Genral Information
The Bahamas is a coral-based archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Its 700-plus islands and cays range from
uninhabited to packed with resorts. The northernmost, Grand Bahama, and Paradise Island, home to many large-
scale hotels, are among the best known. Scuba diving and snorkeling sites include the massive Andros Barrier
Reef, Thunderball Grotto (used in James Bond films) and the black-coral gardens off Bimini.
Culture/History
The name Bahamas is of Lucayan Taino (Arawakan) derivation, although some historians believe it is from the
Spanish bajamar, meaning “shallow water.” The islands occupy a position commanding the gateway to the Gulf of
Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the entire Central American region. Their strategic location has given the
history of The Bahamas a unique and often striking character. It was there that Christopher Columbus made
his original landfall in the Americas. The subsequent fate of the peaceful original inhabitants remains one
of the more tragic episodes in the development of the entire region, while the early attempts at European-
dominated settlement were marked by intense national rivalries, interspersed with long periods of lawlessness
and piracy. As a result, the society and culture that has evolved in The Bahamas is a distinctive blend of
European and African heritages, the latter a legacy of the slave trade and the introduction of the plantation
system using African slaves. The islands, lacking natural resources other than their agreeable climate and
picturesque beaches, have become heavily dependent on the income generated by the extensive tourist facilities
and the financial sector that have been developed, often as a result of the injection of foreign capital.
The continued popularity of the islands with tourists, largely from North America, has helped to maintain a
relatively high standard of living among the population, most of whom are of African descent. The capital,
Nassau, is located on small but important New Providence Island.
Food
Bahamian food is an eclectic combination of southern American (think cornbread, peas, and rice) and Caribbean (think spicy seafood) styles.
What sets Bahamian cuisine apart, however, is the islands love of spices. Properly spicing a dish is critical to Bahamian cuisine to
create the ideal flavoring and coloring of some of the most popular of dishes. Check out these 10 traditional Bahamian dishes you won't
want to miss when you're on your next Caribbean cruise.
Cracked Conch
Conch (pronounced "konk") shells may make for excellent wind instruments, and it's undeniably fun to hold them up to your ear and listen
to the ocean — but while you're on the islands, try the delicious meat of the conch, too. Cracked (also known as fried) conch is pounded
and breaded in a way similar to a veal cutlet, and it is served in a number of ways, including curried or with a Creole sauce, in Bahamian preparations.
Conch Salad On Caribbean cruises, look for this ceviche-style dish serves uncooked conch doused in a spicy pepper and citrus sauce. It is often mixed with
tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers, and celery. Don't worry. This Bahamian cuisine isn't raw, exactly. The acid of the citrus causes a process called
denaturation, which in essence cooks the meat.
Rock Lobsters
Otherwise known as spiny lobsters, these delicious crustaceans are a major export of the Caribbean. Enjoy this Bahamian food steamed or boiled,
in salads, as patties, or in Creole-style sauces.
Bahamian Stew Fish
A dark roux is combined with spices, tomato, celery, and onion to make a thick red sauce that is served over a partially pan-fried catch of the
day (most commonly grouper or snapper).
Johnnycakes
Similar to southern American cornbread, johnnycakes are the unofficial bread of Bahamian cuisine. A pan-cooked concoction, johnnycakes are made
of milk, butter, flour, and sugar, and are often eaten with stews and curries.
Pigeon Peas and Rice
Served as a side to common Bahamian food, pigeon peas and rice is a classic dish most commonly made from pork, pigeon peas (a staple bean of the
Caribbean and Latin America), celery, rice, tomatoes, and thyme.
Baked Crab
A wildly popular dish among locals, crab is combined with bread crumbs, seasoning, and egg, and is then baked in the crab's original shell.
Souse
Pronounced "sowse," this famous Bahamian dish is a stew combining onions, lime juice, celery, peppers, potatoes, carrots, bay leaves, and meat
which could include anything from chicken or sheep's tongue to pork, oxtail, or pig's feet. Don't let the more unusual choices scare you off!
This is a delicious savory dish, and it's beloved for good reason.
Guava Duff
Take guava, fold it into pastry dough, boil it, and you have guava duff. Often served with a rum custard sauce, this local dessert is otherworldly good.
The Yellow Bird
Adopted from Jamaica, rum is the national alcoholic beverage of the Bahamas. The Yellow Bird, a local favorite, is a concoction of orange juice,
pineapple juice, rum, Galliano, apricot brandy, and banana liqueur (sometimes excluded).