I am an island girl and I love being from The Bahamas. I am secretly tickled with pride with the sound of saying "I Am Bahamian..... from The Bahamas" it sounds soooo exotic, like my heritage!
My Island Heritage
My grandfather was a stowaway from Haiti. Out of fear of punishment from his parents he jumped on the first boat smoking out of Haiti (can't remember the complete story but I think he lost the grocery money in a game of dice). Lucky for me, that boat headed for Nassau Bahamas.
My pappy was a survivor! He was a farmer, a fisherman and the last horse drawn dray owner on the island of Nassau.
He was not lucky in love but he did raise four girls. One being my awesome mom. My mom's mother was raised on the island of Andros....the Big Yard, and her father sailed across the seas from Ireland.
My mom married my father, who just happened to also hail from Gonaives, Haiti whose great grandparents were from France. As we would say in Bahamian terms "mixed up like conch salad." OOH I just love it!!!
Growing Up Island Style...
Many memories of my parents and grandparents involves food. Their kitchens often permeated the air with smells of various herbs and spices. To this day I find it all very soothing and calming.
My grandfather, believed in spoiling my brother and I. Upon arrival at Pappy's house on weekends we were always greeted with the smell of dinner, freshly baked homemade bread and potato bread was always waiting. Our favorite cookies stocked in the cookie jars, sodas stocked in the icebox,
and change to buy
cups and salty sausage (Bahamians say "chawsage") covered with hot sauce served in wax paper from Mrs. Pratt,
the neighborhood "Tuck" shop.
FRIDAY NIGHTS....
Food was definitely the center of our home. My parents entertained constantly and Friday nights...... let’s say that my parents friends would begin to arrive at 8:00 p.m.
The guitars would start playing,
music from the record player blaring
singing and dancing to the beat of meringue.
My mom would prepare the feast. It seemed like a feast to me... The aroma may be filled with something like curried chicken, white rice, candied carrots and broccoli, green salad, someone would bring dessert and of course wine or Barbencourt Rum. The night would end late.....don't ask me how late, cause I was asleep by then!!!!
NEIGHBOURHOOD ISLAND PARTIES
Sometimes mummy and daddy would have BIG parties which included a roasted pig in the back yard prepared by a family friend, a French chef, Charlie that had relocated to The Bahamas. He always made apple or fruit tart. I can still smell them and I was always in awe at how pretty they were. He ALWAYS made a special one just for me.
I can still remember that pig on the spit spinning with that apple in the mouth. I was horrified!!!!
Who would eat that...
Who would want to???
The whole neighborhood!!! At least that's what it looked like to me as everyone hung out by the front yard hoping to get some of that pig and free drinks... ummmh...
As my parents got older, and we kids grew up, the parties got smaller and became more intimate dinners with friends and family on Sunday's or whenever. It was always an eclectic array of food paradise with dishes likes,
Asian seafood soup
Diri Djon Djon(black mushrooms) and rice cooked with dried hearing,
Grio,
Bannane Pesse,
Steamed Snappers
Asparagus wrapped in bacon Homemade Pound Cake
Potato Salad and Bahamian style Baked Macaroni and Cheese and so much more.
MY TURN........
Today that tradition of friends and family coming over for fun and food continues with me. Luckily, I married someone who enjoys having a good time with family, friends, and the taste of down home cooking.
He too has skills. As a matter of fact, he has me eating stew fish, which I would not have eaten before. He can season a fish!!! Fried, stew or boil I guarantee, you will lick your fingers, suck those fish bones and clean your plate. I promise.
Food whether negatively or positively has always played an integral part in my life. I can still remember my Home Economics teacher from the UK, Ms. Barbara Clarkson. She wanted me to pursue a career in Culinary. However, in those days being a "cook" was not on the top of my list.....I wanted to be an Actress!!!
Today, you can have a lucrative career as a Female Chef. You can be considered to have a noble career as a "Foodie", "Food Blogger", Food Stylist", "Food Photographer" and so much more.
The positive thing these days is that it is now OK to have a passion for all types of food. It's a "thing" nowadays. A good thing......I am no longer ashamed to say I really enjoy eating, the taste of good food.....and of course, lots of love, laughter, family and friends. La Joie De Vivre!!!
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