Enjoying the Food on a Bahamiam Vacation
There are many people who have learned over the years 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, you are familiar with the concept of having fish and grits for breakfast. 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.
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About the Owner: Jeff Mills is a former Youth Pastor who is now a full time internet information entrepreneur, book author, speaker, marketer, and also an avid traveler. To get more free money saving travel tips, read more at his blog at Resorts 360. Plus learn how to make large commissions with your own resorts360 vacation and travel club business with the Resorts 360 (r360). Jeff will teach you "My Story Marketing and Branding", online marketing, outsourcing and Web 2.0 Media Marketing, and invites you to call his home office at 651-769-2189 to join Jeff's team. |
Filed under: Bahamas, Bahamian people, Jeff Mills
[...] There is nothing better than an island vacation; the sun on your face, the wind in your hair and the sand beneath your feet combine to give you the feeling that you have stepped out of your ordinary, everyday life completely and been transported to a mythical paradise. There are a few downsides to taking a vacation outside of the borders of your own country, however, and that is the inevitable culture shock that you are going to experience at some point or another as you walk down the streets of your vacation destination and realize that you’re not in Kansas anymore. If you are unprepared for the cultural differences that you are going to experience when you travel to the Bahamas they may jump out and catch you by surprise, leaving you floundering and dimming the joy you would otherwise find when vacationing in Eden. On the other hand, forewarned is forearmed, and if you are prepared for the strange sights you are going to see then you will be able to take them in without so much as batting an eyelash. [...]
[...] the Bahamas are a common tourist point, there are many things about the island that are uniquely its own thatof what country you are coming from you must have a valid passport before entering the Bahamas, and you must be able to present that same passport upon your departure. If your passport is lostphone charger or other form of electronic you should have no need of an adapter; outlets in the Bahamas are the same as those in the US. c) Packing-The weather in the Bahamas is generally very warm, soidentify many of the foods, flora, fauna and residents of the island. e) Money-The currency in the Bahamas, the Bahamian dollar, is equivalent to the US dollar (which is accepted in most establishments).Foreign currency can be exchanged for the Bahamian dollar upon arrival. Traveler’s checks are also an accepted currency; however, expect your personal check to be rejected. You will have access to an ATM while on the islands, so you will never be far away from your home bank. f) Driving-European driving rules apply, so if you are unfamiliar with driving on the left side of the road and dealing with the traffic circles it may be wise to take advantage of public transportation rather than getting behind the wheel yourself. [...]