Tuna Tartare, Foie Gras, Cajun Style Barracuda, etc) guests arrived from various points of North America and Europe, such as Kathleen Rowes of London, England who planned her vacation around this event.

As well, there were some citizens of international waters, owners of a 5,000 sq ft condo aboard the cruise ship The World – passengers purchase their own condos and simply sail around the world. I believe the ladies actually had the ship dock for the night just so they could have dinner with Sara. (In the immortal words of F. Scott Fitzgerald: “The rich are different than you and me.”)

Barbados is actively seeking the title Culinary Capital of the Caribbean. Certainly everyone who attended the 10-day October event - and left the island stuffed, satiated and at least seven pounds heavier - could not dispute this claim.

 

Local and international chefs presented culinary sensations using indigenous Bajan produce, seafood, fruits and vegetables to create some truly creative dishes.

These special menus included such inventive tastes as Risotto alla Pescatore, Tataki Tuna with Ponzu Vegetables, Spiny Lobster Soup with Coconut & Lemon Grass, Caribbean Shrimp with Thai Green Curry Coconut Sauce, Pork Tenderloin with Golden Apple and Breadfruit Mash, Mango Crepes, Watermelon Martini. Yow!

Guest Executive Chefs (including Toronto’s renown Leo Spralja of Joso’s Restaurant) discovered some excellent kitchens and staff because Barbados does boast an embarrassment of five-star fine dining establishments including – to name but a few - The Cliff, Daphne’s, Calabaza, the Fairmont’s Palm Terrace and Josef’s.

Not every meal can be – or should be – a mega course experience. Also, not every meal should cost the tourist approx. $125 U.S. per person – although the occasional spectacular dinner is memorable. Some of us like to get away to little local restaurants (make sure you visit The Waterfront during your shopping tour of Bridgetown) and munch on deep-fried, lightly-battered Bajan Fish Cakes, succulent Snapper, grilled Flying Fish or (only on Saturdays) Souse and Pudding, washed down with a good local beer – try Banks or Legend.

Many visitors and locals alike head to the little fishing village of Oistins on the south coast for the weekly ‘fish fry’, a very informal Friday night dinner where you can munch down a mess of fresh-caught fish and seafood accompanied by a jigger of rum.

(For a truly Bajan feast, visit Six Men’s Bay at Port St. Charles any weekend. The locals in the boatyards prepare three pots of boiling oil – for fish, chicken and pork – plus a local beer or small flask of rum. It is quite easy to conjure up images of the pirate crews that once roamed these sunny isles.)

As well, Barbados is the home of Mount Gay Rum, and 2003 marks its 300th anniversary – making it the world’s oldest rum producing label. It is also Mount Gay that provides the basic ingredient for numerous refreshing libations throughout the island.

Ah, but one requires some activity to help settle all that food. Certainly the ups and down of the jeep safari will shake up the system but a smoother ride can be found sailing the sparkling blue seas of the Lesser Antilles aboard the Tiami Catamaran cruise.
This day- long sail includes several snorkeling sessions over ancient shipwrecks, gliding sea turtles (you can actually touch their shells) and numerous fish of Technicolor hues that are curious enough to poke their noses (do fish have noses?) into your diving mask. You’ll find you have entered the magical rainbow world of “Finding Nemo”.

Nature lovers will enjoy a tranquil, tropical stroll through the Flower Forest, a humid stroll (they hand out umbrellas) through brilliant tropical flowers and lush greenery found only in rainforests usually reserved for the Amazon. The elevated garden, in the middle of the Island, is also a perfect picture place to capture the east coast, referred to as ‘the Scottish Coast’

Local and international chefs presented culinary sensations using indigenous Bajan produce, seafood, fruits and vegetables to create some truly creative dishes.

These special menus included such inventive tastes as Risotto alla Pescatore, Tataki Tuna with Ponzu Vegetables, Spiny Lobster Soup with Coconut & Lemon Grass, Caribbean Shrimp with Thai Green Curry Coconut Sauce, Pork Tenderloin with Golden Apple and Breadfruit Mash, Mango Crepes, Watermelon Martini. Yow!

Guest Executive Chefs (including Toronto’s renown Leo Spralja of Joso’s Restaurant) discovered some excellent kitchens and staff because Barbados does boast an embarrassment of five-star fine dining establishments including – to name but a few - The Cliff, Daphne’s, Calabaza, the Fairmont’s Palm Terrace and Josef’s.

Not every meal can be – or should be – a mega course experience. Also, not every meal should cost the tourist approx. $125 U.S. per person – although the occasional spectacular dinner is memorable. Some of us like to get away to little local restaurants (make sure you visit The Waterfront during your shopping tour of Bridgetown) and munch on deep-fried, lightly-battered Bajan Fish Cakes, succulent Snapper, grilled Flying Fish or (only on Saturdays) Souse and Pudding, washed down with a good local beer – try Banks or Legend.

Many visitors and locals alike head to the little fishing village of Oistins on the south coast for the weekly ‘fish fry’, a very informal Friday night dinner where you can munch down a mess of fresh-caught fish and seafood accompanied by a jigger of rum.

(For a truly Bajan feast, visit Six Men’s Bay at Port St. Charles any weekend. The locals in the boatyards prepare three pots of boiling oil – for fish, chicken and pork – plus a local beer or small flask of rum. It is quite easy to conjure up images of the pirate crews that once roamed these sunny isles.)

As well, Barbados is the home of Mount Gay Rum, and 2003 marks its 300th anniversary – making it the world’s oldest rum producing label. It is also Mount Gay that provides the basic ingredient for numerous refreshing libations throughout the island.

Ah, but one requires some activity to help settle all that food. Certainly the ups and down of the jeep safari will shake up the system but a smoother ride can be found sailing the sparkling blue seas of the Lesser Antilles aboard the Tiami Catamaran cruise.
This day- long sail includes several snorkeling sessions over ancient shipwrecks, gliding sea turtles (you can actually touch their shells) and numerous fish of Technicolor hues that are curious enough to poke their noses (do fish have noses?) into your diving mask. You’ll find you have entered the magical rainbow world of “Finding Nemo”.

Nature lovers will enjoy a tranquil, tropical stroll through the Flower Forest, a humid stroll (they hand out umbrellas) through brilliant tropical flowers and lush greenery found only in rainforests usually reserved for the Amazon. The elevated garden, in the middle of the Island, is also a perfect picture place to capture the east coast, referred to as ‘the Scottish Coast’