About Traveling Foodie a.k.a DrFoodie

Showing posts with label Barbados. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barbados. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Brown Sugar Restaurant, Bridgetown, Barbados


We decided to finally made our way down to Brown Sugar Restaurant on our last morning in Barbados for brunch.  We walked/road passed it a half dozen times during our stay and never made it in for dinner service, but buffet lunch turned out to be a great choice.


The owner/manager of Brown Sugar Restaurant informed us that they were featured on The Today's Show: "Where in the World is Matt Lauer" back in November 2011.

It's a beautiful space with colorful furnishings and surrounded by lush plants and flowers.  The staff are all warm and friendly, but we learned throughout our visit that it really is the Barbadian way!



We arrived a tad bit early.  As we waited for the buffet area to be prepared, we were offered cool water as we relaxed in the lounge area and took a few pics.



Their housemade, frozen fruit punch was delicious with hints of banana, pineapple, and berries.

Fruit punch
I was excited to be able to continue my Pumpkin Craze in the Caribbean!  I really enjoyed the split pea & pumpkin soup- a silky, rich, curried Autumnal soup- it was a good, light start for brunch.

Split Pea & Pumpkin Soup
Roast Beef Carving Station served up tender cuts of prime meat
The cold salads were pretty basic with a creamy pasta salad and other leafy salads present.  
The curried black eyed peas & raisin salad was interesting.  I appreciated the sweet and savory elements of it. 
The fried eggplant was fresh, but the coating was soggy.  The fish cakes were also unremarkable. 

Clockwise 12 o'clock onwards: Fried Marlin, Fried Eggplant, Pasta Salad (6 o'clock), Curried Black Eyed Pea Salad, BBQ Chicken.

One traditional Caribbean breakfast/brunch dish I've heard of but never tried was souse.  Souse is a cold pickled pork product (typically a combination of pig's ears, feet, and tongue) that in the States, we call "head cheese".  Brown Sugar served it over a slaw-like salad.  Souse will not become a part of my diet, but at least I gave it a try.

Souse

Again, I found myself trying fish that was new to me (my first on this trip was a few nights before at The Fish Pot).  They served fried marlin which was not dissimilar to a tuna steak.  The meat was flaky and hearty.


Fried Marlin
I also enjoyed the sticky barbeque chicken with smoky, sweet BBQ sauce.  It had a perfect char on the crispy edges of the skin.
The BBQ chicken and the macaroni pie were two of my favorites, only second and third to the pepper pot.
Macaroni Pie
The pepper pot had great heat and a bit of sweetness with hints of nutmeg.  The oxtails were large and the meat tender.

Pepper Pot
 
Large Oxtail in Pepper Pot
Carolyn cooling off after trying her first Pepper Pot!

I also thought the lamb gravy over split pea rice was delicious.

Lamb gravy over peas and rice
For dessert, I sample three things as I didn't want to be rolled onto the airplane.  

All were pretty good, but I really liked the cassava pone with its light, moist consistency and hints of coconut flavors without the dreaded bits of chewy coconut meat.

Counterclockwise: Cassava pone, Bajan bread pudding, and Great Pudding (cake) 
The Great Pudding (Cake) was definitely rum-laden and moist with bites of fruit.  Carolyn exclaimed, "I can get drunk eating this!"
The Bajan bread pudding was way to sweet for me, but it was moist.

From the beautiful property to the great, warm service and delicious food, Brown Sugar earns its name as the Home of Sweet Bajan Cuisine.



Monday, November 26, 2012

Bajan Fiesta: Barbados Food+Wine+Rum Festival 2012, Lion Castle Polo Estate, St. Thomas






Sunday afternoon, we ventured out to St. Thomas Parish for the Bajan Fiesta, a buffet-style lunch prepared by local Barbadian celebrity chefs at the Lion Castle Polo Estate.  The property was beautiful.

Each chef/station was assigned a theme for their dishes.  

We enjoyed:
  • Expressions of Beef by Chef Wilwore, Chef-de-Partie at Sandy Lane Hotel and Certified Angus Beef Brand Ambassador for the Caribbean
  • Expressions of Lamb by Angela Garraway-Holland, Executive Chef, Hilton Barbados resort and multiple award-winner, including Minister of Tourism's Chef of the Year
  • Expressions of Pork by Henderson Butcher, Private Catering Provider for select guests at Waves Hotel
  • Expressions of Soup by Barbados Community College- Hospitality Institute
  • Expressions of Seafood by The Crane Resort
  • Expressions of Chicken by Chef Creig Greenidge (see below) and
  • Sweet Expressions by Chef Janelle Crawford also known as "Chocolate Champion" and "Iron Lady" and winner of Pastry Chef of the Year and Chef Julian Broome, newest addition to the Sandy Lane Hotel pastry team and the Barbados Culinary Team


We arrived early, so I decided to get some behind the scene shots.  Chef Creig Greenidge, Owner and Executive Chef of CM Catering and two time BHTA Chef of the Year was more than happy to satisfy my curiosity.

Here are a few shots of Chef Greenidge and his staff at work prepping his Mount Gay-flavored spiced rubbed chicken flambe served in freshly fried tortilla shell and topped with Cajun spices, Barbadian pepper sauce, and mango chutney.

Chef  Creig Greenidge




Left:  Lettuce+Roasted grape tomato and corn  Right: Fresh tortilla bowls



The final product was amazing and packed full of spice and flavor!  The chicken was extremely tender and hot out of the pan!  The tortilla added crunch and texture and the chutney provided a sweet finish.  Overall, it was a beautiful dish!

Chef Wilmore Jordan, who's attention to detail at his station was fierce and little helpers super adorable, served up a lovely beef salad topped with peanuts and praline-a fresh and delicious combination of sweet and savory, and crunch. 




  

Chef Wilwore also had a carving station with roast and presented a signature dish of braised beef short ribs glazed with honey and spices.  The meat was tender and the sauce sweet and tangy.

A full bar was set up for the young and talented Jamaal Bowen, Resident Mixologist at the Sandy Lane Resort, to work his magic.

Jamaal's signature cocktail for the day: 

Mango Caiparissima
1 1/2 oz. Mount Gay Eclipse Silver Rum
1 oz. mango puree
3 muddled lime wedges
2 dashes Angostura bitters

     

Chef Henderson Butcher lead us to walk on the pork side...ribs, pulled pork, Asian inspired pork balls, oh my!

Ribs

Sauce

Black bean salsa

Pulled pork


Delicious Bajan-Asian Fusion Pork Balls with shallots, garlic, coriander, soy sauce, Chinese five spice, sesame & peanut oil and coconut milk.  Flour-coated, pan-fried and oven finished.

Sauced ribs

Black bean salsa


Throughout the afternoon, I took a few shots of beautiful centerpieces and Chef station embellishment containing sides and condiments:









Mojo Salsa




Curried lamb, lamb roast, mojo salsa over coconut rice




Seafood Soup with shrimp, lobster, scallops, white fish, and mussels!

Fish, steamed rice, and sprouts/seafood salad

Sprouts with seafood