WELCOME BAHAMAS - NASSAU, CABLE BEACH & PARADISE ISLAND - 2003
Global dining on an island A surprising selection of ethnic fare WELCOME BAHAMAS - NASSAU, CABLE BEACH & PARADISE ISLAND - 2003
A popular Bahamian song insists that while visiting the Bahamas you must "try some conch, peas 'n' rice and guava duff" - all delicious local delicacies - but when visiting the islands, it is also easy to eat your way around the world.
Nassau boasts an impressive assortment of eateries, from American fast food joints and local conch and chicken shacks, to fine restaurants that rival the best found anywhere else in the world.
The variety of cuisine found on the island has increased in recent years, offering such exotic dining experiences as Thai, Sri Lankan, Chinese, Mexican, Belgian, French, Italian, Japanese, British, Filipino, Caribbean and of course, Bahamian.
Dine in Europe
Although the Bahamas gained independence from England in 1973, British symbols and traditions remain throughout the country. Just steps away from the houses of Parliament is Green Shutters, a restaurant and pub housed in a historic structure dating back to the early 1800's.
With the largest selection of tap draught beer in Nassau, this cozy British pub is a favourite watering hole, but it's also the best place on the island to satisfy your hankering for some authentic bangers and mash, steak and kidney pie and shepherd's pie, all popular British pub fare. You'll also find gourmet Bahamian cuisine here.
Nassau has a number of elegant European restaurants. Ask anyone for their favourite dining experiences and Sun and... is sure to be on the list.
Off the tourist track, but just a few minutes' drive east from Paradise Island, lies this gem of a restaurant serving Bahamian infused French cuisine. Sun and... is owned and operated by Belgian chef Ronny Deryckere and his wife, Esther, who purchased and transformed the property into one of the island's most exquisite restaurants. To start, sample the Bahamian lobster bisque or the crab cakes, served on shiitake mushrooms with raspberry vinaigrette topped with aioli sauce. The fricassee of lobster Martinique glazed with a crabmeat mornay and the steak tartare are mouth-watering, as are the stone crabs, available only in season. For dessert, Chef Ronny whips up the lightest, fluffiest souffles - guava, almond and amaretto, Kahlua espresso - but you're advised to order them early as they take time to prepare. Reservations are recommended and elegant dress and jacket are preferred.
Out west, in the new Caves Village development on West Bay St, is one of the island's hottest new restaurants, say local dining aficionados. Ristorante Villaggio offers superb northern Italian cuisine prepared by an Italian chef in an exotic Mediterranean-style setting.
Dine alfresco overlooking a central fountain, or enjoy your meal inside a cosmopolitan dining room.
Fast becoming menu favourites are the goat cheese mushroom Milanese and warm tart of acorn squash infused with Gorgonzola and drizzled with white truffle butter.
For a main course, order the lamb cutlets Tuscan style with a red wine shallot dressing, or the roasted lobster with sweet chilli lobster nage and cilantro.
After dinner, venture upstairs into the Caves Tower where a delightful piano bar and terrace are tucked away. The outside terrace, lined with hibiscus and bougainvillaea offers a beautiful glimpse of the ocean, but a walk up just two more flights of stairs will give you the best view of the island the west has to offer. From a railed balcony atop Caves Village, you can sip fine Italian wine and watch a spectacular Bahamian sunset. Reservations are highly recommended, especially for groups.
For lunch, there's also Cafe Villaggio, a deli-style restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. The roasted turkey breast with basil and garlic pesto served on crispy ciabatta bread is a must, and the wood-fired pizzas, topped with everything from the typical mozzarella to goat cheese, sweet sausage and shrimp, are divine.
Asian Infusion
Nassau boasts an array of Asian infused cuisine - Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Filipino and even Sri Lankan.
When cruise ships pull into Nassau Harbour, Filipino ship workers have one thing on their minds - some down-home cooking. Mabuhay Gardens is a favourite spot for them, serving authentic Filipino, Thai and Chinese cuisine just a few minutes walk from the port.
If you're not familiar with the cuisine, the friendly servers are more than happy to guide you through the hard-to-pronounce names, and a chilli-pepper guide in the menu ensures you don't bite off more than you can chew.
For starters, try Tom Yung Kung, a delicious spicy soup with shrimp, or the shrimp rolls - wrapped in wontons and lightly fried.
