To (Eat &) Drink Life to the Lees!

Let's start with the important stuff - FOOD!

Here are some highlights. Mostly seafood but there's a lot of good eats in the Caribbean! And, truly, the restaurants themselves are worth the trip. Authentic waiters, waitresses, cooks, and owners who come out and bring you a tot of rum and take the time to talk.

Best Fish Sandwich - Blackened Flying Fish at The Jolly Roger Inn, Tortola, BVI Check out their web-cam @

http://reservationsbvi.com/weather/070106.html

Best Fish and Chips - The Mad Mongoose, Falmouth Harbor. Check out their menu & web-cam @

Antiguahttp://www.madmongooseantigua.com/index.php?p=home

Best Seared Tuna - Brigadoon, Windwardside, Saba (And a hilarious owner (Trish) who tells a mean joke. Ever hear the one about the 7th Day Adventists ... ); The Mad Mongoose a strong second.

Best International - Spicy Thai Calamari - El Momo, Windwardside, Saba (And our favorite cook, bottlewasher, waitress and, especially, friends - Patrick and Sophie).

Best Caribbean - Jerk Mahi Mahi at The Garage in Rouseau, Dominica; or was it the conch fritters in St Croix or at the Brigadoon, or the fish cakes at The Sky's the Limit Lolo in Grand Case, St Martin? Did I mention the Marlin "chunks" Blue Plate Special on the Cornerstone's balcony in old Roseau ... The list could go on and on.

Best Hamburger - One of the best ever, anywhere, at Skinny Legs Bar and Grill in Coral Bay, St John, USVI. As advertised - "A Pretty OK Place." Check out their web-site @

http://www.skinnylegs.com/

Best Pork Dish - Succulent to-die-for Mango Beer Braised Pork shoulder at the Inn at Tamarind Court, Cruz Bay, St John, USVI. And this Southern Boy knows his pig.

Best Breakfast - The "Jesuit" pastry and a double espresso at La Parisienne's in Marigot, St Martin; Lalita Courtyard on St Croix was another good spot for a decent macciato and music. Er, did I mention the lovely breakfasts at El Momo?

Beer - Dominica's local brew, Kubuli, edges out Antigua's Wadadli.

Rum - Homemade infusions, especially the Coffee and Pink Grapefruit infusions

Ice Cream - The "Obama Smoothie" in Nelson's Dockyard.

But food doesn't start out in restaurant kitchens. Part of the charm of the Caribbean are the local ingredients, roadside stands, and local markets. The photos range from food on the tree to one of my favorite spice markets on the planet - in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadaloupe.

Did I mention the Moule Frites at La Habana in Trois Islets, Martinique? Or the lovely baguettes of DeliFrance?

So much food, so little time.

Nov 4, 2008

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