Rum shack surprise

Lunch consisted of curried goat, pumpkin, curried mango, macaroni cheese and curried spinach and was wonderful. I think you might call the establishment a rum shack but the curried mango they served especially was superb.

Yes, plastic seats, and bottles of Banks beer being the only non rum option, was a little limiting but one feels one is getting deep down into the local cuisine visiting a place like this. It was called Karibu, and is on the main road from Bridgetown to Speightstown at Holders Hill, just a mile or so from Sandy Lane and the same distance from what is reputedly the best restaurant on the island of Barbados, The Cliff, where incidentally we are booked for the big birthday celebrations on Friday, but I could not have enjoyed it more.

Airport runs eventually gathered the whole party together for the first time a little later, and Steve “trouble up t’mill” Jackson, who arrived with his carer, intelligent WAG, Rowena, later in the afternoon, expressed disappointment that he had missed the goat, which I am pretty certain is not something he would have said before, certainly not in front of me. I do think however, that he may think that I have used this expression in a deliberately disingenuous way. I am sure there are plenty of goats to go around up north, but I suspect he may have a particular favourite, and who would not miss a close companion?

We had moved into the splendid Villa Cornucopia yesterday after a fantastic 3 day stay at The Round House in Bathsheba. It is on the far more cosmopolitan western side of the island, but there is still a real Bajan feel to the place. Hence the restaurant. It is opposite a far more up market tourist restaurant which is on the beach, but we could not have had a better meal. There is also the small question of cost. A beer at Karibu was $4 Barbados. At the beachside tourist trap called, I think Elaine’s, a beer was $11.

Ethnic dining on Barbados

Whilst relaxing in early evening, we recounted the story of the ethnic meal, and Trouble decided that he wanted to experience the same, so we headed to the same area, at the bottom of Holders Hill Rd, and found another place, pictured today, specialising in barbecue, where once again we went native, although not quite as enjoyable as lunch, it was interesting. I especially liked being asked “which starch” I would like, and decided that I would like the breadfruit chips.

You might think that here, whilst expounding the benefits of embracing local culinary styles, I might be tempted to make some mention of the benefits that flow from becoming a customer of Currencies Direct, but nothing could be further from the truth.

The first cricket match in the international 20:20″ series between England and West Indies takes place this afternoon at the Kensington Oval. We have tickets reserved, and later today we will no doubt enjoy some typical Caribbean chaos when we attempt to collect them in time to watch the match, which is due to start at 2.30. Before that we have talked as a group about trying to find an establishment in Bridgetown, where the new Oval stands, and to find a bar that is showing the 6 Nations rugby. There is the small matter of England versus Wales this at 11am local time, and if we are successful, what a great day of sport in very different surrounds lies ahead!

Before that, I must seek some exercise, so as we are staying opposite the Barbados Polo Ground, where they must play “that game with the horse” as an American I met on the island described cricket, I shall shorty be marching around it.

Chris France
@Valbonne_News