‘Eating’ Local Culture—Experiences Outside Small Hotel

I’m one of the many people who believe that a great way to experience and intimately familiarize oneself with a foreign country is through its local cuisine. You get to use majority of your senses—sight, smell, touch, taste. My friends call it cultural food porn; I firmly insist that it’s an out-of-this-world pigging out experience!

I recently went to Barbados with a couple of closest friends and we checked in a Barbados small hotel. I must say that our accommodations were more than extraordinary as it offered many different kinds of amenities as well as its own restaurant. My friends may have found the little nook to be convenient and satisfying, but I did not allow my taste buds to be limited to just one place (although their food was quite excellent, indeed).

And so, I constantly left our Barbados small hotel in search of my out-of-this-world pigging out experience. I am happy to say that I discovered authentic Bajan cuisine and fell instantly in love with it! The color, flavor, and texture were so intensely delightful that every bite sent me on gustatory overdrive.
Some of the best dishes I had were from the local restaurants and cheap eateries. The more upscale establishments had tasty versions of local food as well, but I think the Bajan taste was infused with international flavors, so I wasn’t entirely convinced that I was wolfing down a bowl of authetic Cou Cou.

And yes, my favorite food there is their national dish—the Cou Cou. The lady in one of the eateries happily informed me that it is easy to make. It consists of okra, corn meal and other easy-to-find ingredients in various supermarkets. The mashed potatoes-like dish is usually eaten with flying fish and beef stew. What I loved about it was its simplicity and heartiness.

The national dish pretty much reflects the island itself: simple, laidback and hearty. I highly recommend everyone to check in a Barbados small hotel and explore the island for a chance to experience a wonderful culture.