Posts Tagged With: Turks and Caicos dining

Provo – Food for Thought 2022

Posted on December 11, 2022 by Ziggy

Thanks to Covid, longest Providenciales hiatus since we discovered the Turks and Caicos islands roughly 15 years ago. Like Columbus, we just happened to be sailing the Atlantic, south of the Bahamas until we found these beautiful, barely manned islands one day and we never looked back. Much has changed since then especially in the food department. The weather didnt cooperate this time, but once you are there, the Provo zen kicks in, and you ignore all your problems. A plethora of great dining options help. Unlike previous visits, even some new places delivered this time. Here’s the recap…

Sweet T’s

Provo is generally expensive, even for NYC standards. But that doesnt mean you cant find cheap local eats. Even with prices pretty much doubling since we started coming to Sweet T’s, its fried chicken is still the best deal in town. You order by the dollar amount. For $5 you get about 10 full wings which is enough for two. Add $2 fries, $1.50 bottled water, $1.50 tip and you got yourself a meal for $10. This has become our usual first stop after landing since its a 2 minute drive from the airport.

Hemingway’s

One of the obligatory lunches for fish and chips and fish tacos at the Sands. While the fish and chips are still the same old flaky goodness, and perfectly seasoned fries… err.. chips, the fish tacos were just ok this time. The tortillas got soggy pretty quickly and the mango salsa sweetness was a little more prevalent this time. Wife liked them though so who cares

Mango Reef

I haven’t been in MR in so long I forgot why I dislike it. Last visit was at the old location at the Alexandra. I figured since its still fairly popular it’s time to try again in the newer location in Turtle Cove. New verdict: Same as the old. Tuna salad was as basic as something you get in a Panera Bread. Coconut Shrimp was more like it. Appetizer lineup was somewhat lacking, forcing me to order things I don’t usually order. Grilled Snapper was serviceable if not a tad dry. The saving grace was the lobster curry. Surprisingly well balanced curry with just enough heat. I would come back just for this. Mango cheesecake was good and pretty to look at. Sexy even if I may say. Ambiance was that of a cheap wedding that didn’t pay for music. Even the drinks were wedding-like weak.

Omar’s Beach Hut

When Grace Bay misbehaves, head to the always dependable Sapodilla Bay (see below) or Taylor Bay, followed by lunch at Omar’s in Five Cays. You will pass a rough stretch on the way, but the location is superb. Omar spent many years managing Bugaloos next door so he’s no stranger to the conch scene. In almost godfather-like fashion everyone gets a chance to meet him. Well almost everyone. Waiter: “Did you see Omar”. Me: “No, I went to the bathroom, but he met my wife”. Waiter: Would you like to see Omar”. Me: “Ahhm, I think we are good, thanks”.

My lone concern was that “Island time” will take away from FIFA time, but it was quick and tasty. Conch fritters was proof that they dont necessarily need to be crispy to be supremely flavorful. Fish tacos topped with a nice tomato salsa were decent. The winner was the oxtail. You can tell a lot of love went into preparing this dish. Just wished there was more rice to accompany that sick dark gravy. And pretty much the best, freshest plantains we’ve had anywhere. Outstanding lunch.

The Almond Tree

One of the new and exciting kids on the Provo block, located in the stunning Shore Club. Pretty busy on a Sunday since many places including all my favorites pretty much closed. Open kitchen, but surprisingly ventilation issues for such an open layout. Nice looking space dominated by a large tree in the center. I’m guessing of a nut variety (almond?). The food is elevated American comfort food with an emphasis on the south.

The standout was the Pulled Braised Short Rib that comes on three little biscuits. Very nicely executed. The Gnocchi was nice and creamy. Pine nuts and sun dried tomatoes just for decor I suppose, and not much truffle essence from the truffle cream. But still enjoyed it. Old Bay Seasoned Shrimps (doubt it was named by famed executive chef Martin Davies) was good but essentially basic shrimp and grits. Maybe average if you eat it regularly in the south or high end places. Bread was stale, and service overall was lacking. Its a soft recommendation from me for now. If you are after the familiar (nothing wrong with that) go for it.

Cocovan

A quick enjoyable lunch at this popular Airstream food truck. I preferred the fried chicken sandwich over the grilled Mahi sandwich, she preferred the Mahi, and we both concluded that the Churros were the best thing we ever ate here. Fresh, light, fluffy and awesome. My lone gripe is the elevated prices even for Provo.

