Archive for June, 2011

Searching for the best BBQ in the World

Everyone had told me that Anguilla is a gourmet’s paradise and now I have been there and experienced it for myself, I can confirm they are not far wrong! With a population of under 14,000, the island has to have more restaurants per household than any other destination I have been to, at last count there were more than 100 places to eat in Anguilla.

You will be spoilt for choice with places such as the famous Roti Hut next to the runway at the International Airport which serves up conch roti, a shell fish cooked in West Indian spices and wrapped up in a Roti bread – simply delicious! For dining by the sea, splurge on fresh seafood at Mango’s on Barnes Bay, and enjoy the ocean breeze in this open air restaurant while sampling some of the island’s finest cuisine.

But by far the best dining experience in Anguilla has to be Scilly Cay, which is open twice a week (and closed in September and October). Stand on the end of the pier at Island Harbour and wave towards the small island of Scilly Cay, then wait for someone to head over to collect you in their boat!

Scilly Cay in Anguilla

Image by: therealaxalady

Scilly Cay is more than a spot for lunch, but is a highlight not to be missed on any holiday to Anguilla. Owned and managed by husband and wife team Euxodie and Sandra Wallace, this delightful couple are dedicated to making your visit to Scilly Cay an experience to remember.

You will be personally welcomed by Euxodie and Sandra, and you will soon work out he is a character in himself. Witty with a dry sense of humour, he will soon have you settled and drinking his famous Euxodie rum punch.

Now comes the best bit, the freshest and most amazing barbequed lobster and crayfish I have ever had. I have eaten lobster all around the world but Scilly Cay’s secret recipe really cannot be beaten. Guests can go out back and watch the team cooking dozens of the freshest lobsters and crayfish on open BBQs, watching them change from their green and blue colour to the richest oranges and reds.

Served on a bed of salad and pasta, the succulent meat of the lobster just falls out of its shell and is one of the tastiest things I have ever had.

Enjoy the rest of your afternoon sitting on the beach, swimming in the harbour or continue with Euxodie’s rum punches while listening to Caribbean tunes being played live by a local band. Heaven on earth and possibly the Best BBQ in The World?

The South African Braai – A BBQ South African Style!

As a native living through the currently chilly British summer, I wanted to share some of my favourite South African summer meals. You will always be able to have a braai in almost any picnic spot, back garden and on many beaches. South Africans even celebrate Braai Day on 24 September (South Africa’s Heritage Day), so we take our braai very seriously! Here is the lowdown on what to expect at a barbeque Southern African style.

What is a ‘braai’?

A braai is a barbeque - the name is taken from the Afrikaans word braaivleis which means barbequed meat.

'Blue bull' steak - a huge cut of beef steak

What type of food can I expect?

Beef steak, Karoo lamb chops and chicken or lamb sosaties (skewers) or a half chicken flattie are usually on the menu, but you will often also find boerewors (farmers sausage) and game specialities like ostrich steak, kudu and impala.

Boerewors is a thick beef sausage, flavoured with herbs and spices and grilled in a coil shape on the open fire as seen below.

Boerewors

A fish braai is also popular in the coastal areas of South Africa – you’ll taste snoek, sardines, kreef (crayfish), prawns and almost any fish you can find from the fishmonger or direct from the fishermen at the harbour in the morning.

A good selection of salad will also be available, usually potato salad, three bean, carrot and pineapple, and green salad aplenty. Potatoes and mielies (corn on the cob) or are sometimes wrapped in foil and placed on the glowing coal.

You might also get a more traditional starch side-dish with your steak or boerewors. Maize is the staple meal in Africa, and pap is a slow-cooked, thick and dry maize porridge that is served with a tomato and onion based relish. Try the Johannesburg township version chakalaka – it has a spicy flavour and is sometimes served with amazi (thick sour milk).

You could also try pofadder or skilpadjies (little tortoises). The names might sound as if they are describing something terrible, but it is actually lambs liver and herbs wrapped in fatty caul to make parcels or a sausage (for a pofadder) that go on the open fire. Delicious with pap or garlic bread.

For desert, stick a marshmallow at the end of a long stick and toast it over the open fire until golden brown.

Crayfish at Die Strandloper Restaurant

Are there any vegetarian options?

Yes. Your host will be happy to put some vegetarian sausages or vegetable sosaties on the grill for you, but you might have to bring your own! Also try haloumi cheese on the grill. There will be an excellent selection of salad to choose from.

Wood fire, charcoal or gas?

If you can get hold of it, hardwood makes the best fires for a braai. The wood is normally collected from already dead branches in the bushveld. Elephants usually make sure there is enough in supply! This wood burns for much longer periods of time than normal chopped pine and has a delicious aroma. Alternatively, you can buy charcoal almost anywhere. Gas is mainly used in restaurants.

Should I bring something to a braai?

Your host will tell you in advance. If you are invited to a ‘bring-and-braai’ you should take some meat, a salad to share and some drinks. Beer, wine and spirits with mixers are welcome.

Are there any restaurants that offer a braai?

Die Strandloper in Langebaan, about an hour north of Cape Town, offers a fantastic fresh seafood braai alongside traditional Cape meals like waterblommetjie bredie (a kind of waterlily stew), snoek (a local fish), roosterkoek (grilled bread buns) and a large selection of seafood.

Snoek on the braai at Die Strandloper Restaurant

1800° Grill Room at Cape Royale Hotel in Cape Town offers steaks cooked from both sides and served with flavoured salts from around the world and excellent wine to accompany your meal.

