Caribbean Menus - A Game Of Go Fish

Nearing every food place here in the Caribbean has a menu, even the roadside stands.  However, don't waste your time looking it over and trying to decide what you will have.  More often than not, when it comes time to order, they will tell you that what you just ordered is in fact not available or they have run out.  Actually what they will say is "Finish" or "Finished".  This is true even in places that have those chalkboard menus.  You know the ones....they can be updated and changed easily.....but never are!

If you try to order off the menu it can end up much like a game of go fish....pun intended.

Waitress = "Good Day.  How are you?

Me = "Good day.  We are fine.  How are you?"

Waitress = "I am good.  Would you like to order now?"  

Me = "Yes."  I will have the lambi (conch)."  

Waitress = "We don't have no lambi today."

Me = "Oh, okay.  Then I will have the stewed lamb."

Waitress = "We don't have no lamb either."

Me = "Tom, you go ahead and order while I look some more."

Tom = "I will have the hamburger with potato wedges."

Waitress = "We don't have no wedges.  Chips only." -meaning fries.

Tom = "That's fine."

Me = "I think I will have the fish with pigeon peas and provisions." - See, sort of like a game of go fish, eh?

Waitress = "Fish finished.  And we have lentils instead of pigeon peas," - Aka - go fish....but just not for the fish!  Ha!

Me = "Do you have any of the stewed chicken left." - Said in a slightly cautious tone with a small dose of pleading tossed in for good measure.

Waitress = " Yes." - Said in a surprised tone....like of course we do.  " You want that with the provisions or rice?"

Me = "Provisions."  

Waitress = "No pigeon peas so lentils.  Do you want salad or Cole slaw?"  

So now we don't even bother with a menu any more.  We simply ask "What do you have today?"   It's not as much fun but it will get our order in faster.  The food will still take awhile to arrive but at least the order is placed.

We have found when eating out or getting take away in the Caribbean, you don't wait too late, especially when it comes to lunch.  Generally, people started work earlier here because of the heat.  This makes breakfast earlier as well.  Many of the yard workers will grab a mid morning snack of doubles around 8:30 - 9:00am.  If we don't head over for breakfast doubles before the morning VHF net at 8:00 am or right after, they will sell out, pack up and head home.  No doubles for us!  That makes for a sad start to the day.  The same is true for lunch.  If you roll up to your favorite roadside stand at 12:30 it will be a game of "What is left's". If they are even there at all.  Last week I headed to the Roti hut after a full morning of provisioning.  There were a few locals eating at the picnic tables but I noticed the stand was actually closed up.  A local guy said "Finish."  Damn!   Yes it certainly is finish I thought!  It was straight up 13:00.