Barefoot in The Bahamas: Lindsay on Location
Lindsay on Location has made their way to Nassau Paradise Island in the Bahamas. This island is rich in history, culture, and spirit. Nassau is usually the island that most people visit and around 70% of the entire population of the Bahamas lives in Nassau. The Bahamas is said to be made up of 700 islands. But only 30 of those are actually inhabited. You have also seen the island in some movies we love: James Bond Casino Royale and The Pirates of the Caribbean.
There is so much to experience and enjoy here on the island. It is truly a special place that is a 30-minute flight from southern florida. The perfect escape from winter.
We stayed at the Grand Hyatt at Baha Mar resort in Nassau. Baha Mar is made up of 3 hotels and over 40 restaurants and Bars. We headed to the island to find crystal clear water, pink sand, and epic sunsets, but also checked out the first ever Bahamas Culinary Food & Art Festival presented by Baha Mar. This event was over 3 days with some of the best chefs in the world. Spearheaded by Marcus Samuelsson, Daniel Boulud, Carla Hall, and my new crush Dario Cecchini. With many others. We had cooking demos, chef hosted dinners, and even took a boat to lunch on a private island once owned by Eddie Murphy.
It wasn't all about food. The art scene is huge here in Nassau and they really wanted to showcase a mixture of local talent and some classics that we all love like Shepard Fairy. They did an amazing job bringing together the beauty of art and food to this paradise.
Talking about food and drinks. Conch Salad is my new love. And, it is the national food of the Bahamas and a must when you visit. Similar consistency as squid. You can make it into a salad like ceviche, make conch fritters, cracked conch. There is so much you can do. You can even find a pearl inside if you are lucky.
Another discovery is a delicious drink called Sky Juice. Dates back to the prohibition times. When the clear botanical spirit was cheaper than rum. and the fact that they didn't have access to juice, so they used what they could. They used coconuts. It is made of gin, coconut water, condensed milk, and nutmeg, served over ice. The name is definitely debatable.
Does it come from the fact that the coconuts are high in the sky so it's called Sky Juice, or just because of the color? Milky just like the sky and clouds. Either way it's delicious.
Nature is such an important part of Nassau. You can not step outside without running into tropical birds, fish swimming around your feet, or coconuts hanging on every corner. I even got to do yoga with some very spicy flamingos. Talk about testing your focus, try to do yoga with a flamingo competing with you on your mat. This was one of my favorite things. They are such beautiful animals. I also got to go to a wildlife sanctuary at Baha Mar Resort, they are committed to both the conservation and celebration of nature in Nassau. This was the perfect activity for the entire family. We got to see the animals and learn about their natural behaviors as well as see them getting fed. I even got a little brave by putting my hand in the touch tank.
Downtown Nassau is full of colorful beachfront huts, stores, restaurants, and the Straw market. And around the corner from the beachfront is the infamous Graycliff hotel. It is more than a hotel, it’s an experience. Built in 1740, this beautiful colonial mansion is rumored to have been built by the pirate Captain John Howard Graysmith. Throughout its illustrious history the hotel has played host to many of the world’s luminaries, including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Sir Winston Churchill, Aristotle Onassis, and The Beatles.
It also has the world's 3rd largest wine cellar. With over 250,000 bottles. Even a bottle from 1727.
I even took a Cigar Rolling Lesson.
The Garzaroli family founded the Graycliff Cigar Company when Enrico Garzaroli fell in love with cigars but was unable to find that “perfect” cigar to complement what Graycliff Hotel and Restaurant has always been known for — excellent cuisine, fine wines and luxurious accommodations.
The Graycliff Cigar Company, beginning production in January 1997 with a single roller in foyer of the Graycliff Restaurant, has now expanded to an award winning boutique Cigar Company with 16 master rollers, each an expert in the art of cigar rolling. The Graycliff Cigar Company produces five brands of cigars: Graycliff, G2, Bahiba, Cabinet Selection by Graycliff and the newly introduced B-Cuz by Graycliff.
The Art of Chocolate Interactive Experience: from Bean to Bar.
Enter the world of chocolate and learn everything about the chocolate-making process from bean to bar. We learn that the chocolate journey begins with the history of its Bahamas home, then we explore the factory and learn how cocoa beans become scrumptious candy – from being roasted and ground into cocoa nibs, stone ground into liquid chocolate then poured into sculpted molds. Finally, we will enter the classroom where you will create our own chocolate bar and other treats.