Le Bouchon

One of two regulars for dinner. Another flawless meal from start to finish. I think the most common complaint about LB has always been the service, but I feel more confident that kinks are mostly fixed. We’ve been coming here long enough to know what works best for us. Any type of Carpaccio. This time a silky smooth, melts in your mouth tuna. Add a touch of their excellent salt.. superb. Conch Chowder is always flavor packed with plenty of heat. Comes with this Harrisa sauce on the side in case you need even more heat and complexity. Steak Au Poivre still the bomb. You can tell it’s cooked well as soon as you touch it. Maybe a tad on the blue side for us as we prefer medium rare. The fries are like the best McDonalds fries you’ll ever have. And yet another perfectly cooked fresh snapper that makes other island Snappers pale in comparison (I’m looking at you Mango).

Indigo

New for us. A fantastic experience from start to finish that deserves a dedicated post. Will update soon.

Chinson’s

Part of our busy lunch rotation (we are the only Seven Stars guests that hardly eat at the resort). This is where we usually get our Jerk and goat curry fix. So often whether in Anguilla or here we get lesser quality fatty goat, but this one was not the case. Not as spicy as I remember but just as enjoyable. Same for the terrific Jerk chicken. That sauce! I till haven’t washed my hands properly since. The local Gon-Ta-Nort Amber is the beverage of choice throughout the week, again.

Caicos Cafe

Our first and last meal on every trip. Sometimes we even sneak one in the middle. Italian with a Caribbean twist. One of a few mid to high end spots that attract many locals. I met an Italian woman in Sapodilla who said “they are the only ones” when I asked about for her favorite Italian on the island. Well, at first she said “my kitchen”. The one gripe this time is that there were no specials on both visits which was always a rarity. Whether its a fresh Wahoo, Grouper, or a pasta of sorts, I’ve always enjoyed the specials here. But we persevered and then some.

The Tuna Carpaccio on one visit, Tuna Tartare on another were standouts, the former in particular. Just the perfect combination of silky smooth tuna with quality EVOO, salt and pink peppercorns. The Gnocchi was the same ol’ pillowy awesomeness. You won’t find more delicate gnocchi anywhere. The only app that paled in comparison to previous visits is the Octopus. Still good, but missing some of the old oomph.

During lobster season you can count on a solid Spaghettoni Lobster Fra Diavolo. We “Scarpetta’d” the heck out of that sauce with the usual quality bread. On the second night we enjoyed the pungent and meaty Orecchiette. The grilled lobster here is serviceable. I would also feel confident ordering ribs and steak here as we’ve done in the past. And you most likely wont find a better Affogato anywhere in the world. Its a mystery why no one else adds Baily’s to the mix.

Summary and Random Tidbits:

Standout meals: Le Bouchon, Caicos Cafe, Indigo, Omar’s, Chinson’s.

Standout dishes: Snapper at LB, Tuna Carpaccio at CC, Conch Chowder at Indigo, Oxtail at Omar’s, Curried goat at Chinson’s, Churros at Cocovan, short ribs app at Almond Tree, lobster curry at Mango Reef, Affogato at CC

If you are staying at the Seven Stars or even if you dont, try the Tuna Wrap and Caesar’s Salad for lunch.

Pick up some sandwiches for the flight back at Julien Deli (Le Bouchon owner). The Julien classic is good, especially according to Julien

Try picking up the new WhereWhenHow Dining Guide there or read it online. http://onlineissues.wherewhenhow.com/publication/?m=19978&l=1&p=&pn=

A couple of places I wanted to check out but ran out of time:

Sj’s Curryclub – Recommended by a few locals. Opened by a Provo veteran most recently at Graces Cottage. I’m told it’s a small place. I love Indian too much so not usually looking for it on vacation, but I was intrigued by some southern dishes like Chicken Chettinad.

