Combine sun, sea and sand with tasty local Caribbean food when you take your vacation on Barbados
Barbados is famed for stunning beaches and the beauty of the sea which surrounds it, but every year thousands of visitors discover just why it’s also known as the ‘Culinary Capital of the Caribbean’. The cuisine you’ll find in Barbados is as diverse as it is delicious. The many cultures that have explored, colonized and enjoyed the island have each brought their own distinct flavors and ideas, and these have combined to produce a unique tropical offering. A typical Bajan meal might take influences from Africa, India, Ireland and Britain and combine them in the following way; a main meal of meat or fish, marinated in herbs and spices, accompanied by a selection of salads and a range of hot and spicy side dishes. Officially, the National Dish of Barbados is Cou-cou and Flying Fish, and it consists of cornmeal grain and fresh okra, together with savory stewed flying fish flavored with deliciously fresh onion, garlic, thyme, tomatoes and pepper. Also popular with visitors and locals alike are fish cakes. Delicious fried morsels, these snacks consist of salted cod, flour, herbs and pepper, and you’ll find them all over the island, from casual dining spots to the most sophisticated soirees.
Fine dining in the best local restaurants offers sophisticated cuisine prepared by chefs from all over the world. Many of the best eateries offer fresh seafood such as snapper, kingfish and shrimp, prepared using a dazzling variety of delicious techniques. Your local hosts will always ensure that there’s plenty of drink on hand when you’re dining, and a fresh fruit drink made with Mount Gay rum will help to counter the fiery heat of so many Bajan dishes. One example is felernum, a drink which combines sugar, amaretto, rum and lime juice in a delicious taste explosion, while mauby is a non-alcoholic alternative made from the juice of boiled bark.