Turks and Caicos

To Whom It May Concern

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Ziggy

An 18 year old TCI lover who gets it…

To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Mackenzie. I’m an 18 year old girl with a passion for this island, a passion for beauty, a passion for helping dolphins. Turks and Caicos has become a place I like to call home over the years. That being said, I just have a few things to point out for those of you who support the Dolphin Cove and this dolphinarium on Provodenciales, Turks and Caicos. I write this to you to inform. To persuade. To convince.

First of all, dolphinariums, to put it shortly, kill dolphins. Many dolphins are slaughtered in the capturing, and the “lucky” survivors get to perform tricks for human entertainment. But, the majority of the dolphins end up developing diseases, behavioral issues, and other illnesses. Dolphins end up dying in the process. They are not bred to be in captivity,

I’ve read hundreds of articles about this…

View original post 444 more words

Categories: Turks and Caicos | 4 Comments

TCI – How to Gain 7 Pounds in 7 Days

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Ziggy

Last Update: March 13th, 2018

Visiting Providecnia..err.. Provo any time soon? Want to know where to eat? What to eat? How to pronounce conch? No worries, good ole’ Ziggy is here to help. After years of experimenting and taking many for the team I recommend the following 7 day eating itinerary. Of course, in order to have a great meal there are many variables involved, especially since most of these establishments are geared toward tourists and offer very full menus. And you just never know when the executive chef leaves on maternity leave (happened) or just leaves (always happens). Its a probabilities game folks. And in my humble opinion the odds increase with this plan. Click on the names where available to see reviews, pictures and suggested dishes.

7 Lunches:

Las Brisas (Got hammered after Irma, currently positioned on a temporary deck nearby) – Starting with the obvious. I don’t normally recommend places just for the view and I will not start now. Luckily the food, with a variety of Spanish and Caribbean offerings is pretty good, and the view of stunning Chalk Sound can only help. Try the killer Lobster Salad when in season.

Hemingway’s – By far my favorite Hemingway’s in the Caribbean (Is there a Caribbean island without one), and one of the better resort restaurants on the island. Situated in the Sands resort, this reasonably priced old timer has been dishing out those Fish Tacos since.. well… I have no idea actually. Like, a long time! Try also the addictive awesomeness they call fish and chips

Flamingo’s – Come here for one of the Island’s most celebrated dishes, the curried grouper. Add the consistently strong rum punch, and the stunning views and you got yourself a future regular. But dont make the mistake I did (twice) and come here without cash. Otherwise, No Grouper For You! (Update: The now accept CC). We normally come here for lunch, but sunset dinners are just as grouper friendly.

Bugaloos – Another fun, local spot. Once you find this one in Five Cays you will get rewarded with one of the best setups on the island. Some live music on Sunday nights (I believe) and maybe other nights, but we normally come for lunch after Taylor Bay. Service can give ‘Island Time’ a new meaning, but its worth waiting for the fresher Snapper around. Try the conch salad (middle picture) as well.

Lupo – Putting this among the lunches since that’s when we go, but something tells me dinners can be even more eventful. Well, the fresh pasta filled menu told me. But for lunch you can still enjoy the signature meatballs, the sick romaine lettuce (yes, that’s right, I said romaine lettuce), and don’t leave the island without trying the Lupo Tiramisu.

Sweet T’s – Time to give your wallet a breather. And I dont mean a little hole in your shorts. Those you need to say goodbye to. Ultra cheap Fried Chicken! It took me some time to add this one here because its not your typical resort lunch, but it’s always our first or last stop with luggage. As you leave the airport and turn to the main highway, after the flamingo statue, you’ll be greeted by fried chicken scent from the pink building on your right. You order by the dollar. $7 chicken and $2 fries will feed a family of 4.

Da Conch Shack – An island institution like no other. Toes in the sand (pretty sure can cause fungus but well worth it), picnic tables inches from the water. Conch everywhere including in the water where they grow their own. Great relaxing vibe. I’ve had a love, hate, love relationship with the place over the years, but if you havent been, you owe it to yourself to come and be the judge. Try the jerk wings!

Bonus: Takeout from Delicious Dishes: Local extraordinaire in the old Miss Moonies location. From the Seven Stars, in the roundabout on Leeway hwy, make a left, and its right there in the little parking lot on the right. Extremely popular with the locals. Oxtail and Curried goat on the balcony of your hotel, overlooking people eating Caesar salads with stale chicken. Doesnt get much better.

