My final report will cover the multitude of places
we stopped for lunch while staying in Providenciales and other islands
during our recent journey.
Samuel would want me to mention
GREENBEAN CAFE first located at the Turtle Cove Marina about 5-10
minutes from Grace Bay at it's very west end.
It was the first
place we went, and he repeatedly asked to go back. When we mentioned
this place to islanders they seemed to frown, but then said they had
tried pizza and burgers here, and we have
loved the WRAPS.
The
Panini were also good, especially MUSHROOM, but if you wish to cut
those carbs go for a Sundried Tomato, Spinach or Whole Wheat Wrap and
get either the JERK CHICKEN WRAP or the Southwest SPICY CHICKEN WRAP.
These
are huge wraps for $12 each and can easily be split if you are not that
hungry. They are loaded with chicken, veggies and yummy seasonings.
There is free wifi as well and the place is open for breakfast thru
mid-afternoon.
After our initial visit, Samuel kept begging to
go back, which we did the next week, but he still could not be
satisfied with a second visit; he begged for more, but time did not
allow a third visit!
One day we headed to the
LEEWARD Marina at the east end of the island (also no more than 5-10
minutes from any point in Grace Bay) where the newly reopened BLUE
MARINA Hotel sits near the hub of watersports (diving, fishing,
snorkeling and more) making it the ideal location for those seeking just
a bit more than a pool and beach. While there are some dining spots in
the hotel, just across the parking lot is the MARKET CAFE, which has
nice outdoor seating on the canal with views of the huge villas nearby.
There are many items you can get here, but we loved the various burgers.
There are many food items to buy as well since it is a full-scale
supermarket.
One day while doing a site visit we
were treated to a superb lunch at the GANSEVOORT Resort. Stelle is their
fine dining establishment open for dinner only, but we sat outside just
above the beach at the Stelle Beach bar and enjoyed a crisp refreshing
cold glass of Perle de Rose 2012 Cotes de Provence Rose as we enjoyed
the very pretty people walking by. Samuel (who is on a wrap trip)
enjoyed the Chicken Wrap with Sundried Tomato, peppers & his
favorite condiment, Pesto!
I loved the refreshing GAZPACHO
with Goat Cheese Bruschetta and then went on the awesome CONCH FRITTERS
which came with a mixed Green Lettuce Salad and Louisiana Sauce for
dipping. Will had a superb fresh CONCH Salad with Lime Juice, Red Onion,
Peppers, Croiander, Cumin and enough Jalapeno to make it just the right
heat. Our server, Kim, was a treat and made everything we wanted
happen, as she called herself, Kim-possible!
Heading
to the South & West you might wish to spend a day boating on the
CHALK SOUND, a remote part of the island about 10 minutes south of the
airport where the water is milky white and the view from LAS BRISAS
Restaurant at Neptune Villas (www.neptunevillastci.com)
is quite different from the long sandy beaches elsewhere. As you know
from my recent postings, Friday August 15 was the beginning of the local
lobster season. So, while Samuel settled in with a superb Veggie Wrap,
which came loaded with vegetables of all kinds and served hot, Will and I
ordered the same with LOBSTER ADDED for an additional $5.00. It was our
first taste of local South Caicos Lobster, which is apparently HAND
CAUGHT. The cost was nothing for the large amount and large chunks we
got in our tasty warm wraps! Las Brisas was worth the drive!
Our
final lunch outing was part of an entire day tour to the more remote
and fascinating islands of North Caicos & MIddle Caicos. North
Caicos is accessed by air, private boat or a 25 minute ferry from the
Leeward side of Provo. Cars can be rented here if arranged, but we chose
to hire a guide and driver for the entire day and boy were we glad. The
trip organized through a local tour operator was amazing. Our guide,
Luke, picked us up and whisked us all over both islands (population of
North Caicos is like 1500, and Middle rings in at like 300!). The
highlight of the morning was a stop at the private home of Mrs. Susan
Butterfield who welcomed us into her home for very strong tea (made from
ginger, lemongrass, herbs and lord knows what else) with lemon cake.
She told us her life story (she looked 90, but was only about 70!) and
then offered us a huge soursop fruit cut right from her tree outside. It
was awesome, sweet and sour and juicy and fun! We later headed south to
Middle Caicos and the hamlet of Conch Bar which probably has about 150
habitants! Right on a cliff above the ocean is Daniel's Café where there
are not too many items on the menu aside from Fried Fish and Fried
Conch. They come in individual orders or platters, so we went in for the
Conch Platters as Samuel munched the rolls and had a coke as he would
have none of the options. The side salad was simple with lettuce, tomato
and onion and the dipping sauce was Thousand Island, but homemade.
This, of course, is then spiced up with local hot sauce, Louisiana hot
sauce or other depending on the choices. I went for a scotch bonnet
based hot sauce that was not too spicy from Trinidad! The conch was
tender and battered nicely and fried perfectly. There was a side of rice
and peas (those little beans that these islands always call peas) and
there was a jar of "pickles" on the table which I opened and tasted some
carrots, okra and other pickles from. There were awesomely spicy and
then I noticed the little cut up scotch bonnet peppers in the jar that
lent their intense heat to these little treats. Luckily the Ginger Beer
was strong and there was plenty of rice and roll to cut the heat.
That
was our last lunch out on the island as breakfast was included at our
last hotel, so we often just ate no lunch as we slept late a lot!
