Grenada offers Island cuisine to tempt your taste buds
June 24, 2010. (Grenada, W.I.)–Beautiful beaches, turquoise blue waters and friendly locals, it already sounds perfect, doesn’t it? One thing people don’t always realize is that Grenada is a foodie’s paradise.
Fresh produce, seafood caught the very same day and fragrant spices tantalize the taste buds at every meal. The tri-island nation of Grenada is a part of the Windward Islands and is full of distinct, local dishes.
Frequently referred to as ‘the Spice of the Caribbean,’ Grenada is the second largest supplier of nutmeg in the world. This spice is a staple in many of the dishes served throughout Grenada and the outer layer of the nutmeg is used to make jams, jellies, syrups, candies, etc. Nutmeg ice cream is a popular treat, for both visitors and locals alike. Nutmeg is such a staple in Grenada that the image appears on the country’s flag.
“We hope that visitors to Grenada will take the chance to experience some of our local cuisine,” said William Joseph, director of tourism for the Grenada Board of Tourism. “Food and spices bring people together in Grenada; they are an important part of the Grenadian culture and this is reflected in our daily Island life.”
Callaloo is a popular leafy vegetable that is not to be missed when dining on the Island. It is used to make soup, served as a side dish and incorporated into many meals, including the national dish ‘Oil Down’. The ever-popular ‘Oil Down’ is often cooked in large pots on the beach and consists of breadfruit, salted meat, chicken, callaloo, coconut milk, vegetables and dumplings.
If you want to get out and eat with the locals, head to the weekly Fish Friday in the town of Gouyave. This event attracts both Grenadians and tourists and is a great opportunity to sample some local dishes including breadfruit chips, fish kebabs, fish lasagna, and lambie waters. Lambie waters is a hot soup made with vegetables and conch and is another must try when in Grenada.
For dessert, make sure to try something made with Grenadian chocolate. Unbeknownst to many people, Grenada is also a major producer of cocoa and makes some of the best organic chocolate in the world. The Grenada Chocolate Company, is involved in the chocolate production every step of the way – from growing and processing the cocoa beans to extracting the cocoa butter. This chocolate is an absolute treat and the perfect gift to bring people back home.
A visit to ‘the Spice of the Caribbean’ is a unique culinary experience and will leave you with a newfound appreciation for Grenadian cuisine.
About Grenada Board of Tourism
The Grenada Board of Tourism objective is to market and promote Grenada as a preferred year round Caribbean tourist destination, while also providing technical and managerial support to the travel trade, industry partners and airlines. For more information on Grenada contact the Grenada Board of Tourism office in Toronto at 416-595-1339, email at tourism@grenadaconsulate.com or visit www.grenadagrenadines.com
Note: all restaurants, festivals and contacts for food products are available at the official web site of the Grenada Board of Tourism at www.grenadagrenadines.com
How to Get to Grenada from Canada
Grenada can be reached via Air Canada Vacations that operates a seasonal direct flight from Toronto to Grenada (Sunday departure with easy connections from major Canadian gateways available at www.aircanadavacations.com from December until April. AC operates year round daily flights from Toronto to Barbados (Saturday & Sunday departure from Montreal) with connections on LIAT to Grenada. Caribbean Airlines operate regularly scheduled flights from Toronto to Barbados and Trinidad with connections on LIAT to Grenada. GG Tours operates a seasonal summer charter services from July through to September with a weekly direct flight from Toronto to Grenada www.ggtours.ca, as well as Titan Tours www.titantours.com . West Jet operates a flight from Toronto to Barbados with connections on LIAT to Grenada year round. |
