It is no secret that there is generally an extra special “something” in the taste of Caribbean food, but in Barbados, the culinary experience is truly like no other. Bajans are foodies at heart, with traditional dishes eaten on specific days. Fridays are fish, Saturdays are for souse and on Sundays, we have an expansive after church spread. Food is a big part of our culture, and although we have welcomed many types of international and Caribbean cuisine to the island, Barbadian food will always have our hearts. Any day is a great day for a meal in Barbados but if you only have a weekend to spare to try our delectable dishes, you should prepare your appetite starting from Friday night.
Foodie Friday
Cooking at home in Barbados is rarely ever done on a Friday; this has meant that many chefs of restaurants in Barbados are kept busy serving up delicious meals - Particularly fresh fish on Friday nights to satisfy the evening’s hunger. Fish is of cultural significance to Barbados; an image of a flying fish is found on our currency and a dolphin found on our Coat of Arms. What are the hottest spots for fish on Friday night? Any fishing village - Moontown, Sixmen’s, and especially Oistins. There, amid the smoke from the grill, crowds of Bajans and tourists can be seen enjoying their fish with salad, chips or macaroni pie. Places such as Chillin and Grillin, Uncle George and Pat’s Place come highly recommended for some excellent Friday night treats. Live entertainment, karaoke and dancing add to the ambience at Oistins for a truly wonderful night.
If fish is not your style, think about rotisserie chicken, drizzled in a special sauce that easily glides off the bone. R. A Mapps Rotisserie in Eagle Hall, St. Michael serves some of the island’s best rotisserie chicken with its one of a kind sauce on a pile of hot fries. Choose from coleslaw or macaroni salad or caesar salad on the side of your meal. The shop branded by the Banks Beer colours of red and black is usually full; however, your meal could be enjoyed privately, like on the beach for an evening picnic.
Rib lovers will find delight in Eddie’s Rib Van on the hill of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill in St. Michael. From 6 pm, the truck serves what is known as the island’s best ribs and fries until they’re sold out, so it’s best to arrive early.
If you’ve never tried chicken liver in a soft salt bread, you can head over to Pink Star Bar in Baxter’s Road. Liver cutters (sandwiches), fried chicken necks are on the menu, and soak up the lively atmosphere.
Granny’s in Oistins is often seen as a hidden gem but has provided a “Taste of Barbados” for decades. Tasty chicken necks, liver and gizzards can be bought at Granny’s.
Many more shops around the island are known for their signature Friday night meals making for a good belly full after a long week. Be sure to stop at one of our rum shops for an ice-cold Banks Beer to go with dinner.
Sweet Food Saturday
Jumpstart your Saturday morning with some bakes, fishcakes or ‘a bread and two’ (fishcakes in a bun). Bakes were once seen as a survival food due to its simple ingredients, but today it is a breakfast tradition that should not be missed. Though hotels are known to serve bakes among their buffet choices, bakes and fishcakes can be found in the cafeteria of supermarkets and small stalls, especially in Bridgetown. If you’re shopping for produce at Cheapside market in Bridgetown, you can get hot fishcakes fresh out of the pan served with salt bread. A dash of Bajan pepper sauce adds a spicy kick, but you can cool it down with some coconut water or a glass of Mauby.
Just as the name promises, Hot Legendary Fishcakes in Bank Hall and Oistins serves tasty fishcakes. Conversely, Rube’s Extraordinary fishcakes’ has a special family recipe that guarantees the fishcakes “have fish in dem,” and can be found in Britton’s Hill in St. Michael. Grab a bread and two (or three) or a “Fishbomb” - fishcake with cheese and a special sauce.
For lunch, explore Barbados’ traditional food - the national dish cou cou and flying fish or another treasure of pudding and souse. Cou cou was once served in a calabash shell to create an oval shape and is made from cornmeal. Though fly fish are not always in season, a scoop of cou-cou sitting in saltfish gravy with okra or vegetable on the side is often eaten on Saturday. Stop at Granny’s or other small shops to pick up your cou-cou.
Those with a “pork mouth” as Bajans would say, will be very inclined to try pudding and souse. The pudding is made from steamed sweet potato, and the souse is pickled pork. Souse usually includes all parts of the pig (including feet, ears, snout or tongue). However, if you aren’t adventurous you can ask exclusively for lean meat, with breadfruit on the side. There are many local places to eat souse but most Bajans tend to have a “go-to souse lady” to supply them with their weekly fix. Consider the Village Bar and RP’s Souse Spot among your choices.
Soul Food Sunday
The cherished “Sunday food” in Barbados just might be the most important meal of the week. Rice and peas, macaroni pie, chicken and vegetables and/or salad is the typical plating each Sunday. Although many restaurants in Barbados do their own version of Sunday lunch, the authentic Bajan Sunday meal is just what you need to close off the weekend. Brown Sugar Restaurant whips up a delicious buffet of Barbadian foods to be had by the whole family.
Alternately, Sunbury Plantation Great House deemed the most stunning plantation house in the Caribbean, also serves West Indian foods at its beautiful grounds. For a more casual atmosphere, BBQ Barn of Chefette Restaurants Limited plates tasty Sunday food including macaroni pie and baked chicken, with an open salad bar.
Bajans love food, and the rich history embedded in the local dishes still resonates through traditions today. With a rum shop on every corner and the next food stop a few steps away, it’s clear that there is a great love of food islandwide. From a hot fishcake to a cold glass of coconut water, the taste of Bajan food will capture your heart and leave you wanting more.