A Little Touch of Spice - Grenada

Skyline - blue, waterline - blue, canopy - green, fauna - bountiful, warmth - inherent, friendliness - given, satisfaction - guaranteed, island utopia - as close to it as you will get. The word association game for Grenada puts one in a jovial mood to say the least. I have always found it’s simple colloquial beauty beguiling. One small island nestled between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of T&T has manage to capture in a nut shell or dear I be incredibly cheesy and say in a "nutmeg" just enough - beach, mountain, greenery, old worldliness and modern comforts to make it beautifully idealistic. In my mind, Dominica is known for its verdant greenery and untouched tropical wildness. Barbados for its beaches, picture-est cleanliness and Oisten’s on a Friday night. St. Vincent for the sprawling beauty of the Grenadines - an island for each day of the month and its rich natural black sand. Grenada has manage to capture all the essential elements on a seemingly tiny land mass of 132.8 sq miles. To complement the Grenada experience there is of course the food! If you are on the island for what I like to call a “short/short” meaning that your time in any given place could not be shorter even if you tried, then the best way to have an epic culture emersion experience is through the food. Now I should have pre-empted this grandiose statement by saying – I love food. I don’t like to cook (I think ‘hate’ may be a strong word though I am tempted to use it) and this may stem from the fact that I am just not good at it or maybe it’s the other way around – I lack the cooking skills because I don’t like to cook. My chef-inclined friends may in turn argue how could I love food if I don’t love the process that creates it – to them I say – I love shoes but I don’t know how to make them either, doesn’t make me love them any less. Anyway all of this is irrelevant – fact reminds – I LOVE FOOD and I fully endorse it as a cultural experience. Using the universal “doubles vendor rule” Vicky went onto to trip advisor and found that BB’s Crab Back was highly recommended. And not just by five people – try 200 plus people. In order to solidify our choice we did the ultimate litmus test – we asked a local - and the immediate “yeah man that is good food” was enough to send us straight to what would become one of the most orgasmic food experiences during our travels. I know orgasmic is a strong word that is not be taken or used lightly but trust me when I say that the food was worthy of the word. We arrived at the Carrenage quickly, about 10 to 15 minutes from where we were staying. In my humble opinion the Carrenage is one of the most charming places in Grenada, it has a character of its own…colourful colonial building littered across the gently sloping hillside interspersed with stately trees overlooking marine blue water, luxury yachts as well as the more humble seafaring vessels. The buildings - like children brightly dressed forming a playful semi-circle around a puddle of water setting their toy boats to sail at the centre. Amidst this picture is where you will find BB’s, in the far left corner, right next to the old dilapidated French colonial house happily perched on the water edge waiting for me to buy and restore to its former glory for my Grenada vacation home…what?!.. a girl can dream! We enter the building that I later realized is a lot more impressive when lit at night. As you enter you are greeted by the many accolades of the chef and owner as evidenced by the cheerful spattering of pictures on the wall. Apparently the West Indies cricket team are regulars and even Opera has eaten there. The ambiance is not overly fussy or formal. The intentional graphitic design aesthetic is the first thing that catches your eye as it seems that every square inch of the walls is covered with the names of the many satisfied customers that have graced the hallowed halls of this Grenada institution. There is nothing I like better than saying “I was here” so I immediately ask for a marker so that I can leave my paw print. We are greeted by Ashley who we later learn is the oldest son of the owner and who the “Seared Tuna Ashley” is named after. The chef has chosen to celebrate the personality of his children through his favourite dishes a quirky extra that I like very much. There is the “Meaty Mia” and the “Twin Benjamin – Daddies Girls”. Now Ashley may just have been the best waiter ever – everything we asked for was greeted with a “sure”, “yes”, “no problem” even when we sort to switch out menu items he didn’t bat an eyelash – our wish was his command! The pina coladas came topped with fresh grated coconut and you could taste the alcohol - we knew we had hit jackpot. Choosing a dish was difficult because they all sounded so delicious. After much deliberation (an unfortunate by-product of too many choices) I went with the signature Crab Backs for which the place is named – because to me that just made sense and I am usually helplessly at the mercy of shell seafood-it’s a favourite! This was topped with mini bakes, fried bread fruit and pumpkin fritters on the side which I greedily added. This was supposed to be a “starter” – the portion was so generous that it became my main course. Vicky had the scrumptious crayfish and Robert the curry goat. The collective “oohhh” “aaahh” and “OMG” that filtered from our table was all the reassurance other guest needed that the food was delectably, lip-smacking good. The chef came out to greet us - a stout and cheerful man with a bountiful laugh and big personality. We had nothing but praise for the feast spread before us. The only criticism of my offering (“offering” because this could only be food of the gods) was that my small salad had too much dressing, this I didn’t share with the chef as I don’t like salad dressing and I am sure any other normal salad dressing loving person would find it quite adequate. With no room left for dessert I merrily watch my colleagues have their last shot of nutmeg ice cream – talk about a marriage made in heaven as far as simple desserts options. Little time: BB’s Crab Back – a definite must have in Grenada! A quick stroll around St. Georges, the capital of Grenada and the only town of its size on the island, a stroll or dip in Grand Anse beach (warning: don’t leave your bag unattended on the beach) and if you have a day or two take the ferry out to Carriacou and/or Petit Martinique.