BARBADOS – Eat! Drink!
My stomach lodged firmly in my throat as our jeep hit yet another mud hole at the bottom of yet another perpendicular goat trail somewhere in the middle of this Island.
Well, it certainly felt like a sheer drop to those of us who avoid roller coasters like the plague. Others though were laughing merrily, just bouncing along, waiting for the upcoming libations at one of Barbados’ ubiquitous Rum Shops scattered throughout our off-roading (actually, make that ‘no’ road) Foursquare Rum tour.
According to Aaron, our most cheerful kamikaze Island Safari pilot – er, driver – Barbados boasts a church for every day of the year. Yup, 365. Their other claim to fame is the more than 1,600 Rum Shops scattered throughout the island. Sounds like an old song: “One day of praying and six nights of fun…”
Our guide also told us some interesting facts about the Rum Industry, including the aging and maturing process, and the fact there are varying mature stages of rum. However he assured us, “you don’t have to be mature to drink it.” Whew. What a relief, because there were some of us on this run who thought that maturity was very over rated. (And of course the more rum you drink, well……)
This was actually a fabulous introduction (motion sickness be darned!) to Barbados as our group joined three other Island Safari jeeps for a day long 100 km trek through the flora and fauna of uninhabited interior rain forests to the inviting Rum Shops along picturesque coastal towns.
Our merry band of jeep-jostled explorers had all gathered to attend the 3rd annual ‘Eat! Drink! Barbados 2003 festival of culinary delights, cocktail concoctions and samplings of wine.
‘Foodies’ all – Come on! Who isn’t? – we were hooked because the event was co-sponsored by the prestigious Gourmet Magazine, and hosted by its Executive Chef Sara Moulton, known to international television fans through ‘Sara’s Secrets’ highlighted on The Food Network.
In fact at the dinner presented by Sara at the stunning Cliff Restaurant (Sauteed Scallops, Spicy Tuna Tartare, Foie Gras, Cajun Style Barracuda, etc) guests arrived from various points of North America and Europe, such as Kathleen Rowes of London, England who planned her vacation around this event.
As well, there were some citizens of international waters, owners of a 5,000 sq ft condo aboard the cruise ship The World – passengers purchase their own condos and simply sail around the world. I believe the ladies actually had the ship dock for the night just so they could have dinner with Sara. (In the immortal words of F. Scott Fitzgerald: “The rich are different than you and me.”)
Barbados is actively seeking the title Culinary Capital of the Caribbean. Certainly everyone who attended the 10-day October event – and left the island stuffed, satiated and at least seven pounds heavier – could not dispute this claim.
by Steve Veale
swveale@sympatico.ca
January 9, 2004
Posted in: Caribbean