Virtual Belize: Cuisine

Yeah...it is whatever and served with red beans and rice.

Kind of like Grits in the South.

Red Beans and Rice makes up the omnipresent side.

And the rice is made with a bit of coconut milk which gives it a very different flavor than say Red Beans and Rice in New Orleans.

All in all...I found it pretty good, though.

Of course, like every country, there is particular bush meat.

Where this guy is referred to as "hamadilly"

and served like this
'

Or Conch Slug

A sea snail that is made into

Conch Fritters

Chopped with the addition of peppers, onions, bread and batter.

(...I have actually tried these and they are delicious...)

And who could forget The Royal Gibnut?

"I say, Geoffrey...they've served The Queen a rat."

Accompanied here with Red Beans and Rice.

Belizean Cuisine is much like the people there. A wonderful mash-up of ethnicities and cultures.

Creole, Mexican, African, Indian, Asian, British.

And all the fresh fruit and seafood/fish you could ever hope to eat.

Although the beef is reputed as

"Not worth the jaw power to chew it"

There are multitudes of simmering pork dishes...sometimes they even use the tail to season their red beans and rice.

And Chicken is KING here.

Served in every fashion and all parts...they even stew the feet for rich yellow stock.

and resulting soup.

Locals usually stop at "Meegan's" for a plate of Red Beans and Rice and the nearby Chinese Take-Out for "Dolla Chicken" with fries.

(Dolla Chicken used to actually be a bag full for $1.  Now it is about $5 Belizean...$2.50 USD for a Quarter of a chicken and a bag of fried plantians.)

"Lot's of sal' and peppa and ketch'up"

An odd hold out from the British Honduras days is tinned articles of food...creams and sweet evaporated milk...tinned meats (think Spam).

In this country of so much wonderful fresh food...it is difficult to understand.

(...recalling Hawaii...where Spam was considered a great dish...)

Yeah...perhaps not.

Bleah.

A lot of Mestizo influence. 

Tamales, wrapped and tied in corn husks and steamed.

and opened & served...

(...and I am going to make these from scratch soon!!!)

and tacos...which I make regularly, anyway.

Belize was just a great excuse to make them again.

Also Fry-Jacks

Which is a great deal like Indian Fry-Bread...and is used in Belize as both a sweet dessert item (with fruit or sugar and spices) or a bread to fold over a savory item like peppers and sausage and eggs.

Either way it is delicious.

A Taste of Belize

https://youtu.be/hKDANnsn0Xo

More anon...