Conch & Coconuts – Recently opened near Turks Kebab. That’s pretty much the extent of my knowledge about it. Would be nice to have a solid affordable local place in the hub even though that particular location can use some sprucing up

Categories: Turks and Caicos | Tags: Caicos Cafe, food, Le Bouchon, Omar's Turks and Caicos, Travel, travel+photography, Turks and Caicos, Turks and Caicos dining | Leave a comment

Provo – Food for Thought 2017

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Ziggy

Thai Orchid Duck

On my first night in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos a couple of months ago I had a Provo nightmare. It started fine, with me walking on the beach with people that I didnt come here with. All sorts of random people, like my high school music teacher. But things turned at some point, to the point where I was awoken with a little sweat slowly dripping down my forehead. On our little walk, we lost track of time, and I missed breakfast time! Which also meant I missed Seven Stars’ new omelette station. Yes, the Provo nightmare is a little more subdued than regular nightmares we have at home. During a dream last night, my oldest fell from the roof of Madison Square Garden on a sled. Long story!

But lets get straight to eating. The biggest takeaway from the last trip is that we should start limiting trying new places. As much as I try to find some new spots for you and me, this is just not working. The old guys just keep chugging along, while new places, and especially resort places keep pretending and delivering odd experiences. There’s one exception however.

Caicos Cafe – Nothing new here. Our usual first and last stop. But I start to get the sense that these guys wont be around here for too long. Wahoo Carpaccio is the same sea butter awesomeness self. Got two grilled calamaris this time to avoid World War Z. The lobster Fra Diavola didn’t do it for me this time around. Just missing some of that old pop. But the old Oriechiette with pork sausage ragu is back with a vengeance, showing very nice depth. The Octopus starter here is a slap your sister wowster! Brilliantly cooked on top of this delicious “I can’t believe this is not hummus” chickpea mousse. Black Tagliolini continues to be a must, and the steak and ribs are very underrated here.

Solana – In NYC, during my Hell’s Kitchen walks, I show visitors the various Thai restaurants and how to tell between the good and not so good. A big clue is in the looks department. The ones that look like dingy dives are far better than those with sexy looking rooms with expensive chandeliers. Such is the case in some cases with Provo, and especially with Solana taking the place of EWZ fave Seaside. A marked improvement in the looks dept, with dumbed-down food. The blackened fish sandwich is the same Swai as before but not blackened enough, hence blander. An “award winning” Conch salad paled in comparison to Seaside’s Peruvian conch salad. Fried Calamari plate looked gorgeous, but a quality and quantity fail. This is owned by the Vix group people, and I just dont think they care about ingredients nearly as much as looks.

Flamingo’s – The only news here is that they now accept CC. In other news, the Curried Grouper is still the same melt in your mouth flaky goodness. An island classic that requires some research (like reading this blog) to know about it. This time we also did some dirty dancing with a fine jerk chicken and passable ribs. But you come here for lunch for the grouper and rum punch.

Le Bouchon – Nothing to see here, move a long. Another great meal at good ol’ reliable LB. They keep experimenting (on me sometimes), stretching that menu, and stretching that sidewalk to the point that no one can see the board anymore. Soups are still great. Escargot is still perfection. Octopus Carpaccio is outrageous (but not cheap). The steps to produce it read like IKEA instructions. Au poivre still rules the island Games of Steak. And on this night a nice crispy snapper with buttery Beurre Blanc sauce.

Simone’s – The strong exception as far as new places go. We tried it for lunch last time and liked it enough to come back for dinner. Its the resort area Three Queens if you will, but still a small schlep from the hub to La Vista Azul resort. Simone, formerly with Sharkbites, is a sweetheart, and treats family like customer! Oh wait, I think I got it backwards. The “Conch Ceviche”, now that Seaside is gone, perhaps the Conch Salad to beat. A beefy fresh Wahoo, like a thick and juicy, flavor packed Swordfish. Local fishermen dine here both times we were here. Simone's Conch Salad

Thai Orchid – If you follow this blog, you know how much I love Thai food. So it may sound odd that this is my first time trying Thai Orchid in Provo, but really it shouldnt be. Crispy Duck was exactly what I expected. Crispy, understandably dry, but quite good especially once you add some chili sauce. A lot of nice flavorful crackling action. The Snapper Choo Chee was pretty good too. It’s a thicker, dryer red curry. With a fresher Caicos Snapper it would have been a chooooo chooooo! instead of choo chee. Ok, I try.

