Bahama Book

Tag: bahamian food

  • Budda’s Snack Shack

    Budda’s Snack Shack

    Budda’s Snack Shack and Liquor Store is a local outdoor, family friendly restaurant and bar. Bahamabook was told that Friday nights this is a happening place. The place to go to meet the locals.

    The menu at Budda’s includes Bahamian food, American food and some Chinese. Prices are reasonable between $7.00 and $20.00 per entree.

    The Feel

    Budda’s just feels comfortable, like the kick off your shoes and prop your feet up comfortable. A family can sit and relax while the kids do what kids do, and the adults can sit at the bar if they wish to hob nob with the locals. The locals are a friendly but at first reserved group. One they get to know you a bit they are warm and engaging, fun to talk with.

    Budda’s started the restaurant as a food truck in a customized school bus. To this day the kitchen is run from the school bus.

    Budda's Snack Shack

     

  • Coconut Tart

    Crust Ingredients

    ¼ cup vegetable shortening
    ¼ cup butter
    1 cup sugar
    1 egg
    1 teaspoon vanilla
    1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    ¼ cup milk
    1 ½ cups flour
    3 tablespoons water

    Filling


    3 cups fresh coconut, finely grated
    1 cup sugar
    1 cup water
    2 teaspoons vanilla
    2 teaspoons nutmeg

    Method


    Prepare the tart filling by combining all ingredients in a sauce pan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer for about 10 minutes or until the liquid evaporates. Let the mixture stand until cool.

    For the Curst combine shortening and butter until blended. Add sugar, egg, milk, and vanilla and mix well. Next, add the dry ingredients, including baking powder and flour, and mix until the dough becomes sticky. Knead the dough until it is stiff enough to roll. Divide the dough into two balls, one for the bottom layer and one for the top. Roll out one piece into a 9 inch pie dish. Fill the dish layered with dough with the coconut filling, and then roll the remaining dough, cut into 1 inch wide strips and braid on the top of the pie.

    Bake at 350℉ for about 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Let cool for 15 minutes.

    This tart is a traditional Bahamian favorite which I think has it’s roots in a french torte. Enjoy! The coconut filling can be replaced with any of your favorite pie fillings with great results.

  • Checkers Cafe, Local Bahamian Food

    Bahamian food is such a diverse rich experience. It would be a real shame to visit the Bahamas and not experience the food of the locals.

    The unfortunate thing is that the main restaurants in Nassau do not pay tribute to the local palate.

    The fortunate thing is Checkers Cafe serves many local dishes the way locals like them at the price that locals like.

    Because Checkers Cafe caters to the local people, it is a little off the beaten path. To get there a taxi ride will be in order. Bahama John is a local taxi driver who is recommended by many as a good driver with good knowledge of the island.

    Checkers Cafe servers the dishes that most bahamians grew up on in the more rural parts such as the other inhabited islands of the Bahamas.

    Lots of the food has it’s roots in the Cajun parts of the USA. There are foods that resemble such things as Gumbo. One of my favourites is called Stew Conch. It is a bahamian gumbo cooked with the meat of Conch. They will serve other things such as “Steamed Pork Chops,” Peas-n-rice,” “Steamed Chicken…” The Steam food is not at all steamed as you would think, but is cooked in a rich tomato gravy sometimes with potatoes and carrots as well as the meat. I suppose it is more like a stew.

    Breakfast is also rich. Bahamians don’t traditionally eat eggs and bacon. Rather things like “Stew Fish” or “Steam Fish and Grits” There is even one called “Fire Engine.” I have taught many friends from different countries how to cook this traditional breakfast, and years later they cook it more than I do.

    So please step out and experience a little of the Bahamas while in Nassau. Check out Checkers Cafe.

  • Peas n Rice Bahamian Food

    Peas N Rice is to bahamians what potatoes are to most americans. A meal is not a meal with out peas n rice. Bahamian food is a fusion of many cultures and quite unique. Enjoy!

    Ingredients

    1/2 lb bacon chopped

    1 small onion chopped

    1/2 green pepper chopped

    2 stalks celery chopped

    1 tsp black pepper

    1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

    1/2 tsp thyme leaves

    Salt to taste

    1 can of kidney beans (drained) You can substitute any bean you like.

    6 oz can tomato paste

    3 3/4 Cups water

    2 Cups long grain rice

    Method

    Reduce the bacon in a large pot medium low heat. When the bacon is crispy add the onion, green pepper, and celery, salt a little. Continue with the low heat until the mixture is tender.

    Add the tomato paste and stir in. Add the beans. Add the water, stir, season with salt to taste and add the thyme and black pepper. Turn heat to high. When the pot reaches a boil add the rice and stir.

    Top the pot with a proper fitting lid and reduce the heat to low. Set your kitchen timer for 25 mins.

    After 25 mins check the rice, if done turn off the heat and let the pot sit for a further 15 minutes.