Bonus 2: Three Queens (Closed for the time being due to Hurricane damage) – An island staple in Blue Hills since 1970 and the definition of “Local”. No menu, no problem. You eat what the glorious Ms Marta (update: retired, hence bonus section, but new cook I was told is just as good, and the fish just as fresh) made that day which could be fresh fish (grouper or snapper), oxtail stew, curried goat, or curried chicken. You wont see this one on top of other lists (I’m looking at you Trip Advisor) mainly due to the location, but if you are seeking the more adventurous, as local as they come eats, it doesn’t get much better

7 Dinners:

Caicos Cafe – Starting with one of the musts. Brilliant, inventive Italian with a Caribbean twist by a mad, menu OCD genius chef/owner Max Olivari. Pay special attention here to the specials, the right side of the menu, and more importantly pay special attention to the left side of the menu. Some of the best seafood on the island, like grilled Calamari, Wahoo Carpaccio, grouper special, the pastas, and much more

Coco Bistro – One glance at the dishes floating around and the size of house mascot Coco the cat and you will understand why this place is so popular. Chances are strong that the island’s favorite dining establishment will make you very happy. This is where you’ll need to make those rezzies well in advance though. Psss. You can do so via email but dont tell them I said so. update: No ressies? There’s a new cheaper option in the same parking lot, Cocovan

Le Bouchon – The former Caicos Cafe owner thankfully back in the game. Sidewalk Parisian Champs-Elysées style without the Parisians and the tourists. Hmmm, actually now that I think about it its pretty much all Parisians and tourists. Though I am noticing a growing amount of local following the last few years. Try the Escargot, and if you don’t try the legendary Steak au Poivre, your homework is incomplete.

Chinson’s Grill Shack – A 15 minute schlep from the resort area may feel longer in paradise, but its worth it for this Jamaican-Chinese gem (Yes, its a thing), and sea view. Ok, its more like some hotel advertised sea views, where the meaning is more like “See? View!” with some sea in the horizon. But in this case you are mostly overlooking the highway, inside a fun and vibrant shack. The smooth Mr Chinson is always around to make sure everything is Kosher. Over the years we settled on the Jerk chicken, pulled pork sandwich, the spiciest curried goat around, steamed Grouper and the mixed Fried Rice. Lunch or dinner in this case, doesnt matter. We usually do lunch.

Seven – We keep trying other resort spots on occasion, but Seven continues to be one of the better and more popular fine dining on the island. Even with rotating chefs over the years, the menu somehow stays intact for the most part. Try the Vanilla rum butter poached lobster, or the best end of lamb. Update: Scallops, and two-way tuna are some of the current musts

Simone’s – A waitress/cook at Sharkbite turned restaurant owner. This is a mostly local hangout joint, but pale tourists like me are always welcome. Simone will greet you like she greets her children. And she will feed you as such too. Fishermen always around means they are not there for the frozen fish. So ask whats available outside of the menu, which features some of the best conch salads on the island and a fine snapper. The fresh Wahoo last time was a Yahooooo!

Caicos Cafe – This is not a mistake. Yes, I’m listing it twice. Why recommend a different plan than what we are doing on every single trip. Go here at the beginning of the week, and if you like it enough, book again on your way out. Chances are you wont find better.

Or… how about something “local” like the Thursday night fish fry, or Caravel. Or perhaps a splurge at Coyaba, another island institution. Maybe experience the classic Tuna with sunset at Magnolia, or Via Veneto for the most authentic Italian menu on the island.

A special mention for Breakfast and light lunch: Caicos Bakery near Caicos Cafe. Nice Baguettes, quiches, almond croissants and more. Pick up some sandwiches at Julien’s deli for the flight back. You’ll be the envy of every other passenger, guaranteed!

Hope it helps. Stay hungry my friends!

Sweet T’s – Sweet Compromise {TCI}

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Ziggy

Have you ever taken a Bulldog to a park that also happens to be his favorite pooping ground? Its quite a sight. The anticipation makes him (and you) sprint with delight while farting the entire time. “Does he always do this” I asked my friend Val. “Without fail”. The same type of anticipation fills us while sitting on the plane that just arrived in Provo, trying to figure out if we are closer to the front or rear of the plane for quicker exit. The fact that we are the only ones looking back while everyone else looks forward reminds me that everyone is here for the very first time, and some of them are staring at me wondering about my purpose. “The front of the plane is this way buddy. Too much to drink?”

