Welcome to food paradise. Heaven on earth. AKA “Eleuthera Island, Bahamas”.
Before our first trip to the Bahamas, all that we expected from our vacation was warm weather, beautiful beaches and relaxation. And it completely delivered. But what we did not expect was to be blown away by their food and cuisine. Before then, the only Caribbean countries we had visited were the Dominican Republic and Cuba. And while the beauty and culture was incredible, we were less than enthused by the dishes the resorts offered.
The Bahamas exceeded all of our expectations! It is the perfect blend of beauty, tradition, culture, adventure, cuisine and entertainment.
The island of Eleuthera is a long and thin, 180 km piece of land that sits 80 km east of Nassau. It is so thin that at many points you can see ocean on either side of you. At the narrowest part of the island, there is the Glass Window Bridge. Here you stand right beside both oceans where you compare the rough, deep blue waters of the Atlantic on the east, and the calm, turquoise waters of the Bight of Eleuthera on the west.
The island of Eleuthera is much less populated than the island of New Providence and Nassau. It has very little development and infrastructure. This is where you go to get a true island experience and an authentic sense of the Bahamian culture. We love the laid back and relaxed vibe.
The name ‘Eleuthera’ comes from the Greek word ‘eleutheros‘, whichtranslatesto ‘free‘ – which is exactly as we’d describe it.
To learn more about Eleuthera before your vacation, take a look at these travel guides and maps. The island is full of hidden gems that you’ll want to see. Make sure you do your research so you don’t miss a thing:
- The Beach Book: Eleuthera, Bahamas – The island is home to some of the most breathtaking and unbelievable beaches in the world!
- The Eleuthera Beach Map – Handy to carry around on the go.
- Fodor’s Bahamas – And don’t forget to explore the rest of The Bahamas while you are there. Did you know The Bahamas consists of more than 700 islands?
Popular Bahamian Seafood, Fish and Side Dish Specialties
Rock lobster
The rock lobster looks and tastes very different from the cold water lobster we are used to. These lobsters are spiny and clawless. I much prefer the rock lobster to a cold water lobster. I find them sweeter, more tender and more flavourful.
Bahamas lobster season runs from April 1st to July 31st. If you are a shellfish fan, make sure to plan your trip during this time.
Conch
Conch is a true Bahamian food. They are abundant and used in every way imaginable – raw, stewed, grilled, battered and fried.
The conch is a firm, white fleshed sea snail, with a similar taste and texture to calamari. This mullosk lives in the infamous large conch shell, you know, the ones you can hear the ocean in. A beautiful home indeed.
The conch offers the Bahamians more than just sustenance. It is tradition for the males to eat the ‘pistol’ of the conch, which is the animal’s penis. It is said to be an aphrodisiac and will make a man virile. I suppose it works, because my friend featured in the photo below now has a new baby boy 😉
- Cracked conch are pieces of conch that have been pounded flat, breaded and fried.
- Conch fritters are chopped conch which is added to eggs and flour to create fried fritters.
- Conch chowderisaslowcookedstewwithtomatoesandhotpeppers.
- Conch salad consists of chopped up, raw conch which is added to citrus juice, spicy peppers and chopped vegetables. This is a ceviche style dish where the acid from the citrus actually cooks the meat.
Grouper Fish
Grouper fish is bountiful in the Bahamas. And because they can grow up to a meter in length and weigh 100 kg, you get lots of fresh meat off of one fish. You will find grouper everywhere on the island, and thank God for that! The meat is delicious – it has a lean and moist white flesh, with a mild and sweet flavour.
You will typically find the fish pan fried or deep fried. Our favourite preparation style is “grouper fingers” – deep fried, spicy pieces of crispy moist fish. I’m drooling just thinking about it.
Red Snapper
Red snapper is abundant and popular throughout the southern states and the Caribbean. It is a staple food in the Bahamas as well. They are much smaller than the grouper, usually under 4 lbs. The meat is lean, moist and firm with a sweet and nutty flavour.
The red snapper is typically served whole and grilled with fresh lemon. This is our favourite way to enjoy it and it also makes for a beautiful presentation.
