Barbados offered sunny skies and fine snorkeling. It also offered excellent Bajan food and the onlt place to try it is in the town of Oistins on a Friday or Saturday night.
After arriving in Barbados onour first visit last month my wife and I inquired as to some of the things to do, local fare to eat and also get a feel of Bajan culture. We soon learned that a visit to Oistins, Barbados was the place to gain all we were looking for in one fun, entertaining and exciting evening.
Oistins, Barbados
Oistins is the name of a small coastal fishing town on the south end of Barbados. It's claim to fame in history was being the site where in the 1600s a conflict between opposing factions one looking for independence from England brought forth an agreement giving Barbados a parliament that is the third oldest in the Commonwealth.
In recent time it is the fish market area that brings tourists and locals together for food music and merriment. Every Friday and Saturday night an area adjacent to the market stalls are filled with the aroma of fish cooking. The many stands present their own style of cooking and menu of which most offer basis Bajan fare of fried and grilled fish, macaroni pie, sweet potatoes and coleslaw with plenty of local beer to wash it down.
Our Visit To Oistins
We were still renting a car so we took a fifteen minute drive from our hotel the Coconut Court Beach to Oistins. There was plenty of parking as recommended at a shopping center nearby. Many take the bus system that we used on other occasions that cost but .75 a crowded and daring ride.
We first passed by fishing vendors cleaning up the market for the day and it seemed that some of the fish fry people were picking up fresh bags of fish soon to be served.
We enjoyed walking around watching the different vendors cooking their foods. Each had their own methods of grills and cooking. My wife found one place she felt particularly clean and with a pleasant gal cooking and reasonable prices (they all are) with a local menu that suited us.
We ordered the flying fish a local delight that is light, moist and DE-licious. The real dishes at this place, (paper plates at many others) were filled with that macaroni pie and a coleslaw that seems to be made by the same person at every place in Barbados. They have their recipe down pat.Our well packed plates of food were $12 each. There's no frills or well presented fare here. It's the fresh food, music and atmosphere that sells.
Everyone gets to sit at picnic tables, first come first served. We noticed that earlier in the evening 8PM till 11PM many tourists are eating (an older crowd) but after eleven is when the place really gets hoping. The music at the stage pumps up and the young local Bajans fill the area. More music can be heard at the bars and other businesses across the street.
My wife and I enjoyed the evening topping it off with the best rum raisin gelato ever. We found it after walking the open air booths nearby the seashore that displayed local artists work and other wares that made for keepsake souvenirs.
The Last Word
We enjoyed Barbados that seemed to offer more sites to see than most any Caribbean Islands my wife and I have visited. I read that the Oistins experience is the second most popular site on the island after Harrison Cave. Look for a review of those incredible caves coming soon. My wife and I happened to visit it on the first day the reopened after a years multi-million dollar renovation.
We really did enjoy Oistins for the food, atmosphere and a taste of local culture. If we were in Barbados another Friday night we would have revisited and filled our plate with Bajan fare again... and that's a fact!&
After arriving in Barbados onour first visit last month my wife and I inquired as to some of the things to do, local fare to eat and also get a feel of Bajan culture. We soon learned that a visit to Oistins, Barbados was the place to gain all we were looking for in one fun, entertaining and exciting evening.
Oistins, Barbados
Oistins is the name of a small coastal fishing town on the south end of Barbados. It's claim to fame in history was being the site where in the 1600s a conflict between opposing factions one looking for independence from England brought forth an agreement giving Barbados a parliament that is the third oldest in the Commonwealth.
In recent time it is the fish market area that brings tourists and locals together for food music and merriment. Every Friday and Saturday night an area adjacent to the market stalls are filled with the aroma of fish cooking. The many stands present their own style of cooking and menu of which most offer basis Bajan fare of fried and grilled fish, macaroni pie, sweet potatoes and coleslaw with plenty of local beer to wash it down.
Our Visit To Oistins
We were still renting a car so we took a fifteen minute drive from our hotel the Coconut Court Beach to Oistins. There was plenty of parking as recommended at a shopping center nearby. Many take the bus system that we used on other occasions that cost but .75 a crowded and daring ride.
We first passed by fishing vendors cleaning up the market for the day and it seemed that some of the fish fry people were picking up fresh bags of fish soon to be served.
We enjoyed walking around watching the different vendors cooking their foods. Each had their own methods of grills and cooking. My wife found one place she felt particularly clean and with a pleasant gal cooking and reasonable prices (they all are) with a local menu that suited us.
We ordered the flying fish a local delight that is light, moist and DE-licious. The real dishes at this place, (paper plates at many others) were filled with that macaroni pie and a coleslaw that seems to be made by the same person at every place in Barbados. They have their recipe down pat.Our well packed plates of food were $12 each. There's no frills or well presented fare here. It's the fresh food, music and atmosphere that sells.
Everyone gets to sit at picnic tables, first come first served. We noticed that earlier in the evening 8PM till 11PM many tourists are eating (an older crowd) but after eleven is when the place really gets hoping. The music at the stage pumps up and the young local Bajans fill the area. More music can be heard at the bars and other businesses across the street.
My wife and I enjoyed the evening topping it off with the best rum raisin gelato ever. We found it after walking the open air booths nearby the seashore that displayed local artists work and other wares that made for keepsake souvenirs.
The Last Word
We enjoyed Barbados that seemed to offer more sites to see than most any Caribbean Islands my wife and I have visited. I read that the Oistins experience is the second most popular site on the island after Harrison Cave. Look for a review of those incredible caves coming soon. My wife and I happened to visit it on the first day the reopened after a years multi-million dollar renovation.
We really did enjoy Oistins for the food, atmosphere and a taste of local culture. If we were in Barbados another Friday night we would have revisited and filled our plate with Bajan fare again... and that's a fact!&
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