Fish Friday!

I was waiting for Friday to come having heard so much about Gouyave's Fish Friday event. We wanted to make sure we got there early so that we could find a parking place and figure out our way around. We arrived about 4:30 - but had forgotten one important thing - we were still on Canadian time - and had forgotten about Grenadian time...

...which meant that if they said it started at 5pm - it really wouldn't get started until 6 or 7 pm. So we toured around Gouyave for a while, checked out the Catholic Church with the octagonal bell tower, plus some of the shops on the side streets.

We finally made it back over to St.Dominic and St.Francis Streets, where the vendors were set up. There was a bit of everything there - fry bake, baked bake, lobster, shrimp, fried jack (small fish deep fried whole - very bony - didn't try one - really don't like picking my way through fish bones - mom would probably like them), fish roti, shrimp skewers, fried breadfruit, plaintains in every shape and form.

The list went on and on. I couldn't try everything - so tried the shrimp skewers, fish cakes, breadfruit and a cornbread dish that I have to find the name for.

For a small community, it was well done - some of the vendors even had rubber gloves and hairnets! Barry didn't eat any fish, but he did find a new favorite from a vendor who was making ice cream - soursop ice cream. To me it tasted like really fresh peach ice cream, so I was surprised that Barry liked it so much. He has taken to asking everywhere we go if they have it - even if it isn't on the menu! He even chose it over chocolate at the Spice Basket Cultural centre!

Vendor making fry bake  - similar to bannock - Barry says like a deep fried thick pancake!

We took a break from wandering around and made our way back to the 'Homestead Bar, Restaurant, and Apartment' which since Hurricane Ivan has only been 'Homestead Bar and Restaurant' - we found this little place on St.Peter's Street and as they had burgers on the menu, that's where Barry had supper after I enjoyed my fish.

Barry and Lester Peters

Lester Peters and his wife own the place - Lester was born and raised in Grenada, but went to England to work when England needed workers and Grenadians didn't need a Visa to work there. After 25 years working for the railway in England, Lester and his wife (who is a nurse) returned to Grenada. He was pleased to meet us as he has a cousin who lives in Calgary, and has been to the Rocky Mountains. Lester makes a great hamburger - and compared to the 'tourist' places in Grand Anse and St.George, it was quite cheap. He also keeps his Coke in a freezer that doesn't actually freeze anything, but keeps it ice cold! I also discovered a new favorite drink - while we were learing about cricket and chatting about custard & apple pie, some history of Grenada and Lester's days of being somewhat of a local football and cricket champion, I also leaned Lester likes a Shandy. I asked for one  - and was pleasantly surprised when he poured me one that was made with Sorrel - very similar to Cream Soda - which you can also make a Shandy with. Who knew? About 9pm we decided we better head down Island to Woburn - about 20 minutes - as we had a full day planned for Saturday - including the farmers' market in St.George.

The Homestead Bar - I love the bright colors!