In addition to authentic pad thai noodles, Mabuhay Gardens offers a vast menu of chicken, beef, pork, seafood and vegetarian dishes. The delicate flavour of the Ginatuang Manok - chicken in coconut milk - is very popular, as is the Gai Pat King, a spicy gingered chicken dish.
Of course, those may seem tame to the Filipino ship workers who come to Mabuhay especially for the Adobong Baboy. Pork stewed in vinegar, garlic, pepper and soy sauce is the national dish of the Philippines.
And if you're really adventurous, you might want to give the Bingagoongang Baboy a try. But beware, this sauteed pork with shrimp paste has a distinct flavour and aroma and is generally considered an acquired taste.
For some of the best Chinese fare without a lot of trappings, lunch or dinner at Double Dragon is a must. Affordable authentic Chinese food is on the menu, and as with many restaurants in Nassau, they offer a touch of The Bahamas. Just about anything tossed in a spicy black bean sauce is delicious, but try Double Dragon's native speciality, conch in black bean sauce served up with a heaping order of their special fried rice. Other favourites include the spicy curry-infused Singapore noodles, and the Seafood Wor Bar. All dishes are made to order, and dine in, take out and delivery are available.
You may not find any kangaroo meat on the menu, but the Outback Steakhouse certainly offers the essence of down under. The Australian-themed North American chain is located at the foot of the Paradise Island exit bridge and offers up a sumptuous menu of steaks, ribs and chicken seasoned and seared to perfection. The Outback Special, a 21-ounce centre-cut sirloin and the Outback Rack, a 14-ounce rack of lamb served with a Cabernet sauce are not to be missed. But if you?re in the mood for pasta, it doesn't get better than the Toowoomba Pasta, a heaping dish of fettuccine Alfredo mixed with seasoned shrimp, crawfish, mushrooms and parmesan. Of course, a trip to the Outback would not be complete without a Bloomin Onion, this house speciality is big enough to feed a crowd. And to finish off your meal, order up a sinful serving of Chocolate Thunder from Down Under. Outback is extremely popular with locals and visitors alike, so be prepared for a short wait, especially on weekends.
Central America
The famed wild and crazy Mexican bar and restaurant, Senor Frogs, has hit The Bahamas. Situated on the harbour at the British Colonial Hilton on the western end of Bay Street, Senor Frogs offers up fun and food, Mexican style. Inside the dining room, waiters dance and sing for your entertainment, while serving up sizzling fajitas as well as enchiladas, chimichangas and burritos. After dinner, wander outside on the breezy deck for a romantic harbourside stroll, or get wild and crazy inside, dancing to the house band, or winning prizes in the wacky contests and shows.
Caribbean cuisine
The Bahamas is home to a growing population of Caribbean natives, so the islands are peppered with restaurants serving authentic Jamaican, West Indian and Haitian specialities.
If you're interested in trying Caribbean cuisine, but aren't sure which island nation will please your palate most, try Anthony's Caribbean Bar and Grill on Paradise Island. This colourful restaurant serves American favourites with a Caribbean twist for lunch, dinner and late-night snacks.
Jamaica is known for its spicy jerk seasoning, and Anthony's has it. Tender baby back ribs are offered two ways - "Caribbean" or "jerk." The Caribbean barbecue chicken pizza, topped with a pineapple salsa, mozzarella cheese and chopped tomatoes, fresh roasted garlic and spices, blends the best flavours the region has to offer. For a new twist on the classic Caesar salad, top it off with fresh grilled grouper.
Go Bahamian
You simply cannot leave The Bahamas without sampling some native cuisine. There are Bahamian restaurants on just about every corner, but for some real fun, visit a truly Bahamian historical restaurant - Cafe Johnny Canoe, located in front of the Nassau Beach Hotel on the Cable Beach strip. It sounds strange, but a favourite breakfast dish in The Bahamas is boil' fish. Meaty, seasoned fish in a lime and pepper-based broth with a side of sweet johnny cake is the best way to start the day in the islands. For something a little less exotic, but authentically Bahamian nonetheless, try the conch chowder, fresh conch salad or junkanoo wings for a dinner starter. And Cafe Johnny Canoe's crack' conch and lobster - deep fried morsels of tenderized seafood - and grilled grouper and mahi-mahi, just can't be beat. Schedule your Johnny Canoe dinner for a Friday evening to catch the Junkanoo rush-out for a taste of the annual Bahamian festival.
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