It's A Feeding Friendzy!!

You rarely eat alone.

In St Kitts, you go out to eat with friends, new friends and old friends, and friends of friends. When family comes down, you take them out to eat and invite along some friends for them to meet! So allow me to talk about a few of my friends and their faves.


Mr X's Bastard Fish Burger - My friend Amy craves this year round. When she visits at Christmas, she can be found most afternoons or evenings at X's tucking into one of these puppies. Ask what she did during the day and she usually admits, somewhat sheepishly, that she "ate at X's again." She's right! A juicy piece of nicely seasoned grilled fish served burger style, washed down with an icy Carib Lager, just feet from the Caribbean Sea is heard to beat.   $16EC/$6US
Also of note is the Melted Lava Jerk Chicken - Spicy and moist. Grilled and served with Kittian style rice and vegetables.    $37EC/$14US

Solarizing             (Photo courtesy of Amy Hodges)

"De Strip" at Timothy Beach at Night             (Photo by Amy Hodges)

Cathy's Grilled Lobster - My friend, Dawn, swears that Cathy's serves the "THE BEST LOBSTER I'VE EVER EATEN!" Take Dawn's word for it. It's that good! Gently grilled and served with a perfect sauce it's worth the price and the wait! Served with rice and peas, salad, pumpkin, plantain, and if you're lucky, a bit of macaroni pie. Enough to split.     Price Varies but usually between $30 - 40 US
Also Recommended Anything Cathy Cooks!!!

Dawn (Left)

El Fredo's - Drive on Bay Road east of downtown at lunch time and you'll see the cars parked on sidewalk. On the Blue wall there is a menu chalked on the blackboard outside the gate. Frequented mainly by local business persons and the occasional tourist, it rarely draws students. That shows that students aren't as smart as they let on. It's the students' loss!  Matt dragged me down there and bought me an amazing lunch!
El Fredo's has a varied menu with some items not offered at any other restaurant on the island. The Specials change daily, and when they run out of a dish, that's it for the day!  Stewed Oxtails, Goat Water (Fridays), Creole Fish, and Manish Water (aka Jamaican Viagra). Traditional Sides. Jasmine & Ken are your hosts and their personal service is Fast and Friendly. Ken is very knowledgeable about Caribbean and world cricket and Jasmine is one of the nicest women in the world.  Open weekdays until 5. Later on Fridays.
I have never been served any food there that was less than superior.

El Fredo's Menu Board

Exquisite Food in the Peaceful Garden Behind the Wall 

Matt

MS Steads - Freddy, My Friend and Island Guru, prefers Home Cooking over Eating Out. When I asked after Goat Water, he sent me to MS Stead's. Freddy and many Taxi Drivers get food there in the mornings to start their days. It took me months to get there on a day when they served goat water, but there was always something Yummy cooking every time I stopped in. The food is delicious, the service fast and pleasant, the portions huge, and the prices downright cheap. The Cook Up is my Favorite! Lots o' meat and rice. A Small will leave one with leftovers and the Large ($11EC/$4US) is 2 meals for me and my wife. Take away only and closes in late afternoon. Thanks, Freddy!!!!

Freddy

Friday Nights There's Fire at The Ackee Cafe! Jerk Pork! - The Big Red Grill and the picnic tables are out in the parking lot. And the seats are full. First thing you notice is that wonderful aroma and that your mouth is starting to water. Then you hear the voices. The accent of several of the customers is different. That's because many of the Jamaican residents of St Kitts make it a point to get their weekly fix of Jamaica's fabulous fiery meat. They love Gary's Jerk, Mon!. Two sizes. traditional sides. Oh My God Is It Yummy! Keep the Caribs Coming!
Large is $55-65EC

Gary Serves up The Fire!

You'll want a couple of these!

Carib - On Fire Duty!

Reggae Beach's Home Made Banana Bread Pudding - served warm, topped with mango sauce and rum soaked raisins! If you only eat dessert once a year, this is the one thing you want to eat! Kittian Banana Bread is the best I've ever eaten and these guys nailed the pudding part! The raisins are plumped by the rum and give you a flavor burst when you bite them. The mango sauce sets it all off! My friend Debbie came 3500 klicks with this on her Must-Do List and she wasn't disappointed. A Sweet Ending! Live De Life! $22.50EC/$8.50US

Debbie's Temptation

Enjoy! Live de Life!


Mr. X's Shiggidy Shack
On De Strip
South Frigate Bay Beach
869-465-0673
Cathy's Ocean View Bar and Grill
On De Strip
South Frigate Bay Beach
869-665-0561
El Fredo's
Corner of Sandown & Bay Road
Newtown
869 466 8871

MS Steads
The Red Building directly next to the East end of The Pelican Mall 
Bay Road
Basseterre

Ackee Cafe

Sugars Complex, Frigate Bay
869-762-3616
Or: 869-762-0580

Reggae Beach Bar & Grill
Cockleshell Beach
Southeast Peninsula
869-762-5050

Sunday Night Beach Dancing

Cold Winter Dreams are made of This!

BBQ at Water's Edge, Lovely Beverages 
Warm Breeze in from the Sea. The Surf a gentle rumble and sizzle at your feet. Subtle, more sensed than heard. A rattle of Coconut Palms
Live Reggae Music with the whole bar singing along.  Dark Eyes Bright with Love during the Bob Marley songs. Smiling, Happy Faces Everywhere.
Dancing the Night Away on the Beach...