Peas n’ Rice
You will likely get a side of peas n’ rice with every meal you have in the Bahamas. This dish is comparable to a Cuban style rice and beans. It’s a very simple dish made from pigeon peas and rice. The flavours are subtle, yet deep and developed, most likely do to the salt pork that seasons it.
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
This was my absolute favourite Bahamian dish. We were a bit surprised to see mac and cheese in the Caribbean. However, it is a very popular side dish to all meals and we found it on the menu of every restaurant we went to.
This is nothing like the sloppy mac and cheese you’ve had at home. This baked dish is thickened with eggs and evaporated milk, which allows you to cut it into squares to serve. The result is a cheesy, sweet and super moist savoury side.
Are you a foodie too? Check out our other posts on travel and food:
- ‘How to Maintain Your Food Budget While Traveling’
- ‘Healthy Food Ideas for Snacks and Meals While Hiking’
- ‘How to Eat Low Carb and Keto While Traveling’
Favorite Drinks, Rum Punch and co*cktails
Rum
The Bahamas has a long history with rum dating back to the late 1600’s when the islands were inhabited by pirates (yes, rum really is a pirate’s favourite beverage). And still today, the Bahamas and the Caribbean produce most of the world’s rum.
You will find the Bahamians sneaking rum into everything! But the best way to enjoy it is in an ice cold co*cktail!
Bahama Mama
This is probably the most well known co*cktail of the country. It is the perfect blend of rum, coffee-flavored liqueur, and fresh-squeezed pineapple and lemon juices.
Goombay Smash Punch
Pure yum! This punch mixes up light and dark rums, with coconut rum and fruit juices. We think the name derives from how smashed you get after a few of these.
Beer
Say goodbye to water – Kalik will be the only drink you need on your vacation. Kalik truly is the “Beer of the Bahamas” and is the perfect light and refreshing beer for long, hot days on the beach. The beer is a golden, bold, full-bodied lager and is brewed right in The Bahamas.
If you are into a lighter tasting beer, you’ll love Sands. The flavour is more comparable to a Corona. This beer is also brewed right in The Bahamas and is a beautiful way to quench your thirst.
Don’t be a fool, andtravel like a pro!Travel can be exhausting, overwhelming and stressful – so make sure you bring along the right gear! Check out our carefully curated Travel Resources page for the best travel gadgets, outdoors gear and helpful apps. In the meantime, here are our Top 5 Travel Gear Must-Haves:
- J-Pillow Travel Pillow– Our Favourite Travel Pillow
- Hydro Flask 32 oz. Water Bottle – Stay eco-friendly and avoid single-use plastics while
traveling . - Master Lock Portable Safe – Pack a lightweight portable safe to keep your valuables secure in your hotel room.
- Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask – The easiest way to sleep soundly while
traveling . - Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones – The best budget headphones on the market (for noisy flights and public transportation).
Yummy Caribbean Desserts and Fruits
Rum Cake
Just in case you are craving a buzz from your dessert. This sticky and sweet cake has rum two ways – baked within it and soaked on top.
Guava Duff
Fresh guava jam is spread inside of pastry and boiled. It is served, of course, with a rum sauce. We love the guava filling as it is not too sweet.
Sugar Loaf Pineapple
Eleuthera specifically is known for it’s pineapples. Gregory Town is the pineapple capital and claims to grow the sweetest fruit on the planet. And forget Hawaii, it is believed that The Bahamas was the first country to produce pineapples on a commercial scale. If you are interested in the history and production of the fruit, you can take a tour at the Eleuthera Pineapple Farm.
Eleuthera’s “Sugar Loaf ” pineapple season ends in June, which is when you can celebrate this fruit at the annual Pineapple Fest. This pineapple is more cone shaped, has a white flesh, less acidity and is definitely sweeter than our pineapples at home.
The locals are very proud of their pineapple and you will find it incorporated in all types of dishes, desserts and drinks.
Haveno moneyto travel? No worries! Just check out our posts onbudget travelhere:
- ‘How to Travel the World for Free’
- ‘How to Find Budget Accommodation and Lodging Anywhere in the World’
- ‘Things to do for Free While Traveling’
- ‘How to Maintain Your Food Budget While Traveling’
The Best Restaurants and Dining in Eleuthera, Bahamas
Tippy’s RestaurantinGovernor’sHarbour
This is where you go to get it all – delicious local food, beach front ocean views and a fun and lively atmosphere.
