Culinary in the Turk and Caicos Islands

You would have heard about our amazing turquoise waters and powder white sandy beaches, but the Turks and Caicos Islands have more to offer. There is a wide variety of our local culinary dishes that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you wanting more. 

The Islands have been influenced by outside cultures and you are able to find dishes that you are familiar with. However, for the adventurous traveler who wants to experience local culture, I invite you to ask and try some of these local dishes. 

Pear Buds and Rice - yes this dish is a combination of the Prickly Pear cactus flower and rice. Mostly prepared in the Grand Turk, because of the abundance of the cactus present. 

Cream Cakes, Wilkes Soup, and the famous Salt Cay candies. Just as it suggests these are delicacies on the islands of Salt Cay. 

Crab and Rice - Land crabs are caught and cooked with rice. The crab can be prepared in a number of different ways as well. Popular island-wide, but mostly in North Caicos. 

Johnny Cake is a good bread that goes along with souse or tea in the mornings. 

Peas and Grits, you can have it with pigtails or dried conch. 

Must I forget, our island famous seafood, such as lobster, Caicos grouper and snapper and Conch. They can be prepared in various ways as well. 

If you are not sure where to find these dishes other than at my mother's house ( smile) there is always CrackPot Kitchen, The popular Mr Grouper, or Mango Reef which is a restaurant that offers a variety of options including fish, lobster, and conch when in season. 

Contributed by Vernica Delancy

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