Chinson’s – Goat curry fix, Check. Spiciest goat curry out there, which is surprising considering how sweet their Chinese fried rice is and other dishes. Jerk chicken was on point. But the best thing surprisingly was a pulled pork sandwich. Heaps of juicy pork with a sweetish and sour sauce. Note to self, again… you dont like ginger beer! Chinson is now on the regular rotation, graduating perhaps into dinner next

Cocovan – A new addition to the Coco Bistro family, an Airstream parked in the CB parking lot operating only at dinner time. Perhaps a play on words on Coq au vin. Love CB, but didnt love, nor quite frankly got Cocovan. The Shrimp tacos were meh. Didn’t taste much shrimp, nor blackened, nor “coconut hummus”. Duck tacos were more like it if not a little dry. Sweet and sour Caicos lobster tasted like fine rock shrimp tempura. Lamb lollipops tasted like an average, slightly overcooked baby lamb chops you get at your nearest kebab house with an $8 per lollipop price tag. 20 mins, $120 later with some of us still hungry, now what do you do. It felt like an overpriced resort lunch with familiar flavors to me, but I have no doubt this will be popular. I would rather go to something local like Caravel. Or perhaps a niche player, serving fresh fish tacos, or high quality burgers.

Hemingway’s – If there’s one place that feels like home. Our first meal on the island over 10 years ago, and nothing changed. That includes the women running the front who see our girls grow and hairline shrink. We come here for lunch and order just two things, fish tacos and fish and chips

Pavilion – First visit to the newish (2 years?) fine dining at the Somerset, in the old O’soleil (aka O’SoSmall?) place. Hits and misses throughout, and essentially a one and done deal for us. Good conch spring rolls. Tasty Poke style tuna cubes sitting on top of avocado that was not fresh, with even less fresh banana chips on the side. C’mon, at a place like this you can’t serve this. Well cooked, supersized lobster was the star of show, beating the snapper. Grouper, a major fail. Crispy battered into a mushy, oversized fish and chip gone horribly wrong. Ambiance of a typical hotel restaurant.

Sweet T’s – Fried chicken stop on the way to the airport. Best value on the island

Stay hungry my friends!

Categories: Turks and Caicos | Tags: Chinson's, food, Pavilion, Provo 2017, Simone's, Solana, Travel, Turks and Caicos, Turks and Caicos dining | 7 Comments

TCI – How to Gain 7 Pounds in 7 Days (Revised)

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Ziggy

flamingos-curried-grouper This is not a drill. A big update to that Provo eating itinerary you’ve been so anxiously waiting for. We keep trying new places with mixed results. And while Provo can use a few more cheap options near the resorts, there’s still no shortage. At least not until they sell Caicos Cafe or Le Bouchon. Those Islanders can get restless sometimes, and decide to move on on a whim, a la Seaside Cafe which closed last fall. The talented Francois is dishing them out in Opus these days, which means its to revisit soon. Until next time.

Click here for the updated eating itinerary

Categories: Turks and Caicos | Tags: best food in Turks and caicos, food, Provo eating Itinerary, Travel, Turks and Caicos, Turks and Caicos dining | Leave a comment

Provo – Food for Thought 2016

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Ziggy

Somewhere Fish Fajitas

Our latest food adventure on our favorite home ~~away from home.~~ I didnt take too many pictures, and on some evenings at the regular spots I didnt even take my camera (it felt like its time). But this was yet another fun trip, with good food for the most part. To some of the regulars these mentions may become tiresome, but I did have enough new dishes at most that moved me (yes moved)

Sweet T’s – Our new regular first stop driving from the airport. $6 chicken (12 pieces), $2 fries, $2 drinks, eating the chicken in the car while ducking every time a Grace Bay Rental employee shows up, priceless!

Caicos Cafe – The prerequisite double meal at Caicos Cafe. A lot of changes on the menu since the last visit not surprisingly (knowing chef “Mad” Max). Old fave Tagliolini got a tan. It’s now a sweeter tasting pasta by way of the squid ink. Grilled Calamari and the Gnocchi are a must get from day one, while the fall off the fork ribs are heading to that direction as well. On the second visit I “Scarpetta’d” the shi&$t out of the calamari plate with their homemade bread, to the point of an unrecognized spotless clean dish. Grouper, when on the board, you will not find a better preparation on the island. Loved the conch and grouper chowder this time. Goat cheese with butternut salad in a pastry was perhaps the best new app discovery.