Tippy’s is very well known on the island and is conveniently located near Governor’s Harbour. Their menu changes daily depending on local catches and delivery schedules. So you know you are always getting the freshest and the best. They are famous for their pizza, coconut shrimp, lobster tails and live music.
The restaurant is a series of open air gazebos and sits right on an expansive pink sand beach. This is why you visit Eleuthera!
Northside Inn Restaurant and Bar
An absolute must visit restaurant on the island! This is where we discovered the Bahamian mac and cheese and were instantly hooked.
You get a truly unique experience here. Arrive at what you may think is just someone’s house. But, in fact, it is a fully functioning restaurant, with floors covered in sand and views of the crystal clear waters of the Atlantic.
There is no menu here. Rose will tell you what’s fresh that day and cook you up the best meal you have ever had. Her specialties are authentic Bahamian fare – conch, grouper, snapper, chicken, mac and cheese, and peas n’ rice.
The restaurant is located quite a bit off the main road on the Atlantic side of Rock Sound. It is best to call Rose ahead of time to make your dining arrangements.They also have a few cottages you can rent out and spend more time on the beautiful, huge sandy beach.
Anchor Bay Fish Fry
This is the real deal. A true local experience.
Every Friday night from 6 pm to midnight, this fish fry fires up an energetic street party. It’s a festive night of authentic food fried up over a campfire, loud Caribbean music, lots of dancing and a limbo contest. They also serve up their famous “Rum Bubbas” which is a strong punch made with ginger ale, pineapple juice, lemon juice and light rum.
The fish fry is located in the perfect spot. Right on the sandy Caribbean side beach of Anchor Bay, between Governors Harbour and Cupids Cay.
Everything in the Bahamas takes place outdoors or on the beach. That’s part of it’s charm. But you have to be properly prepared for that. We all make mistakes, and we sure made our fair share during our first trip to the island. We now have two essential (eco-friendly) items we bring with us on every trip to the Caribbean:
- Of course, we all know how important it is to wear sunscreen every day, this is especially true in the Caribbean. However, it has been found that chemicals and additives like oxybenzone, octinoxate, and parabens which are common in sunscreens are causing harm to coral reefs and aquatic life. These ingredients are so harmful they have actually been banned in Hawaii. It is now suggested to wear sunscreen with zinc oxide as the active ingredient. Bare Republic Reef Safe Sunscreen is one of the top-rated, reef safe sunscreens out there, and it still provides up to 50 SPF broad spectrum protection. We find it to be super effective and it is our favourite brand.
- There may only be one downside to the Caribbean – the bugs. They are bad. We have literally been covered from head to toe in sandfly, or “no-see-ums” bites. It is itchy, uncomfortable and unattractive. We got a great tip from Andy’s stepmom, who is Cuban. Surprisingly, a very effective product to keeps bugs off is Avon ‘Skin-So-Soft’. And it is true, it works. But we found something even better. Avon now makes Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard which works even better than the original. Definitely a must for the Caribbean.
Recipes and How to Cook Authentic Bahamian Food at Home
If you want to try your hand at making any of these delicious Bahamas dishes yourself, check out ‘The Daily Meal’s Best Bahamian Recipes‘. Their collection has recipes for all the most popular dishes.
We were so enamored with the food in the Bahamas that we hosted a Bahamian Dinner Party one week after we got home from our first trip.
Our menu consisted of: Grilled Red Snapper, Grouper Fingers, Peas N’ Rice and Baked Macaroni and Cheese. We will share links to our recipes here:
- Grilled Red Snapper – This is a recipe for a grilled whole red snapper. A show stopper for your dinner party. We used the Caribbean ingredients recipe which includes allspice, chilis and ginger.
- Grouper Fingers – These are made with dill and buttermilk and served with a homemade tartar sauce. The real trick is finding fresh grouper.
- Peas n’ Rice – The classic side dish. Made with pigeon peas and seasoned with salty bacon.
- Mac and Cheese – Keeping it authentic with hot peppers, eggs and evaporated milk.
Have you been to Eleuthera? Did you love the food as much as us? Let us know about your experiences below in the comments ⬇️ 😄
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