Food is on my mind. But in this case its more of a hurdle to the main treat.. Grace Bay beach. I gotta have something delicious but quick enough so we could still make a run for booze and have a productive burn-fest (although in this trip it turned into more of a Burning Man festival due to the initial heat and pain).

Enter Sweet T’s. Right off Airport Road, just pass the first major roundabout, after the pink flamingo sign on your right. No sign, so look for this building. There will most likely be a line of locals without a tourist in sight but do not despair. The chicken is of the delicious kind. Crispy, moist, juicy, and just enough of a kick. The drumettes look like fat popsicles. Oh, and “cheap” is an understatement. You order by the dollar. $8 of chicken (more than the 4 of us needed. see picture above? two of those containers. $6 would have been fine), $2 of fries, and $2 cokes meant 2 cans of coke. Thats a $12 meal for 4, quick bite, and off we go for this. leave some chicken crumbs in your rental in the middle somewhere. Chances are you will see at some point the same rentals (model, color) parked near yours, and the crumbs will help determine which is yours.

Categories: Turks and Caicos | Tags: Cheap Eats Turks and Caicos, food, restaurants, Sweet T's Providenciales, Sweet T's Turks and Caicos, Travel, Turks and Caicos | Leave a comment

Beautiful by Nature

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Ziggy

That’s my youngest above, staring ever so watchfully at the looming cloud action over Grace Bay, Providenciales. Knowing her, she must be wondering at that moment which direction the clouds are moving, and whether she’s allowed to have steak tonight. She then remembers that she had steak yesterday and tonight is most likely fish night, and continues to wonder if she would be happier with another family where she could eat, like a lot more steak, and have more sleepovers. Steak sleepovers! Me and 3 of my closest friends, nails, hair, Peter Luger, sleepover. What if that adopted family isn’t that close to Peter Luger or even a decent Hibachi. Thoughts slowly shift back to “Pretty Little Liars”. One out of many random thoughts during our 9 nights in our adopted home of Turks and Caicos. Here’s a recap of what we did

Ate

Categories: Turks and Caicos | Tags: Providenciales, Travel, travel+photography, Turks and Caicos | 2 Comments

7 More Provo Bites

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Ziggy

A sample of some of Provos top dishes as featured in the summer issue of Where When How. For past Provo Bites, click here. We’ll be there in a week for another culinary adventure.

Wahoo Carpaccio at Caicos Cafe – If there’s anything as exciting as the left side of Caicos Cafe’s menu it is in my humble opinion the right side of the menu. All that excitement causing the specials on the board to look lonely and out of place, like the lone sock in your sock drawer missing its partner (Why do people keep the single socks. Hard to say goodbye or are they waiting for a miraculous appearance of some sort). At any rate, all sorts of food magic can also be found on that special board, and if there’s fresh Wahoo in the house there’s a good chance “Mad Max” will add it in this Carpaccio form. Expertly prepared, sprinkled with capers and pink peppercorns, perfectly cut, silky smooth, melt in your mouth buttery “When Harry Met Sally” seafoodgasm goodness, worthy of a run on sentence. Get this!

Conch Chowder at Le Bouchon. Yes, these guys make a killer Steak Frites. Yes, their escargot will make you slap your mama. Yes, the place is always full of beautiful people, and NO that’s not the main reason we keep going back there Mrs Ziggy, aka the most beautiful woman I know. And yes, even the simple stuff like the smoky, perfectly spiced, uncreamy Chowder is a winner at Le Bouchon Du Village. If there’s one dish that showcases Pierrick’s and Julian attention to detail, this may be the one.

Peruvian Conch Ceviche at Seaside. Here’s a fun tidbit for your next cocktail party. Most people don’t realize the role Peru had on our ability to function as society. Transportation networks, roped bridges, The Pisco Sour, all invented in ancient Peru. But the biggest contribution that most dont know about is the Ceviche, the grandfather of TCI’s national dish, Conch Salad. Young master chef Francois mixes in various peppers including Scotch Bonnet to give it the proper pleasant heat with just enough acid from the lime. And in true Peruvian style, he throws in plenty of fresh veggies including corn to make it the island Conch Salad to beat. The equally outstanding tuna Sashimi made this choice a tough one.

