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Deriving from a mixture of both Creole and British influences, Dominica's history, culture, and cuisine are created from an eclectic blend of unspoiled Caribbean tradition. The island's moist tropical climate and rich volcanic soil ensure abundant agriculture, and locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, including bananas, avocados, and breadfruit, are plentiful. West Indian foods are the traditional dishes of Dominica, and travelers may be in for a big surprise when ordering the local specialty.
While visiting Dominica, you will get the chance to sample tasty tropical food and drinks, unlike anything you've tasted before. Authentic Dominican cuisine is a true culinary treat. Travelers should be aware that many local dishes are prepared with a sauce made from curry and Scotch bonnet peppers. This sauce, which is served with almost everything, adds an enticing, spicy kick to the flavor and aroma of the meal.
Most local restaurants serve traditional dishes such as smoked or stewed opossum, which is called manicou on the menu, or agouti, which is a large rodent, like a squirrel or raccoon. These island delicacies are especially popular in October and November when Dominica celebrates its cultural heritage. When ordering the mountain chicken, travelers may be expecting a gamey fowl, but this local specialty is really a large land frog that also appears as crapaud on the menu.
Traditional fishing villages still exist on the island, so seafood dishes constitute a lot of Dominica's local cuisine. Shellfish are bountiful in both the sea and mountain streams, and crabs are caught in season and served in their shells stuffed with seasoned red or black crab meat and listed as crab backs on restaurants' menus. Vacationers can order savory meals of flying fish, dorado, king fish, and snapper, as well as spiny lobsters and octopus throughout the year. Delectable aquatic feasts also come from fresh water mountain streams, which provide delicacies such as river crayfish and land crabs.
British influence in Dominica's cuisine is apparent by the number of dishes that contain cucumbers, from salads to sandwiches. Starchy foods are also frequently served on the island, and travelers will find items such as rice and potatoes along with the island's starchy root vegetables such as dasheen, which is similar to a sweet potato. As a substitute for rice, vacationers can order"provisions" to go along with their meal, which are starches that include yucca or pumpkin and are similar to American squash or British marrow.
Most of the eateries and restaurants on Dominica are owned and run by local families and provide authentic island cuisine prepared by loving hands. Wash all of the delicious homemade food down with yummy island fruit juices, or for something with a little more kick, coconut rum punch. Meals and beverages on the island are relatively inexpensive, and vacationers will surely delight in the scrumptious local dishes on the island of Dominica.
Restaurants in Dominica run the gamut - from upscale to down-home.
Want to learn more about what to expect from the culture of Dominica? Be sure to check out our helpful article.
Get more out of your vacation by doing some research about the history of Dominica.