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Feb 23: Cook Up on the Coal Pot
Kim was in the mood for pain au chocolat, so we took the bus to the marina and had breakfast at Café Ole; it was a beautiful morning and the restaurant was full of yachties talking about their travels. We had originally planned to go to the Saturday seafood festival in Dennery, which we heard was more fun than Fish Friday in Anse La Rey, but the taxi fare there and back was just too much to go have some food; we considered taking the bus up and then a taxi back but even that seemed like a lot of money. I still hadn’t gotten enough of cooking local so I asked Trendy if he had a grill at his house, unbelievably he didn’t so I suggested that perhaps I could buy a coal pot at the market and we could cook some fish on it. He liked that idea and since Vicky had planned to buy a Dorado anyways so it would work out great.

Stalls outside the market in Castries

We took the bus into Castries and began our search in the market, the first thing we found were some cold beers to ease the morning heat and also serve as hair of the dog for last nights outing. After we were fully refreshed we went over to the fish market section and Trendy negotiated with some local fishermen for a nice large Dorado (Mahi-Mahi). They removed all the fins before cutting the fish into steaks, as requested, by making some slices on one side to measure out the steaks and then using a piece of wood to drive the cutless through for the final chop.

Our fish being sliced up by Lucky

We picked up some local vegetables to accompany our meal, pumpkin and christophine and then found our coal pot. Now I’m not sure if the coal pot is the clay pot that the food can be cooked in or the base that holds the coals; we bought the base (25 EC for a large one) which I am referring to as “the coal pot”. These things are really neat, you see them being used throughout the island, I wish there was an easy way to bring one home, but they would be too large for a carry on and wouldn’t survive the trip in checked luggage. All may not be lost however Kim, having taken a ceramics class 20 years ago, is now the ceramics instructor at the nursing home she works at, which just purchased a new kiln; I’m going to inquire with some of the art shops back home on what type of clay to use and a coal pot may be one of her first projects. Kim and I went back to the hotel for a bit, while Trendy went into Gros Islet to pick up some coals and a few last things. We made our way to their house and I helped Trendy with the preparations for our meal. The fish was seasoned with some turmeric and green sauce then placed in foil with some chopped onion and celery; I stewed the vegetables in a pan with fresh ginger, garlic and local herbs. The wind was blowing hard outside, causing the fire to be too hot, not knowing any better we had put too many coals in it, so Trendy moved it into the kitchen (oy, I know) for the cooking process.


Don't tell the Fire Marshall

Just as the meal was finished some other friends arrived to share in the feast; the fish was done perfectly, fully cooked but still moist and flaky with some fantastic broth in the foil that I couldn’t let go to waste. We enjoyed some rum punch and Chairmens Reserve with our meal and the silence as everyone ate was testimony to just how good it was. After dinner we had a few more drinks before taking a bus back to the hotel where we had a nightcap on the balcony before turning in.