Romaine Lettuce at Lupo – We all have our routines right before heading to Turks and Caicos. Mine is having my fortune told. “You will choose wisely” was a common theme, and I have to tell you readers, those fortune cookies are correct more often than not. So I went against my comfort zone more often and ordered things that I normally never do, like this play on Caesar Salad. Quite possibly the best Caesar you will ever eat. Smoky Romaine, sharp Parm and crispy Pancetta bits round this piece of deliciousness. Nicely done Lupo!

Kerala Chicken Masala at Garam Masala – Garam is becoming a regular for us due to its splendid kebabs and colorful curries such as the Dal Makhani, Chicken Tikka Masala and this South Indian delight from the Kerala region. Bright, complex, flavor packed dish we couldn’t get enough of. In a strange way it reminded me of white Alba truffles as in a similar matter I was still enjoying this hours later via a series of pleasant little burbs. Much to the chagrin of the NJ couple I met on the Beach a the time. I suppose I could say its payback for the smells of Central NJ, but I’m too much of a professional to say or write something like that

Fettuccine with Guanciale and Black Truffles at Via Veneto – The fatty, deliciously salty Guanciale (pork cheeks) plays an important part here. But its all about that truffle essence that tells the brain “now this is gonna be yummy (foodie technical term)”. Just like when you put your shoes on and it feels sort of wet inside and you suddenly remember that your toddler was playing hide and seek again in the closet the night before and got a wee bit excited, your brain tells you its time to remove those shoes from your feet. Via Veneto is quickly becoming another Italian force to be reckoned with.

Sautéed Whole Snapper at Bugaloos (top)- A Snapper a day keeps the doctor away… and brings the creditors closer. Take your creditors to Bugaloos so they could understand. Freshly caught Red Snapper doesn’t require too much handling. Some coconut milk, onions, pepper, garlic, and simple seasoning is the best compliment for the mouthwatering perfectly flaky piece of fish. The inner barbarian Ziggy came out to attack this one with full force. While the inner feminine Ziggy required an emergency cookie stop 20 minutes later.

Categories: Turks and Caicos | Tags: bugaloos Turks and caicos, Caicos Cafe, food, Garam Masala Turks and Caicos, Le Bouchon Turks and Caicos, Lupo Turks and Caicos, restaurants, Seaside Cafe turks and caicos, Travel, Turks and Caicos, Via Veneto Turks and Caicos | 2 Comments

TCI – 7 Top Bites

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Ziggy

As published in the current issue of WhereWhenHow

Living in NYC, trying to keep up with the ever so changing dining scene can be quite a challenge. A challenge to avoid according to my Gastroenterologist and Accountant (Its the same person). As a visitor, I’m finding a similar challenge in the island I like to call Providenciales! Rotating chefs, new local spots, new local gatherings (fish fry), and yet another new Italian (yes please) are just some of the exciting changes as of late. More choices normally result in a higher bar. A higher bar means a well fed, happier consumer. Here are 7 dishes that made us happy during the last trip.

B-52s rolls at Sora. Fresh Tuna? check. Avocado? check. Rice Krispies? Yummo! (It appears that the blogger community adopted “Yummo” as the new “Yummy” which reached its expiration date). This was a delicious little snack we shared with our Kite Boarding ~~meshugenahs~~ friends. The name most likely derived from when you pick it up with your chopsticks, it will explode and dirty your pants. When you pick it up with a fork however, it will stain your shirt.. and dirty your pants. I later found out the dish was invented by the owner of a local Laundromat.

Conch Salad at Bugaloos. This is one of those dishes that you know will be good as soon as it arrives. Fresh, plentiful, tender conch that you just cant stop chowing. No surprises here. Unlike the surprise my 11 year old got the other day when her beloved Tootsie Role Industries stock sank as part of her school stock market game. “But daddy, its Tootsie Role! Who doesnt love Tootsie Role?” Same people who love Airplane over Top Secret kid. Enemies of America!

Lobster Risotto With Shiitake at Seaside Café. Probably the most palatable Risotto we’ve had since the truffled beauty we had in Riva Del Garda, Italy (Show off!). Rich, perfectly creamy, perfectly seasoned awesomeness that comes in one size: “Grande” (Read “American”, for Americans, in America. Ok, not quite America but you know what I mean. It just sounds more convincing like that)

Homemade Troccoli “alla Chitarra” with Octopus at Caicos Cafe. Jimmy Hendrix couldn’t play a sweeter tune. Chef “Mad Max” utilizes all sorts of tools in this one including a guitar-like instrument (Chitarra) that he presses against the dough sheet. The result is Pici-like (Tuscan pasta), wonderfully chewy, al dente goodness. Add a super tender South Caicos caught octopus (another tool used to tenderize the Octopus), peas, roasted tomatoes, and basil (all cooked in the octopus own juices), and you have another Caicos Café classic.

