The foodie revolution is upon us. And it means more and more travelers are planning their trips around a single purpose: culinary exploration. Thankfully, the Caribbean is one of the great food destinations in the world, with dozens of destinations rife for tastebud tourism. Of course, not all Caribbean foodie destinations are the same. Some emphasize masterful street food, while others focus on high-end dining establishments. Still others have a combination of both. Here is our list of the best Caribbean islands for foodies for 2014 — the places where you can travel simply for the joy of food. Bon appetit!
Puerto Rico
You may argue, but right now, Puerto Rico is the culinary capital of the Caribbean. In San Juan alone, there are more cutting-edge chefs with internationally competitive restaurants than anywhere else in the region. And they’re not just doing their local cuisine proud, but bringing in global cuisines, too, to make the island a hub of Caribbean culinary innovation. (And, of course, there’s Puerto Rico’s delicious street food for day-to-day exploration). (Above: fish tacos at Bar Gitano in Condado).
Anguilla
When it opened in 1984, the Malliouhana hotel didn’t just launch tourism in Angullla, it also forever changed the island’s food scene. More and more, chefs on the island looked to step up their game to match the level of cuisine at the property. While the hotel is now in the midst of a renovation ahead of a reopening, the culinary tree it spawned continues to grow. There are more than 100 restaurants on the island of just around 13,000 people, giving it more top-notch eateries per capita than any other place in the West Indies, from local joints to outposts of haute cuisine. (Above: curry goat sliders at Straw Hat).
Trinidad
Trinidad, is, simply, a culinary adventure. Its flavours and foods cannot be experienced anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere — with a diverse array of cultures and cuisines creating a fusion of South Asian and Caribbean sensibilities. Trinidad is a destination for the culinarily curious, with what is, right now, the best street food in the Caribbean. (Above: dinner at Chaud Creole in Port of Spain).
Martinique
Martinique isn’t a territory of France — it is France. And that means the typical Gallic passion for food at all levels of society, with a decidedly Caribbean spin. And for foodies, that means classic French bakeries, beach bars that serve authentic magret de canard, high-end eateries, provocative Creole cooking and, of course, pairings with Martinique’s famous rhums.
Guadeloupe
Increasingly, foodies are recognizing the sheer culinary power of the French Caribbean, and Guadeloupe, like Martinique, is front and centre. From its decadent bokit street sandwiches to classic French brasseries, Guadeloupe is as great a culinary destination as you’ll find anywhere — and what makes it unique is that it’s an archipelago – meaning that you can’t just island hop, but you can also food hop, sampling the varying cuisines on each of the French department’s five major islands. (Above: tuna tartare at La Playa in Marie Galante).
Grand Cayman
Yes, there’s Seven Mile Beach and great diving, but Grand Cayman in particular has quietly developed into a first-rate foodie Mecca, attracting great chefs (see: Ripert, Eric) and great restaurants from abroad (see: Michael’s Genuine and Ortanique) to add to an already well-stocked restaurant scene.
Jamaica
Jerk, originally developed as a means of food preservation, is perhaps the Caribbean’s signature spice. And while Jamaican cuisine has always stayed true to its roots (think Ackee and Saltfish and patties), the island continues to see a crop of new chefs doing rather creative things. It means you can hop from a jerk chicken cart to an exceptional restaurant within minutes.
St Martin
The French side of St Martin may be the original foodie destination on the Caribbean. Just walking through the town of Grand Case you will be amazed at the number of world-class restaurants. And the Dutch side has its own share of internationally versatile restaurants, all with European flair.
Barbados
Fine dining has always been a strength for Barbados, and that remains the case today, with an emphasis on marvelous seafood — rooted, of course, in the country’s flagship dish, flying fish and cou-cou, which is good no matter where you order it on the island. (Above: dessert at the famous Daphne’s restaurant).
Bonaire
Yes, it’s small, with around 16,000 people. But it’s also home to our number one restaurant in the Caribbean for 2013, At Sea, and a remarkable diversity of cuisines, tapping into its cultural variety. Side by side, you’ll find authentic Peruvian ceviche, classic Mediterranean bouillabaise, Dutch french fries and Stoba stew, to name just a few. And its small size is an advantage — almost all the food establishments are within a short distance from one another.
St Barth
Tiny, tony St Barth is often called a piece of France in the Caribbean, and, when it comes to food, that’s a wonderful thing. You can’t go a few feet in Gustavia alone without stumbling into a terrific eatery, and as you branch outside of the capital, that’s a constant.
Curacao
This Dutch Caribbean island is a fusion of European, Caribbean, Latin American and even Indonesian tastes, with most of the restaurants centered in the fascinating city of Willemstad, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That makes it a kind of close-quarters foodie festival, with small bistros and larger restaurants always within reach.