Mad Max also does a decent steak. Peppercorn expectedly not as creamy as Le Bouchon, but more peppery. Good ol’ Orrechiette (aka Mike Tyson’s fave) has finally been replaced by Pacheri, large rolled tube shape, when unrolled they are like Pappardelle with balls. But it’s more like a crazy salad than pasta, fully loaded with peppers, sausages, zucchini, a cold small mozzarella ball in the center, and more. Gorgeous dish. Had a nice semi dry white from Naples – forgot the name of the grape, not something I heard of before. That’s one region we haven’t explored yet. Iced mousse with chocolate and coconut mousse, like the island version of Semifreddo. The lone miss this time was the grouper ravioli, but I’m not a fan of fish ravioli to begin with

Caravel – This is one of my favorite newish local spots. We had a nice lunch here two months after they opened, and now back for dinner. They are no longer open for lunch after they realized they are not on the water! Very welcoming, and comfortable from the friendly husband, wife, and friends team. The soups here are very strong, particularly the white chowder. Good blackened snapper, while jerk pork loin less successful. But the star here again were those unusual fried fish tacos. I would love to see more Caribbean specialties on the menu, like goat and oxtail. Owner cooked at Amanyara, Mr Grouper’s, Fresh Catch and finally now his very own restaurant, but something tells me he has more tricks up his sleeve

Hemingways – We had fish tacos at 4 different places on this trip including the famous Somewhere, and to me the Hemingway’s tacos are still the ones to beat. Perfectly flaky, nicely seasoned grouper with a nice tang from the mango salsa. Same goes for the fish & chips, a must for us on every visit. Hemingway’s was our first meal in TCI 10 years ago, and still going strong. Hard to beat this setting for lunch

Julien’s Deli – Stop by before the flight (give it some time) got sandwiches and leave it to Julien, your Le Bouchon host, to make your return flight easier. You will have the best food on the plane

Le Bouchon – I saw an ad on the bus today for Jimmy Kimmel for Vice President, “A good, solid #2”. This is essentially Le Bouchon for me, though they can be easily #1 if they feel like it. This is the only none ‘local’ place on the island where locals and expats outnumber visitors. Tuna tartar, nothing short of spectacular, as only the French can do. Escargot, now that the kids are obsessed with escargot (seriously I’m raising freaks) we should start getting two of those. Lets just say I enjoyed the bread :-(. The head cheese-like Octopus Carpaccio… angels singing. Get this. The now legendary Steak au Poivre is still the steak to beat. Two perfectly seared scallops on creamy saffron risotto was on point. A beautifully done yellowfin tuna (left), so light and flavorful (once you add the sauce). Perhaps the best LB meal to date.

Conch Shack – We forgot how much fun this place can be. And the food here is good enough to make it a regular again. Conch rules much of the menu, but make sure to get the jerk wings with the homemade sauce. The sauce is one of those sauces that make you dip anything and everything in it. Peas, rice, beans, fingers, car keys, it’s all good. The blackened fish make-yourself tacos are fine. Basic conch salad. And Conch Creole was like the homey tomato based stew your grandma would make if she was into conch (like the coolest grandma ever). You cant get a better setting, and “welcome to provo” than this

Vix – New management, new chef, new menu, new mediocrity? The place and flavors just did not come through for us. The frozen packaged tasting gnocchi looked better on the menu than on the plate. The very basic Caesar salad can use some tips from Mark from Lupo nearby. The spicy Pasta Rusta’s heat was the only thing you taste after a few bites. Just pure senseless heat. Lamb Shank was fall off the bone alright but became boring in a hurry. The snapper, cooked creole style was the saving grace. One and dont!

Bugaloos – Another regular stop. Conch salad is noticeably fresher here, though its not so much freshness, but who chops it fresh for each order. A misunderstanding that we could have corrected but chose not to, left us with a mammoth $85 snapper that we all shared and couldn’t finish. They got the freshest snappers, and other than the broth a little saltier this time, we enjoyed this again. Coconut cracked conch is fine, much prefer the raw goodness. “Service can be slow at time” is becoming the norm, but who cares.

Bella Luna Pizza – Stayed in one night to watch Hockey playoffs (the only thing I like more than food). Thin, underdone, soggy, super cheesy, desperate need for seasoning, but other than that, we loved it!

Simone’s – Considering this is the first place I wrote about when we came back, yes we liked this newcomer quite a bit. It wasnt perfect, but very very promising.