Grilled Lobster at Coco Bistro. No wonder everyone looks happy at Provo’s most popular dining spot. The “it’s a small world” ride of Provo continues to shine and dish out goodies such as this that just makes people weep with joy. Caribbean Lobsta! – buttery, sweet, tender, with no hint of dryness. Almost made me forget about Maine Lobster. Almost! Did you know that the most important thing when eating animal testicles is freshness? I had no idea. And I should probably stop watching Andrew Zimmern while writing this stuff (PS Mrs Ziggy, in case I forget we need to get a new remote control. And while you at it check with the butcher about fresh testicles. Emu if possible.. those look nice)

Courtesy of Brilliant Studios

Goat Curry at Jerkey’s. Unless you can find a microwave at the old Sailing Paradise location, consider the still colorful tables of new Jerkey’s. Succulent, mouthwatering, bonier than Sara Jessica Parker goat goodness. We simply could not get enough of this dish, and the fantastic Jerk Chicken which could have easily been on this list instead. A great Provo winter dish when average temps drop from 85°F to 83°F. Its 9°F here in NYC at the time of this writing. You know its cold when your car is more Jewish than you, courtesy of a white yarmulke (sheet of snow) on its roof.

Tiramisu and Panna Cotta with Balsamic reduction at Lupo (Top). A heavenly finish! May possibly be the best Tiramisu I’ve had on the island. The Panna Cotta with the pungent balsamic was very unique and tasty indeed. What a duo! Update on our cold front. Today, NYC is covered with ice. i.e. The annual “Sue Your Neighbor Day”.

Thats all I got folks… gotta run to court… er walk slowly with crutches. Stay Hungry my friends!

Categories: Turks and Caicos | Tags: Best restaurants in turks and caicos, bugaloos Turks and caicos, Coco Bistro Turks and Caicos, food, restaurants, Seaside Cafe turks and caicos, Sora Turks and caicos, Travel, Turks and Caicos | Leave a comment

Caicos Cafe – More Sea-food-gasm

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Ziggy

Previously on as Caicos Cafe turns

Sometime between the second and third course of the first meal, I made an executive decision. Scrapping the plan to only go to Caicos Cafe once on this trip in order to give someone new a shot. A plan I was never comfortable with, and the most likely cause of my Shingles. Crisis averted, vacation saved. Ok, a bit melodramatic I know. But Ziggy’s mind is a mysterious and complex labyrinth, that produces joy via creating anticipations on a whim.

Caicos Cafe in a way represents everything I love about eating in places like Turks and Italy. A masterful use of “backyard” ingredients by a talented chef, and the perfect formula. A formula helped by a menu that screams for repeat visits. A nice mix of old and brand new awesomeness during the recent visit….

Jumbo scallops wrapped in pancetta (bacon for those scoring at home or if you’re alone) on a bed of green pea purée. Expertly prepared, perfectly cooked scallops. Goat cheese roll and butternut squash Brie tart with walnuts, sundried apricot, mushroom vinaigrette. Somehow, I never got to try this so I can only go by Mrs Ziggy’s facial expressions and the words coming out of her mouth… “Ooh yum mmmm ooh need to go peepee”. I think it was good.

It’s listed on the menu as a yellow tail snapper but we got a fresh grouper instead, prosecco flambeed with all sorts of seafood delights including some tasty bay scallops. Another great dish showcasing Mad Max’s skills. A dish of the year nominee for me was a new addition to the menu, Troccoli with octopus. Troccoli pasta is homemade with a guitar like instrument (Chitarra) pressed against the dough sheet. It looks and tastes like the Tuscan Pici but with egg and must be cooked more al dente. With a super tender tasty Octopus (he uses another tool to tenderize the sucker) and Max’s signature roasted tomatoes to balance things out, the entire creation cooked in the locally caught octopus juices. Simply fantastic!

