Dining on Antigua
Antigua, best known for 365 beaches, is also known to possess a wide variety of dining spots. With international, African, and local influences, cuisines are diverse and varied offering something for every palate and budget. Choose from an ocean view setting dining al fresco under the stars or savor some local traditional cuisines. The choices are staggering and all quite exciting.
Local home cooking always features fresh fish and funchi. Funchi is a cornmeal dish similar to polenta. This starchy side goes well with seasoned creole style fish. Salt fish, a staple since the slave days, is imported salted dried cod. Salt fish is soaked overnight and cooked with sweet peppers, seasoning and spices and served as a breakfast food and a sandwich filler. A local specialty called ducana is often served as an accompaniment to salt fish. Ducana is grated sweet potato seasoned with cinnamon and essence, grated coconut, and raisins. It’s steamed in a fig (banana) leaf or foil and served warm. My Mother in Law, Miss Wynter makes the best saltfish and fungi.
Pepperpot is a lovely stew made with calaloo (spinach), fresh and salt beef, and okra. A simmered pot of pepperpot and funchi is a filling local favorite. Whenever I leave Antigua Miss Wynter makes me a batch to carry back to Bonaire or Cape Cod. It’s a treat every time. Everyone uses pepper sauce on foods from sandwiches to fish. A local favorite is Susie’s Hot Sauce. Locals tip the bottle into the cap and drizzle on the foods. This fiery sauce is made with Scotch Bonnet peppers, so exercise caution. You may buy some Susie’s to take home in Antigua or order online at www.susieshotsauce.com. My first experience with Suzie’s was at the old Vigie’s Snack Shop on Lord Nelson Alley. I ordered salt fish and bread and took the bottle of Suzie’ s and poured it over my bread. The local lady near me howled, “lawd, de gal a gonna bun she mout, see”. I looked at her, shrugged, bit a piece and nearly died from the fire of this piquant sauce. YOWSA. I learned my lesson to pour a tiny bit into the cap and drizzle it onto my bread. With the availability of lovely spices from nearby Dominica and Grenada, all local foods have a unique taste. Antigua’s markets sells such spices and also offer a wide variety of fruits and veggies grown locally and in Dominica.
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A visit to the local open-air market Saturday morning is nothing short of exciting. The bevy of people socializing and selling every fruit and vegetable found in the tropics is lively and fun. A local favorite is the Antigua Black Pineapple. Grown in the Antiguan countryside this small fruit is juicy and sugary. It is a lovely breakfast fruit or may be used for fruit smoothies. While making your Saturday market stop make certain to get your daily dose of fresh coconut water. This lovely beverage is chock full of electrolytes and is very healthy for the body.
Another Caribbean delight is roti. Orginating from Trinidad, roti is similar to a burrito but is flaky made with ghee. It is filled with curried chicken, conch, or meats. My favorite place to get roti on island is Roti King located on St. Mary’s Street in St. John. This is a busy hole in the wall selling other Trini favorites including Doubles (curried chick pea and pastry) and fresh local juices. The roti fills the entire plate, so come armed with an appetite or share with a friend. One Stone Ital Shack in town near Country Pond and at the Cobb’s Cross corner serves healthy vegetarian foods. The owner, Shoy Southwell, serves delicious Ital Rice, a Rastafarian rice made with coconut. Shoy’s food is made with whole wheat flour and fresh produce. The line at lunch time can be long but it’s worth the wait.
A favorite local spot with a gourmet twist is Home, located outside of town in Gambles. Owned by gregarious Antiguan, Carl Thomas, this restaurant is located in his former boyhood home. Home offers a cozy intimate atmosphere complemented by an exotic and gourmet menu. Carl’s serves his Caribbean-inspired menu with an emphasis on creative, tasteful, and fresh. Dickenson Bay has some of the best spots for happy hour. Coconut Grove has provided one of the most romantic settings for a cocktail seaside. The Beach, in contrast, offers a lively bar to enjoy a local favorite such as the Antiguan Kiss or a Lime Squash. The latter is a fresh tasty non-alcoholic drink made with fresh lime juice, simple syrup, club soda, and a cherry. Down the road we love La Bussola. This seaside Italian restaurant offers delicious cuisine, a very professional waitstaff and a lovely tranquil location. We celebrated my Mom’s 85th birthday here and had a memorable evening.
English Harbour located in the south has a myriad of dining choices. Some favorites include the fresh menu items at Cloggy’s. Cloggy’s is located in the Abracadabra premises. Cloggy’s serves lunch and Abracadabra has been serving dinner in this location since 1984. Admiral’s Inn, located in the dockyard, offers a simple menu served on the water. The historic building has been preserved to take you back in time. Sample the pumpkin soup and red snapper. We had a lovely tea here during Classic Yacht Regatta. What fun.
Along Johnson’s Point there are several seaside dining spots set in the sand. Turners Beach Bar is an authentic beach bar set on the beach with splendid views of Redonda and Montserrat. Some of their specialties include spicy fish cakes and savory conch fritters. Their curried chicken is a culinary delight.
OJ’s, set on a powdery white sandy beach, has views of Redonda and Montserrat. They have jazz Fridays and Sundays. Enjoy a cold rum cocktail seaside.
Gibson’s is the place to go for Sunday Roast Dinner or a lovely Barbuda lobster salad. The swaying palms and gentle surf are the only music you will need.
All clients of Caribbean Wind & Sun Vacations are offered complimentary Concierge Services, so email ann@bonairecaribbean.com or call to make your dinner reservations.
Next time you are coming back from the airport headed towards Dickenson Bay, take a look at the first beach you come. It just happens to be kite heaven. Located on the north side of Antigua at Jabberwock, Kite Antigua is the place to catch the wind. It’s a perfect place to learn how to kite, or to take your riding to the next level. The man to see is Adam Anton and his team of kite kooks. These hot shot riders are quite talented, one Andre Phillips being a professional kiter. He no longer competes but he is at every event and travels the world for his passion, kiting. The warm trade winds blow during the months of December through May, and also during the summer months of July and August. The wind direction is usually side-on which is great for all skill levels with mostly bump and jump conditions, perfect for launching airs. They have a few flat areas for tricks where they have a 60 foot A- frame slider and a kicker, and when the wind is from the north (more on-shore) the shore break can be really fun for bashing lips as well. I have flown a kite but prefer to stick to my Stand Up Paddle Board of a nice 4.7 windsurf sail. For me the pure enjoyment is watching the boyz fly thru the air. Cheers
