Published January 16, 2012 | 
The stunning white sand and blue sky of Grand Anse Beach.
I recently visited Grenada as a guest of the Grenada Board of Tourism and was absolutely enchanted. While there, I heard several stories of people who had traveled to the Isle of Spice, fallen in love with it, and stayed. I can completely understand why. Beauty met my eyes everywhere I looked.
Food and drink are always a very important part of my travels. Discovering new tastes in their local context is so exciting! Herewith, my 4 favourite Grenadian taste experiences.
The Spice Island Classic: sweet, bubbly deliciousness in an extraordinary setting.
Spice Island Classic
Arriving at the Spice Island Beach Resort after 13 hours of traveling, I was hot, sweaty and tired. A flute glass containing a pale pink drink was placed in my hand. It was lovely – cold, bubbly, sweet without being cloying, and very refreshing. I couldn’t identify the flavour on that first night, so in the interest of research, I tasted the Spice Island Classic several times over the next few days. On the third day, I was privileged to share one with Sir Royston O. Hopkin, the owner of this incredibly luxurious resort. He related the story of designing their signature drink, which is made by adding a touch of sorrel syrup to sparkling wine. The taste of sorrel was new to me, and I loved being able to see it growing when I visited a local spice plantation.
Lambie Calypso – my first taste of conch.
Lambie Calypso
Also new to me was lambie, or conch. At the Coconut Beach French Creole Restaurant, it was served with vegetables in a light cream sauce. I loved the texture, which was the perfect balance of tender and chewy. I could have eaten this dish every day of my trip. Located at the north end of Grand Anse Beach, and situated directly on the sand, the setting could not have been more spectacular. A light breeze off the ocean, a row boat gently bobbing just off shore, brilliant sun and impossibly blue skywhy did I ever leave?
The LaLuna Mist: a slushy sweet delight.
LaLuna Mist
I am generally not a cocktail drinker, and definitely not a fancy, brightly colored, cherry on top cocktail drinker. But sprawled on an Indonesian daybed, surrounded by silk cushions, recovering after a yoga class at LaLuna, it seemed the thing to do. This gorgeous resort, focused on relaxation and wellness, offers yoga and meditation classes in a pavilion surrounded by trees and vegetation on 3 sides, and open to the ocean on the fourth. Practising yoga in this setting was a beautiful experience, even if I did become distracted by a gecko on a neighbouring tree and topple over in the midst of the class. This made the signature drink, the LaLuna Mist, a very welcome treat. Concocted from ingredients such as pineapple lime slush, citrus vodka and blue curacao, it was both pretty and tasty. For solo travelers looking for some high end chill time, LaLuna does not charge a single supplement, and is a very comfortable, quiet place to relax on your own.
Chocolate Cake made with local Grenadian cocoa.
Chocolate Cake
Nestled on a hillside near the north east tip of Grenada, the Almost Paradise restaurant yielded my favourite dessert of the trip. The dish, in fact, was very much like the setting in which it was served. It wasnt fancy or glamourous or flashy. It was delicious, homemade with love, using local ingredients. The chocolate cake, made with locally grown organic cocoa, was baked by Kate, a Canadian who traveled to Grenada a decade ago, falling in love with both the island and Uwe, a German traveler. They stayed, married and built a few cottages and a restaurant. Popular with backpackers, those who enjoy hiking or just want to get away from it all, the rustic cottages, the warm hospitality and the home cooked food are very appealing. I couldnt bring myself to ask Kate for her family recipe for the cake, but I did bring home a lot of the Grenadian cocoa that was the key ingredient.
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