Sitting with a beautiful Veterinarian student, a Rastafarian with his baby boy, a Scot that battles with the cranky Power plant, and a bunch of Brits down for Holiday,

Choice of Barbecued ribs, Barbecued Chicken, or Grilled Creole Fish in Foil. Rice and Peas. Tossed or Cooked Vegetable Salad.. Delicious!!!    $13USD / $35EC 
At The Dock at Timothy Beach Resort

Probably Not Discussing Politics

Tiny Dancer

 Mighty Dreads!

FourPlay Band Starts around 8

Too Busy Dancing to Pose!

Shaba keeps 'em comin'

Buy "Cookie" at the Buffet Line a beer.

Ladies, watch him. He's a great Dancer!

Cookie

Sundays
BBQ starts at 7pm
FourPlay Band starts at 8pm       

The Dock
Timothy Beach Resort
South Frigate Bay

869-465-8597

Comfort Food - Tastes of Home

You're tired of your own cooking.

You're tired of Island Food.

Nothing Tastes Right.

You may be experiencing a bit of Culinary Homesickness.

The American franchises in St Kitts just didn't taste like what I was used to at home.

There was always something different. No satisfaction there.

KFC used the world's smallest chicken. I'm talking Cornish Game Hen small. And the fastest I even got through the line was 35 minutes. Their shake machine was always disassembled or "not workin'".

Domino's wasn't my favorite at home and the St Kitts version was better but not what I considered a great pizza. 

Subway was almost an empty bun at best and the bread tasted funny.

There are some places serving good North American type foods

I call them Secret Foods

I'm a bit of a pizza snob. I was lucky enough to live in the Franklin Ave. neighborhood in Hartford, CT. It's an all Italian neighborhood and the pizza there is wonderful. In fact the whole Central CT area (including New Haven) offers Great pizza.
So I was looking for the good stuff  while on St Kitts. Crust, sauce, spices, cheese and toppings. It all has to work together.

Spratnet earned a solid B. The Marriott gets a B to B+ .
For the A go to The Pizza Place in Downtown Basseterre!
A Tasty crust which the sauce compliments with plenty of cheese and toppings. Baked right!

A Good Value. Short on Atmosphere, Big on YUM! 

A Surprise Awaits You!
I heard about Redi-Fried Chicken on Bay Road, in Downtown Basseterre during orientation. It was just a passing comment, so I didn't get around to going there for about a year. My Loss!
To say I was pleased was a major understatement! Crisp on the outside, Juicy on the inside. Well seasoned. Greasy factor well within established parameters. And BIG pieces! Gigantic by Island standards! Bigger than any I have ever bought from any restaurant, fast food place, or Deli-counter in the USA! Good fries!
$22 EC Gets you 4 HUGE Chicken Breasts and a Sub Box Full of Fries. (called Chjps in St Kitts) Split it and have leftovers.

Kittian cooking takes time. A long time. When your blood sugar is plummeting, there is a place for you.  
The Bar at Rock Lobster in Frigate Bay serves Fish and Chips on record fast time. There's a big piece of Tilapia and plenty of Fries.There is not much of a crowd in the bar even when the restaurant is full. BAR MENU ONLY! About $15 USD.

Diabetics keep this one in mind.

I was raised on a big Sunday Dinner after church every week. The good plates and the good silverware came out. It was the one day a week that we had a roast. On summer days, that meant the house was hot from the oven being on. But it was great! A Juicy Roast, Gravy and Mashed Potatoes, 2-3 Vegetables, and Dessert.  

You can get this at Ackee Cafe in Frigate Bay. Sunday starting at 1130, they serve up a Roast Dinner Special. Roast Pork, Roast Lamb, or Roast Beef (one each week) served with 3-5 veg., gravy, mashed taters, and Yorkshire pudding. This is so Yummo! Comes in Large or Small size. My wife and I split a Large and have left overs. 

Skittish about Lamb? Gary serves New Zealand Lamb with Mint Sauce, and It is Incredible! Don't be shy! 

For breakfast, my nod goes to Ackee Cafe. Eggs and omelets done right, and gotten to the table hot. Inexpensive by St Kitts standards. For those liking a bit a "Man vs. Food" challenge in the morning, there is the "Full Monty" a Full English Breakfast of eggs, taters, sausage, bacon, toast, fried bread, and baked beans. It'll fill you up. Mimosas are available, too! Bring 'Em!

I love HAMBURGERS! 

Sorry! There are no good Hamburgers served on St Kitts. The beef is different and no amount of condiments and/or beer can fix that. There are some places that come close, Shipwreck Beach Bar & Grill and Ackee Cafe, but it's still just not the same. 

Sorry! You'll just have to get used to it.

Go Banish Your Blues!

B.

Redi-Fried Chicken

Bay Road, Basseterre

(Across from the Pelican Mall)

869-465-1301

Pizza Place Restaurant & Bar 

Central St, Basseterre
869-465-2546

Ackee Cafe

Sugars Complex, Frigate Bay
869-762-3616
Or: 869-762-0580

The Bar at Rock Lobster 

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St Christopher Club, Frigate Bay
869-466-1092