The Vineyard Hotel’s restaurant, The Square, also offers excellent steak and can expertly match your meal to some of the best wines the region has to offer.

Chain steakhouses like Spur offer steaks and surf and turf (meat and fish combinations), but nothing beats the real thing at home with friends.

Is there any other etiquette I should be aware of?

Yes, your host is normally in charge of the braai and the preparations and is the head chef, so don’t interfere with his or her technique! The fire is normally only lit as the guests arrive, as the fire making process is part of the ritual. It would be quite rude to arrive just as the food comes off the grill! Snacks like chips (crisps), biltong (dried meat) and nuts are usually available. Feel free to eat with your fingers, just relax and enjoy!

Marinated lamb sosaties

Do you like the sound of a braai in South Africa? Which of these dishes would you like to taste?

BBQ Recipe From the Maldives:
Fihunu Mas Badhige

With BBQ season now well and truly under way, Western & Oriental Travel want to share some of our favourite BBQ recipes from around the world with you, so you can have a taste of the exotic before jetting off for some well-deserved R&R this summer.

Country: Maldives
Recipe: Fihunu Mas Badhige (Maldives Grilled Fish)
Description: Maldivian food revolves largely around fish (mas), and draws heavily from both Sri Lankan and south Indian cuisines. Dishes are often hot, spicy and flavoured with coconut. Fihunu Mas Badhige is a popular Maldivan dish which is made from grilled fish. A must try on your Maldives holiday.

Ingredients:

Your choice of medium size fish (tuna or reef fish)
2oz dried chilli
1oz onion
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp cumin
2 curry leaves
1 tsp black peppercorns
Salt to season

Instructions:
1. Make sure the fish is whole, gutted, had the scales removed and fillet sliced to the bone.
2. Blend the rest of the ingredients to a smooth thick paste.
3. Pierce the fish on to a large skewer and fill the slits made on the fish with the spice mixture.
4. Cook on BBQ until both sides are done.

Enjoy your delicious Fihunu Mas Badhige dish.

For more BBQ recipes from around the world, look at our fantastic selection on our BBQ Recipe page.

Medhufushi Island Resort Wins TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2011

Surrounded by powdery white sand and a warm crystal clear lagoon, Medhufushi Island Resort is located in the unspoilt Meemu Atoll in the Maldives. This luxury resort offers beautiful beaches and is a perfect retreat for couples and honeymooners looking to relax in an unspoilt, calm and peaceful atmosphere. It’s also a very popular choice with divers and those looking for water sports, where the attractive, unspoilt and relatively unexplored atolls offer some of the world’s best diving sites.

Holidays in Medhufushi Island Resort are also a popular choice for holiday makers who love eating from an exquisite range of delicious culinary delights. Medhufushi Island Resort offers guests a fantastic, spacious buffet-style restaurant which serves superb food, themed nights and often beach barbeques.

In May 2011, after many holiday makers had shared their positive experiences of Medhufushi Island Resort on TripAdvisor, the website announced that the resort had won its 2011 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. This award was offered to the resort due to receiving consistent excellent ratings from TripAdvisor’s members and community. TripAdvisor quoted, “We think your 4 rating is something to be proud of and we hope you do too.”

Impressed? Have a look at some of the luxury treats which Medhufushi Island Resort has in store for you:

Medhufushi Island Resort Birds Eye View

Beach Lunch at Medhufushi Island Resort

Medhufushi Island Resort Spa

Medhufushi Island Resort Pool & Bar

Medhufushi Island Resort - Water Villa

Medhufushi Island Resort - Water Villa Interior

Share your experiences at the Medhufushi Island Resort with us. Would you like to go here on your next Maldives holiday?

BBQ Recipe From Barbados:
Bajan Chicken Skewers

With BBQ season now well and truly under way, Western & Oriental Travel want to share some of our favourite BBQ recipes from around the world with you, so you can have a taste of the exotic before jetting off for some well-deserved R&R this summer.

Country: Barbados
Recipe: Bajan Chicken Skewers
Description: These delicious zesty, spicy chicken skewers are inspired by the sizzling hot, tropical nights on a Barbados holiday.

Ingredients:

4 cloves garlic
1 onion, cut into 6 wedges
2 habanero or Scotch bonnet chillies, seeded
1 bunch spring onions, chopped into 2.5cm (1 in) pieces
1 tbsp dried thyme
11/2 tbsp ground allspice
3cm (1.5 in) piece fresh ginger root, peeled and minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
175ml rum
5 tbsp treacle
4 limes, zested and juiced
4 chicken breast fillets, cut into 3cm (1.5 in) pieces

Instructions:
1. Place garlic, onion, chillis, spring onions, thyme, allspice and ginger into the bowl of a food processor; blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to a large, non metallic bowl, and stir in rum, treacle, and lime zest and juice. Place chicken in bowl, and ensure it is covered with the marinade then cover the bowl and leave in the fridge for 24 hours.

2. Preheat BBQ to a high heat.

3. Remove meat from marinade, and thread onto skewers. Boil the remaining marinade in a small saucepan for at least three minutes.

4. Slowly cook the chicken until slightly charred and cooked through, brushing with the marinade every time you turn the meat.

Enjoy your delicious Bajan Chicken Skewers!

For more BBQ recipes from around the world, look at our fantastic selection on our BBQ Recipe page.