On the last night there it was again on the specials board, Wahoo Carpaccio. People if you ever see it on the board and you love seafood, you must order this. Whenever Max gets fresh Wahoo I believe he puts it up there. Expertly done with a touch of pink peppercorn, melt in your mouth sea butter foodgasm when harry met sally worthy of a run on sentence goodness. Another top dish nominee was the beef tartar. It was tough taking pictures of this one with the strong truffle oil (first time I see truffle oil used here) scent slapping you in the face. I was just anxious to attack this thing with full force. Served with toasted baguettes this was another killer tartar (as is the tuna we enjoyed in the past). The conch and grouper chowder while lacking the spices of Le Bouchon’s version it more than made up for it with hefty chunks of grouper and conch

Seafood Casserole was the last menu classic I haven’t tried yet, and turned out to be well deserved of the classic tag. Like a glorious bouillabaisse, with every seafood known to man in it. Or at least every seafood known to south Caicos fisherman. A sauce you just want to dip anything in, fingers, room keys, anything. Lobster linguine fra diavolo was as good as ever, but with an extra kick this time seems like. Shared Ziggy’s fave Affogato (thats what it says on the menu. Ok, not really, still working on it) and the mango apple tart, possibly my two favorite desserts at the moment.

Categories: Turks and Caicos | Tags: Caicos Cafe, Caicos Cafe Turks and Caicos, food, Providenciales, restaurants, Travel, Turks and Caicos dining, Turks and caicos food, Turks and Caicos Restaurants | Leave a comment

Turks and Caicos – Bugaloo’s

Posted on February 8, 2014 by Ziggy

There were 3 major milestones during our recent visit…

1) I rediscovered the joy of traveling to Provo without kids. Sorry kids, its fun to go with you, but its Soooo much more fun to go without, and now that you are eating like mom and dad its so much more affordable too. The 11 year old would call the manager if she detects her 40 oz. rib eye was not aged properly

2) I discovered a new passion – Beach Yoga!

3) I finally got my conch at Bugaloos in a conch shell.

Besides yet another wonderful conch salad, one of the best things I ate during the entire trip was the freshly caught whole red snapper sautéed with some coconut milk, onions, pepper and garlic. Great texture, flaky, simply mouthwatering piece of fish. The light sauce was just the perfect compliment, letting the fish do the talking. We attacked this beauty in full force.

March 3rd, 2013 post:

So now that this blog has been featured on Trip Advisor, and now that baby Ziggy decided to run for pope, I feel like I have to clean up my act here a little and limit the use of smiley faces. Just had to let you all know. You already see the changes reflected in the new site tagline – “Eating Well, Spelling Poorly” which makes no sense whatsoever now that I think about it as I use a spellcheck. But whatever…

My mission on this trip was to try some new places like Bugaloo’s. Its hard to leave the resort during lunch time, but while the rest of the family is ‘liming’ by the beach, Ziggy has people to see, new conch to try.

The food was terrific.. I think. Its hard to concentrate sometimes when you are eating with great people in a setup such as this. No need for Sevantix here! One of the most spectacular setups in TCI.

I enjoyed my conch salad (bottom) although it was missing some of that heat I was hearing about. But it was fresh and tasty. Conch (pronounced “Conk” if you are scoring at home or even if you are alone) salad to me is the best way to experience conch on the islands. Peruvian ceviche style. Coconut Cracked conch (below) was fine as well but if I have to choose I’d go with the conch salad.

I was here with my new friends Joe and Dash who I met via Trip Advisor. Everything went well until they started ‘seeing things’. Mainly fish doing somersaults. “There it was again, did you see it?”, “Ahhm, ye I saw it” 🙄 But other than that, you will be hard pressed to find a couple as great and better looking if I may say than this two. What a pleasure it was to meet them.

I’ve been very fortunate to meet some great people through Trip Advisor. From RedRox in Sedona to Blamona in TCI. And I’m so looking forward to meeting more like my friend CaribDesi from Atlanta. If you knew CaribDesi you would know that a place like Bugaloo’s is right up his alley. Get well soon Desi! And I’ll see you in Three Queens.

Categories: Turks and Caicos | Tags: Bugaloo's, Bugaloo's Providenciales, food, restaurants, Travel, Turks and Caicos dining, Turks and caicos food, Turks and Caicos Restaurants | 4 Comments

TCI – How to Start the Day Properly

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Ziggy

Its 6:00 AM. Do you know if you have pool side lounges today? Time to get up and reserve your beach hut for the day… oops, the hut reservations office only opens at 7.. why does the water smell of gas? Oh its coming from the mud I am standing on… wait a minute, you are in a different hotel, and here you reserve a hut at 4:00 PM sharp for the next day. Time to stand on that line…. where did all these cruise ships and Russian babushkas come from… Waking up in cold sweat. What a bizarre dream. I’m not in Aruba, YES! A nice long walk, some Beach Yoga, and a trip to Tatiana (Caicos Bakery) is in order in this fine morning in Providenciales.

