Of course, being located in a subtropical climate in the middle of the Caribbean definitely has its perks in the cooking world. Fresh fish stands are around every corner, and the fruits and vegetables are straight from the tree, vine, or bush, which is exactly the way I enjoy them. Everything they sell is in season and produced locally, so you can only buy certain foods at certain points during the year, and to be honest it's an attitude I wish everyone would share. It's better for the environment, healthier to consume, and cheaper to purchase...everyone wins! So anyways, every Tuesday and Friday the market is open for business, and it works exactly like the farmers' markets in the states. Everything is ripe and fragrant and oh so delicious. Several foods, like bananas, limes, and oranges, are so abundant in Belize that they practically give the fruits away. You can typically purchase 10 for $1...$1 Belize that is, which means that the 10 oranges I bought from the market on Friday morning cost me $0.50. Yep, $0.50. With that same amount of money I could purchase approximately 2/3 of an orange in the states. Just let that sink in for a moment.
Some plantains we picked at an organic farm in southern Belize
So of the new wonders I've tried, what is my favorite food, you ask? As far as fruits and vegetables, I would easily go with a new treasure I recently discovered called the apple banana. It literally looks like a baby banana, but tastes amazing. It's much sweeter than most bananas, and lacks the fibrous aftertaste that bananas tend to leave. Mmmm! They are so stinking delicious. However, if we are talking favorite dishes, I'd lean towards the cerviche. Cerviche is a very simple dish that essentially consists of shrimp, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, maybe bell peppers, and lime juice. It is so light and refreshing and delicious, and it's great with chips or corn tortillas. It's not difficult to prepare, but the flavors complement each other to perfection. To be honest, I'd be willing to bet I haven't even tipped the iceberg of Belizean cuisine yet, so I have many more things to try soon.
As far as trying foods goes, I'm not what I would consider to be an adventurous eater, but I'm no sissy about it either. I enjoy trying the different cultural dishes and traditional meals that the country is known for. And generally my tastebuds have been very satisfied. However there are a few foods that I haven't braved, and really have no intention of doing so. One of the worst is a fruit they refer to as "noni". Supposedly the fruit is packed with all kinds of nutritional benefits and antioxidants, which sounds really appealing until you get close enough to smell the thing. It's gross. It smells as if it's rotting, and it's so pungent it makes me gag (this is not a lie). Not to mention, the nasty thing looks like a gigantic booger. So gross. Another delicacy that I just cannot bring myself to attempt is "cow foot soup". I don't think I need to explain it any further.
I'm still quite the rookie, so I still have quite a bit to learn about the foods and dishes of Belize, but the general idea is simple to grasp. They eat what is available, when it is in season. It makes going to the market exciting because there's a certain element of surprise as to what you'll find. I love it, and it challenges me to eat beyond the normal routines that I've become so used to in the states. So my next challenge: I dare you to try to eat only the foods that are in season for one week (and check the label to be sure it's produced in the U.S.A.). We've become so accustomed to having any food we want that I bet it becomes really difficult, really quickly. But if you can condition yourself to it, at least somewhat, mother nature and your local farmers will be very appreciative. It's a simple idea that has the potential to make a big difference in our environment...plus it's just more fun that way.
The market in Belize Cty