Infiniti Bar – This is becoming a favorite for pre-dinner drinks, and sunset. The drinks are good, and they give you popcorn!

Somewhere – Infamous fish tacos were much better this time, so I’m finally on board. But something tells me the best thing on the menu is the the fish fajitas especially when they have fresh snapper. Our friends ordered it, and it looked and smelled amazing. Ex-friends I should say, since they didnt offer me any!

Seaside – As long as Francois is at the helm, I’ll continue to come. But out of my favorites, I have the lowest confidence when recommending Seaside, mainly because it doesnt have much of an atmosphere. Blackened Mahi was nicely cooked. Not the biggest mahi fan, but this one worked. A nice new addition to the menu is the excellent open faced ravioli with bay scallops, conch, shrimp, mahi, some truffle oil and mushrooms. The elusive “South American” (aka Peruvian) conch salad, still the best conch salad on the island.

Categories: Turks and Caicos | Tags: Best food in Providenciales, food, Providenciales Top Eats, Travel, Turks and Caicos dining | Leave a comment

Turks and Caicos – Le Bouchon du Village

Posted on July 27, 2014 by Ziggy

I have to confess, last trip wasnt exactly dud free. In fact, we had quite a few of them, mostly with new spots I wanted to check out (the things I do for you people, and for what?!?). Le Bouchon du Village in the little picturesque village of “Regent” was most certainty not one of them. Not exactly a shocker since I choose not to write about duds for various reasons.

In fact this was most likely our favorite meal at Le Bouchon, mainly because we got all our favorite Le Bouchon classics and even added a new one. As usual my pictures at Le Bouchon look a little stale, mainly because a) Its a little dark in there, b) we are way to eager to eat the food when it arrives, and c) I suck at photography.

The classics at Le Bouchon according to moi:

The Escargot pictured above – This is how escargot should taste like everywhere.

The Soups – Both the Conch Chowder and the black bean soup are quite good even at extreme heat

Steak au Poivre – The only restaurant in Provo where steak is a must. Perfectly executed, melt in your mouth buttery goodness, each time we have it, without fail

The Tuna – Our newest classic. Fresh, expertly prepared Yellowfin. Lightly seared to beautiful redness you can only get with fish this fresh, and lightly coated with ginger tomato reduction to take this to the next level. It came with avocado, other veggies and Jasmine rice which was the perfect compliment. Great dish

We also had a lovely Snapper, pan seared with light cream. Mrs Ziggy particularly enjoyed this one. And for dessert, their rich chocolate tart is always a hit and Profiteroles this time ended one of the most brilliant meals of the trip. Pictures below followed by the previous post

03/13/13 Post…

Time for a Timeline…

Oct 1975 – Curious Ziggy discovers Snails are edible

Dec 2006 – Ziggy discovers Turks and Caicos

July 2009 – Ziggy eats at Caicos Café headed by Frenchman Pierrik Marziou

Oct 12th, 2010 9:34 pm – Ziggy goes on a hunger strike when discovering two Italians take over Caicos Café, Pierrik retires

Oct 12th, 2010 10:15 pm – Hunger strike is over but Ziggy vows not to eat at the new Caicos Café in protest

Dec 2010 – Ziggy eats at the new Caicos Café, gets Ratatouille moment, drops pen

Dec 2012 – Pierrik comes out of retirement, opens Le Bouchon at the village

Dec 2012 – Present – The Golden Years

So there you have it. Pierrik and his gang are back is what I’m trying to say. And back with a vengeance…

A Parisian like Bistro on a sidewalk at Regent Village is Le Bouchon. A family affair, with Pierrik, Julian (son), Justine (daughter) and any other children that start with a J. Mom is there as well hustling and bustling. A changing chalkboard menu with plenty to choose from adds to the excitement and the homey atmosphere. In fact I did the same thing back home starting this week an today on the menu is cereal with 1%!

During lunch one day we enjoyed a nice Niçoise salad, and a top eat of the trip nominee burger with egg. You need to ask for the egg. With the perfectly cooked sunny side up egg, the result is a messy, juicy goodness oozing with deliciousness. Good to have this lunch option.

Some of the lunch options are available for dinner as well. Like the fun Charcuterie board (I love Charcuterie boards – you never know what you getting) with a nice assortment of salami, ham and duck terrine. Escargot was absolutely delicious! The perfect garlic, butter, herbs balance which very often restaurants cant quite get it right. I still have garlic breath after that Escargot we had in Brooklyn last week and after eating half a head of garlic at lunch today!