This post is gonna be short and sweet. I’ll let the pictures do most of the talking this time. For the past 6 years or so Caicos Bakery, the quintessential mom and pop French bakery has been dishing out all sorts of baked goodies. From baguettes, quiches, croissants, donuts, to a plethora of mouth watering pastries. Every other morning, I get those looks at the breakfast buffet. “Here comes that idiot again with his own bread”. Hey, I’m on vacation and bread is important to me. And if I have easy access to a bakery where I can get baguettes that will give me that serious oomph to my breakfast, than why not take advantage. But if you have a view like below, might as well take advantage of that. There will be no eye rolling done in that balcony, guarantee. Unless you tell the wife that you had another cougar checking you out during Beach Yoga

Freshness, attention to detail, and hard work is key here. Provo has seen its share of bakeries come and go over the years. Its usually when they realize they need to wake up at 4 am and work their butt off all day, they give up. The island’s locals and tourists are lucky to have the hard working team of Tatiana, Eric, and Frederic around.

Categories: Turks and Caicos | Tags: Caicos Bakery, Caicos Bakery Providenciales, Caicos Bakery Turks and Caicos, food, French Bakery Turks and Caicos, restaurants, Travel, Turks and Caicos | 4 Comments

Provo Zen – Meet Your Restaurant Critic!

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Ziggy

Hi, I’m Ziggy, your Restaurant critic!

Why I am abandoning my disguise?

I got somewhat influenced by this guy

And a bit more from this guy

Oh, and I almost forgot this guy

Its that age-old question. The question I’m being asked again and again whether on the message boards, Korean baths, or in my adopted second home of Providenciales. With all my eating habits, how exactly do I stay in shape? What is my secret? Is it fish oil? Well, I think its time to share this gift

The answer my dear readers is Beach Yoga. That’s right! There’s absolutely nothing as exhilarating and at the same time as peaceful as Beach Yoga. People often said that Beach Yoga is like a cross between Kite Surfing and couch potatoing. Well, I’m here to tell you that those people are idiots! The only way for me to properly explain this phenomenon is by sharing some of my favorite moves and provide helpful tips. Difficulty levels range from beginning to advanced to satisfy the entire EWZ audience.

The Warrior (advance). This is always a crowd magnet for some reason. The warrior with help from the waves will relax you and greatly enhance your balance. Don’t be surprised if after 4 weeks you notice a difference in tricky balance situations like standing still in a supermarket line.

The Italian Warrior (advanced) – Sometimes in order to achieve that Zen, you need to release some steam. Dig deeper into your Roman roots and just let it all out. Imagine for a minute you have an uncle in Milan that always makes fun of your shoes and your American way if life

Outstretching (medium) – stretching is something I advise to avoid. It’s overrated and you achieve nothing but the occasional groin injury. And seriously you look like an idiot on the beach. I’m just including it here to show you how you will look like an idiot.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Angel (moderate) – Something I accidentally invented for this column. A rare moment that allows you to connect with the 4 basic elements of our planet. Wind, air, water, and kittens.

Reaching to the Sky (advanced) – Something I like to do during Jewish holidays. This position strengthens your arms, palms, legs, hamstrings, chin, stomach, and left foot, but speeds up the road to knee replacement. No one said this will be easy.

Lunge (moderate) – perhaps my favorite move, but something I prefer to do earlier in the morning before the middle aged, frontal balding men start doing their beach walks. The last thing I want to do on vacation is to intimidate anyone.

Pushup (moderate) – Self explanatory. It strengthens your wrists, arms, increases your metabolism, and your ability to have children.

I’ve fallen and I can’t get up (medium) – You and earth as one. All about experiencing that ocean oasis, living the moment, getting to that final zen, or swallowing ocean water. Whatever comes sooner.

Man Standing Still (moderate) – Connect with your inner Ziggy. You and the ocean as one. Seriously I don’t have a clue what the f%*k that means. I just read it in a fitness magazine.

Categories: Turks and Caicos | Tags: Travel, Turks and Caicos | 3 Comments

Turks and Caicos

7 Lunches:

7 Dinners:

The places