Caribbean
Journey Through the Flavours and Stories of Nassau & Paradise Island
By Jennifer Merrick
Food, culture and landscape are inseparable, and Nassau & Paradise Island deliciously demonstrate this interconnection. Every bite and sip tells the islands’ stories, whether it’s the freshness of its seafood, sweet spirits or the comfort foods that carry echoes of West African traditions.
Taste the Caribbean Sea
The islands’ warm turquoise waters and white-sand beaches that delight visitors also support the Bahamas’ most iconic food: conch. Pronounced ‘conk’, these large decorative white shells that we hold up to our ears to listen to the ocean are much more than a decoration. Here, it’s the inside that’s prized, and these mollusks are recognized as the country’s national dish. Resembling more robust calamari, conch can be enjoyed steamed, deep-fried (conch fritters), in chowder, or most memorably, in the island’s incredibly fresh and flavourful conch salad.
Where to try it: Head to Arawak Cay, better known as The Fish Fry, where colourful local restaurants serve conch in all its forms. For a more upscale take on this island staple, visit Fish by José Andrés at Atlantis Paradise Island. Conch takes center stage on the celebrated chef’s Bahamas Experience tasting menu, with three distinct preparations: tropical conch salad, fritters and grilled conch with chimichurri sauce.
Pass the Peas and Rice
The humble peas and rice has a somber, centuries-old history that begins in West Africa with the Ghanaian dish Waakye. The agricultural knowledge, cooking techniques and ingredients have evolved into flavours that still define Bahamian cuisine today. Unlike other Caribbean versions, authentic preparations here don’t use coconut milk, but instead have a dark caramelised base achieved with tomato paste and are prepared strictly with pigeon peas.
Where to try it: Order a plate of steamed chicken, baked macaroni and peas and rice at Bahamian Cookin’ Restaurant in downtown Nassau. Or join the Bites of Nassau Food Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour.
Hunt for Nassau’s Sweetest Treasure
Nassau’s history tells of the adventures of Blackbeard and Calico Jack, fuelled by their drink of choice. Aye, it’s da rum, matey!
Hear the stories and taste the bounty at a distillery, sip one of the island’s signature cocktails or bite into a rum-soaked dessert. The classic is rum cake, but don’t miss the rum-butter-drenched Guava Duff, a national dessert with roots in British steamed pudding that’s taken to a whole new level with its filling of local guava fruit.
Where to try it: John Watling Rum
Distillery has tours and tastings or join a cocktail and rum experience with Tru Bahamian Food Tours. For desserts, sample an elevated version of rum cake at Café Boulud, Rosewood Baha Mar or try a coconut-infused take on Guava Duff at Crusoe’s Restaurant on Paradise Island.
Did You Know?
- Switcha is the local word for lemonade.
- Chicken in da Bag is a favourite comfort food, consisting of a deep-fried chicken thigh over fries with a bread roll on the side and lots of ketchup.
- Sip Sip is not only what you do with cocktails, but a local word for ‘tea’, as in gossip.
- Souse, a hearty soup made with ingredients like pigs’ feet or sheep’s tongue, veggies and lime juice, is said to cure a hangover.
- Talented chefs and mixologists show off their skills at festivals like Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival and the Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival at Baha Mar.
Travel Planner
For the latest travel information about Nassau & Paradise Island, visit nassauparadiseisland.com
