Mysterious tales of Arawak Indians, Christopher Columbus, the Lucayans, and pirates floor various history books. It wasn’t until Christopher Columbus made landfall in 1498 that a magical new world, the Bahamas, was discovered. Over 700 breathtaking subtropical islands and 2,400 cays are scattered throughout this vast archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean. The locals are friendly and love nothing more than to chat, dance, and eat. POTTEDHISTORY
FOOD HEAVEN As an island nation, the inhabitants are keen
fishermen, farmers, and rummakers (amongst other things). They rely on the sea to give them the freshest seafood. Some of the most popular dishes are based around the conch. You’ll recognize the conch by its beautiful white spiral-shaped shell with a shiny pink and orange interior. Inside lives the edible Queen conch, a soft, slightly chewy sea snail that tastes like a cross between salmon, crab, and scallops. Most seafood enthusiasts enjoy the unique flavor and enjoy conch raw in salads or cooked in fritters. Sailing around the Exumas Islands is a joy. There are seemingly endless unique islands and cays waiting to be discovered. Explore local markets for vibrantly colored tree-ripe tropical fruits such as avocado, banana, grapefruit, Persian lime, mango, pineapple, and coconut. You can also choose your vegetables from roadside sellers; there is an abundance of delicious tomatoes, squash, peanuts, and plantain to be had. You’ll find hot Bahamian sauces wherever you go. The islanders love to play with flavors and enjoy cooking with various herbs and spices. Don’t forget to try a johnnycake fresh off the grill; it’s a delicious cornmeal flatbread and the Bahamian equivalent of tortillas. EXUMAS HOPPING You will never be short of breathtaking views as you enjoy boat living in the Bahamas. Choose from diddy islands to mile-long sandbars, swimming pigs, and pastel-hued wooden cottages. No day is ever the same. You’ll come across local fishermen bringing home their line-caught wares. Your captain can negotiate a price for the freshest big-game tuna, mahi-mahi, blue or white marlin, wahoo, or colorful reef fish like grouper or snapper. Farmer’s markets are a great way to buy fresh and organic produce. There is a melting-pot of farming and cottage industries across the Exumas islands.
Conch doesn’t get much fresher than it does in the Bahamas.
There is even a bee-keeping initiative supported by the Ministry of Agriculture that encourages apiarists to produce local honey. There are two suppliers on Exumas - Organic Honey Sanctuary and BeesNtrees. Bahama Barrels is housed in an old church built by the Sisters of Charity in the early 1900s. Although the Bahamas isn’t a wine-producing country, Bahama Barrels perfectly blend wines from around the world. An experienced Californian winemaker runs interesting blending classes and happily explains the nuances of making great wine, including details about tannins, acidity, balance, and finish. Sour oranges are an essential staple used in many dishes, one of the most well-known is the conch salad. The sour orange is just that. It’s bitter-sweet. When your chef prepares your conch salad, he’ll add tomato, cucumber, raw onion and soak it in freshly squeezed sour orange before serving it to you. A meal is not complete without a serving of peas, beans, and rice. This traditional dish is served with fish, meat, and chicken throughout the Bahamas. Freshly prepared, the beans and peas provide a delicious kaleidoscope of colors. Pigeon peas are cooked with white long-grain rice seasoned with tomatoes, onions, fresh thyme, tomato paste, and salted pork or bacon. Peas n’ rice is mandatory. It’s quite different from other pea and rice dishes in the Caribbean.
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A N E P I C U R E A N J O U R N E Y : T H E B A H A M A S
C H A R T E R
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