Another Visit to Fish Friday!

We went to Gouyave again to take in Fish Friday and stopped in for a visit with Lester.

Fish Friday was just getting underway - met some other Canadians - and from the West! There was a band setting up, so we headed over to Lester's for Barry's Friday Night Cheese Burger. Lester didn't think it was right that I wasn't eating, so surprised me with the best piece of fish I think I have ever had (or at least a close second to the Halibut I had at the little restaurant in Genoa Bay). It was right out of the pan - juicy, hot with a hint of citrus - and turned out to be Mahi Mahi. I am still drooling thinking about it this morning.

After that snack and visit, we went back to where the band had set up. It was a community steel band from Florida (Grenada, West Indies - not USA).

   

They were so good - and really enjoyed them - especially the girls that were playing the 6 piece drums! I managed to get some video from the camera - excuse the filming - apparently you aren't supposed to be dancing while filming. Next time Barry can do it:)

Enjoy the video:)

A series of fortunate coincidences...

Saturday, we planned to go to Gouyave again as they have a farmers' market - and unlike St.George's teeming with cruise ship tourists - the one in Gouyave is quieter. We woke up to a tropical rain storm, which didn't deter us - and set out to Gouyave - taking a different way than we had before.

Little did we know that we would find our way to several places we were hoping to visit during our trip - the Grand Etang Rainforest & Lake and the Spice Basket Cultural Centre. While the weather meant we didn't visit the rainforest (that will be this week), we did stop at the Cultural Centre on our way to Gouyave.

The Cultural Centre is brand new - and is set up very well, although the theatre for cultural performances is not finished. From what the staff said, the museum operator doesn't seem to have set hours yet. We browsed the gift shop and grounds (some beautiful flowers) and then had lunch on the deck. I had grilled fish (marlin) with rice & peas, vegies and salad with nutmeg dressing. Barry had the grilled chicken (nice thigh/drum and back piece) plus potato salad and salad - which started out as a vegetarian lunch - due to a slight miscommunication with our server Abigal.

 

We also shared a bowl of locally made pistachio ice cream -and managed to get the top-secret recipe for the nutmeg dressing). It was an unexpected find - and a great way to spend some time before heading off to Gouyave and the market - where we stopped in to see Lester again - who gave us some great oranges and grapefruit - fresh off the tree that morning. They were very good - sweet - Barry said it was the best orange he ever had!

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!