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| - I have never really had interest in West-indies cuisine until last year when I saw Feasting on Waves, the follow up to road-food frenzy, Feasting on Asphalt with Alton Brown. Alton Brown is a Food-Porn God for his eagerness and endless knowledge of anything food and food related. But it wasn't until an episode on Food TV about a Roti Shop that it was all over for me. First of all, I just had to know what the hell a Roti - besides the obvious French meaning was - and finally delve into the world of Caribbean Goodness.
It's difficult to tell how authentic a cultural cuisine is when you've never been to the source, never had the food or don't have any friends from that country, but a coworker of mine is Jamaican and swears by this restaurant so it was an easy choice for my inner-foodie to pick the Mango Bay as my first foray into Caribbean delights.
As luck would have it, turns out the Mango Bay is barely over a Hop and a Skip away from work so the Monday following the Roti episode I was walking down to Mango Bay for some Wrap Roti Decadence. When they say that Caribbean food is all about heart and soul, they ain't kiddin. Because, if you don't know, a Roti is very simple yet an explosion of flavor and nothing but good eatin'; it consists of a stew of meat and potatoes in a curry based gravy all neatly wrapped in a flatbread. I, not feeling to frisky, went for the chicken wrap roti. And served with 2 carrot sticks and a soft drink for under 10$ we're talkin cheap eats also because this thing is HUGE. It was big enough that I barely finished it. But I was very satisfied. How satisfied was I? I went back the very next and this time I came back with even more friends.
This time I went all out. I had a main with a soup. First the soup. A simple thick cream curry and chicken brother with thick hand cut carrot chunks and potatoes. It also included a pasta dumpling (or domplin as they say) which was unexpected and delicious. But I appreciate anything homemade and made with care. This soup definitely didn't taste like Campbell's Mmm Mmm Good crap. And weirdly the soup seems to get increasingly spicy as you eat it but this just makes it all the better.
Then for the Plat de Resistance... some things exist just to tempt you into derision and this was one of them, because I was makin faces and hittin ma fist on the table during the whole meal. There's something about the sublime that makes a man act all kinds of stupid. But what can I say; a simple plate of rice and chicken was enough to push me over the border. I ordered the Stew Chicken, again lacking a sense of adventure but this time it would turn out to be an awesome compromise.
The Stew Chicken is prepared by being sear or fried in a pan and then stew off in this awesome sweet, sweet rich gravy until you can simply take the meat clean off the bone with the back of a spoon. For someone who is generally bored with chicken in restaurants - I avoid it like the plague - this was by far the best tasking chicken I've ever had. Sweet, tender...I can't really explain it. This had to accompaniments.
Rice and Peas prepared in coconut milk. Someone say coconut? That's right. I live for any recipe that can incorporate coconut and oh yeah this sure as hell works for me. 'nuff said about that. Fried Plantains - just kill me now - something fried never tasted so good. I thought I had eaten fried plantains before but these were so fluffy and light and exploding with that singular sweet taste that it's only weakness is its limited quantity. It's best to just keep'em on the side for the end, sort of like a mini-desert because that's kinda what they are.
What I can't understand is why this restaurant isn't packed to the hilt on lunch hours with such fresh good food to be served. The place is tiny, 30 seats tops. The food is, well it's completely different from the corporate fare that can be found in the area. With big glass towers and a University Campus right on the corner, you'd believe that these low prices would attract loads of folks. Maybe they're just like I was, afraid to try new flavors but it's not so foreign either. They have grub like burgers also, there's some stuff for everyone. And be sure to say hello to Nemo at the back of the restaurant.
The Mango Bay gets without hesitation 5 glorious sunsets on the beach.
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