Mussels were a big hit that evening as well. The shrimp a la plancha however was a bit puzzling since it was one large shrimp over risotto. More of a tapa dish really than main. Although the wife and my oldest who ordered it enjoyed it

I went for the steak au poivre which along with the chilean sea bass is a staple on the board I believe. Plate cleaner. Covered with light peppercorn sauce that even made the fries taste great. Cooked medium rare as expected after ordering medium (French undercook) and plenty of flavor. A month before this meal we ate at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon in Las Vegas where I had a NY strip with peppercorn sauce. That NY Strip was twice the price and half the flavor of the steak at Le Bouchon.

For dessert the winner was the chocolate mousse which I actually didn’t get to try. That’s how good it was. Tarte tatin (pronounced according to Justin, “Ta”) was good, creme brûlée just ok. Dinner overall – Le Magnifique

Le Bouchon is new but you wouldn’t know it while eating there. This is one of the only dining options on the island that does not need to rely on tourists alone due to the kind of local following established over the years. So needless to say I’m not the only one raving about this “addition”. Bienvenue Pierrik and family!

Recommended dishes: Burger with egg, Escargot, Charcuterie board, Mussels, steak au poivre, chocolate mousse

Categories: Turks and Caicos | Tags: food, Le Bouchon, Le Bouchon Providenciales, Le Bouchon Turks and Caicos, Providenciales Dining, restaurants, Travel, Turks and Caicos dining, Turks and caicos food, Turks and Caicos Restaurants | 1 Comment

Turks and Caicos – Flamingo’s

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Ziggy

7/25/14 Update: Reaffirming island must status. As must as it gets in fact in Providenciales. Besides that celebrated legendary dish, there are a few more reasons to come

1) Rum Punch. You know when you see couples walk on the beach holding hands, to make you go “Awwwe”. Grace Bay can do it to you. But when Mrs Ziggy and I do it, it usually means she just had the rum punch at Flamingo’s and I’m simply preventing her from walking into an Island Vibes boat. Those guys aren’t shy with the rum, and the flavor simply kicks ass.

2) The Curried Grouper. I already talk about it extensively below. Arguably the most celebrated dish on the island. This time around not only it didn’t disappoint but it even had some extra punch.

3) Everything else is pretty good. If you are not into seafood than this is not much of a must, but everything else we tried over the years has been anywhere between ok and pretty good. The ribs are good enough, so is the curried chicken when they have (forgot about what the menu says). But this time we really liked the Grouper burger. Nicely seasoned, great flaky texture. A bit too much bun action so I would just disregard half of it. Respect the fish!

3/18/13 Post:

The Dish! This one is going to be short and sweet and to the point (plus i’m a little tired from dealing with the ~~Devil~~ Time Warner cable for much of the day)

Whenever I recommend this one on TripAdvisor I always pause for a second to think what exactly is the name of this place. Is it Flamingo’s, Flamingos, The Flamingos Cafe, Ricky’s Flamingo’s, Inga’s Flamingos? I’m not really sure. But I AM sure that its Curry Grouper is one of the top dishes on Providenciales.

Once in a while I eat something that makes me turn into Andrew Zimmern. The kids get a good kick out of it. I just shake my head and mumble various Zimmern words that may or may not have anything to do with what I’m tasting… “Its woodsy, its earthy, its gassy”. Sometimes when I try something for the first time my youngest would say “Well dad, is it woodsy and gassy” Yes!

There’s really not that many dishes on the island that give you that kind of pleasure with every morsel. Sweet, smooth, savory, melt in your mouth deliciousness. Like eating the most delicious butter. This is why I come here.

This is also TripAdvisor legend CaribDesi’s favorite dish on the island. Or one of the favorites at least. No, I’m pretty sure that’s his favorite. I hope he’ll clarify with a comment here one of these days. Get well soon buddy. We miss you. Here’s to you.

Categories: Turks and Caicos | Tags: Flamingos, Flamingos Turks and Caicos, food, Providenciales Dining, Providenciales restaurants, restaurants, Travel, Turks and Caicos dining, Turks and caicos food, Turks and Caicos Restaurants | 9 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!

