Food

Enjoying the Gastronomic Specialties of the Bahamas

There are many people who have learned over the years (and quite rightly) that foreign foods should be approached with caution; you can never guarantee when a local delicacy is going to set your foreign stomach on its proverbial ear and result in you spending the rest of your vacation nibbling on toast and vowing never to return. Before you step off of the plane to begin your Bahamian vacation, take the time to familiarize yourself with many of the local delicacies-and cull out those which you are 90% certain will not agree with you.

As you would imagine, since the islands are surrounded by water a large amount of their sustenance comes from the ocean. Crawfish, conch, land crabs and fish can be found in a number of the local delicacies and are a favorite of tourists (therefore generally considered safe for consumption); however, this also means that they are found in a majority of the dishes served on the island. If you have an allergy to any form of seafood it would be wise to speak with your server prior to ordering and enquire as to what items on their menu are safe to eat.

If you have spent any portion of your life on the southern portion of the mainland (particularly the eastern coast) then you are familiar with the concept of having fish and grits for breakfast (fried catfish is considered a delicacy). Boiled fish and grits is as ordinary a breakfast on the islands as toast and eggs would be elsewhere, and grouper is often served alongside a helping of the local island bread. An ordinary meal in the Bahamas, regardless of the time of day, contains some form of seafood; however, conservative land lubbers will be happy to find such familiar dishes as potato salad, baked macaroni and cheese and rice right alongside.

If you are stepping onto the islands on a limited budget you would be wise to tackle establishments serving local specialties, such as peas and rice (pigeon peas with salt, pork or bacon, tomatoes, celery, rice, thyme and pepper) and Johnny bread, rather than international cuisine. Fast food options are also available at a low cost, and serve the busy traveler well by allowing them to get back to their vacation as quickly as possible.

If you find yourself on the islands for a holiday such as Christmas and are a bit hesitant about what cuisine you are going to find on your plate when you sit at the table relax. Shark and eel have not yet made it onto the list of holiday favorites. Instead, you will probably find yourself looking at such familiar favorites as baked ham and turkey, yams and sweet potatoes, peas and rice and steamed vegetables and potato salad, allowing you to feel as though you never left home.

If you prefer not to take a step out on the wild side when you are eating in the Bahamas rest easy; there are a vast quantity of options available for international cuisine that will allow you to find dishes you are more familiar with. A number of world-renowned chefs have set up shop on the islands, allowing travelers to find the dishes that they are so familiar with. Regardless of your tastes, there is something on the island to appeal to your taste buds and ensure that you do not walk away from the Bahamas with an empty stomach.