Thursday, December 04, 2008

Cracked Conch & Bahama Mamas

Conch, which is pronounced konk, is a mollusk and a perennial local seafood favorite in the Bahamas. Unlike the slimy oyster the meat of conch is firm and white and is prepared in a variety of ways including conch chowder, conch stew, conch salad, popular conch fritters, and is also deep fried as "cracked conch". Many small eat-outs advertise conch-based delicacies all over the Bahamas, especially in the downtown area.

A typical Bahamian meal consists of crab and rice, delicious steamed fish, served with baked macaroni and cheese and a good helping of potato salad. This is followed by desserts such as coconut or pineapple tart, bread pudding or guava duff, a delicious dessert that is made through a laborious process of folding the fruit into the dough and boiling and is served with a sauce. This meal is topped off with a large glass of ice cold "switcha" (lemon, sugar and water mixture) or beer.



A Bahama Mama is a great tropical cocktail that features two potent rums, dark and 151 proof. The coffee and coconut liqueurs along with pineapple juice add that extra tropical touch. The ones we had at the Atlantis were very good - and mighty potent I must add. At the poolside, I stuck to the Strawberry Daiquiris.

While at the Atlantis, on one day we tried the buffet breakfast at the Marketplace. In spite of the high prices, I recommend this one. The old-world ambiance coupled with the variety of breakfast options and high quality makes this a great way to begin the day.

There are a multitude of fine dining options here: from the wonderful recreation of the original Cafe Martinique which serves French cuisine to Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill and the acclaimed Japanese restaurant Nobu - this one right in the Casino section. For those who would rather grab a bite between water rides, there are express take-outs that serve decent cheeseburgers, hotdogs and the like, very close to the pools. Incidentally, this resort has a total of 21 restaurants and 19 bars/lounges on its property!

Other Posts from this Vacation: Arriving in Paradise, Pirates of the Caribbean.

Picture credits: Conch Cracked by djrue, Conch Salad by momo617, Guava Duff and Baked Grouper by otts, Bahama Mama by Vicky

7 comments:

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Aathira Nair said...

21 restaurants and 19 bars!!!

That is just incredible!

Lakshmi said...

I can imagine the feast you are having,, 21 restaurants and 19 bars...are u sure one holiday is enough :)

Anonymous said...

Crab and rice... must be good. I love fresh seafood in general, especially in islands. Feels like you belong ;-)

Anonymous said...

This is just so amazing and you describe it so well - very tempting and readable and with lovely pics (as always too).

As a Norwegian, just like my Canadian friend Zhu, I just love seafood too. Crab and rice look and sounds delicious.

Anonymous said...

@Aathira: Welcome to my blog. I know! Amazing, isn't it?

@Lakshmi: Actually with so much to do, food took a second priority this time...for a change. :)

@zhu: I have to come back here to sample all the food...

@renny: Thank you! I bet...

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