Categories: Turks and Caicos | Tags: Best restaurants in providenciales, Best restaurants in turks and caicos, food, Providenciales restaurants, restaurants, Travel, Turks and Caicos dining, Turks and Caicos Restaurants | 5 Comments

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

Turks and Caicos – Garam Masala

Posted on January 19, 2014 by Ziggy

January 19, 2014 Update:

Garam delivered yet again. The new manage who I call “The New Vinni” (because I keep forgetting his name) took good care of us. The new standout dish this time was a very nice Kerala Chicken Masala that was growing on me until I grew a little. Complex, flavor packed stuff that I was enjoying more an hour later via a series of pleasant little burbs just like the ones after the Alba White Truffles at the NoMad a few months ago. The infamous conch Kebabs are no longer on the menu. A shortage of fresh conch according the New Vinni.

BTW, Old Vinni is up to something but not quite sure what. Stay tuned! (dont know to what exactly, its just an expression)

March 16, 2013 post:

I was dead wrong about Garam Masala!

As you probably guessed by now, I, Ziggy, just Ziggy no last name, like Seal, LOVE to eat. I love to eat and I really care about what I’m eating on a holiday (No worries I didnt turn British, just play one on the Telly). And while away we often try to eat things that are not easily available back home (e.g., Grouper, Conch). So you see where I’m going with this. Indian, Thai, Chinese food is something we eat almost on a weekly basis back home, and therefore it’s the last thing I consider eating while on vacation. Also, after many years of trial and error, and palate refinement, I sort of figured out where to get some pretty darn good Indian, Thai, Chinese, Sri Lankan, middle eastern, you name, it in NYC. Therefore, when I see an Indian restaurant on an island somewhere where its quite possibly the only Indian there, 3 thoughts come to mind…

1) This cant be good. They have no other competition here.

2) I would probably eat here weekly if I lived here and its decent

3) I’m sort of getting hungry

Similar thoughts crossed my mind when I saw the new Shawarma and Falafel place that just opened right next to Patty’s Place at Ports of Call. Yours truly is truly a Shawarma and Falafel ~~whore~~ ~~snob~~ fan.

So as you can imagine I needed a little convincing from various island friends over the years to come to Garam Masala. I was very close last year, and this year I finally took that pilgrimage to Tikka Masala Holy Land (i.e., 10 minutes from the Seven Star beach – its hard to leave that beach in the middle of the day)

First of all the place looks very modern. Last year they closed for a few months to renovate and it really looks very inviting now. Part owner Vinnie, former food and beverage head at Amanyara knows his stuff and is very passionate about what he’s serving and how. Everything is made to order using “real” ingredients which he purchases in Chicago every few months.

I can honestly say the food was absolutely delicious. Started with some nice and spicy conch kebabs (above) which had the texture and flavor of the best Falafel you will ever eat. Their Chicken Tikka “pizza” on naan bread was very satisfying. We are naan junkies and their garlic naan is some of the best we’ve had.

Chicken Tikka Masala (below) is perhaps a dish I’ve eaten more than any other in the world. I’ve had it mostly in various restaurants in NYC, in London (Indian food heaven) and eat it by my work often. I could tell when this one arrived by its color that it will be good. The only not telling part was the tenderness and texture of the meat which can be often dry and chewy. This was as close to perfect as I can remember.

Dal Makhani was probably even better. They cook the lentils for 12 hours each night and the result is a flavor festival. As with the Tikka Masala, heat is not very present and not very needed (Indian food is not necessarily about heat). Lamb Kadhai, thick stew like with some heat and big complex flavors was another winner. I kept going back and forth between the lamb and and the Dal saying “this is my favorite. No this is my favorite”, while the Masala was staring at me going “come to Mama..”. Another tasty snack here is the Chicken kebabs, although if I have to choose I’ll take those conch kebabs thank you.

After the meal I did not feel like I just ate something heavy as I often do at home. A fantastic lunch! This is closer to some of the better Curry Hill or even Michelin Star establishments in NYC. To understand the type of dedication by Vinnie all you need to do is ask him about how he found his chefs. He went back to India to look for the chefs that worked in the restaurant he frequented as a kid with his parents, only to find that one of them is working in Japan while the other in Dubai. The story itself is worth the price of admission.

So yes, I was wrong about this one, and highly highly (thats 2 highlys!) recommend Garam Masala in Providenciales. Cant wait for more.