This time of year in Winnipeg, thoughts of the Caribbean can be alluring, an enormous contrast to the minus 50 degrees Celsius temperatures with the wind chill. The reviewers of Food Philter having spent their formative years in Belize, still have a deep love of this region and fond memories of our culinary influences. The Caribbean region consists of those islands and coasts that boarder on the Caribbean Sea. While some food themes run throughout the region, there is variation in the dishes and names used to describe it. It may not provide the thermal warmth so desired for the outdoors, but a little Caribbean seems to go a long way in making a Winnipeg winter bearable.
On December 19th we started our Caribbean restaurant reviewing. The first place we tried was The Purple Hibiscus. They have set the bar high and it was a great starting point.
On December 19th we started our Caribbean restaurant reviewing. The first place we tried was The Purple Hibiscus. They have set the bar high and it was a great starting point.
We started with the Tropical Salad which had avocados, mangoes, mixed greens, a house vinaigrette and topped with Grilled Honey Jerk Shrimp. The fruit was fresh and the spicy hot shrimp were an excellent contrast to the other ingredients.
We then shared a chicken roti which was very flavorful and had the right combination of chicken and ground split peas.
The lunch special on the day we visited was the signature shrimp rundown, prepared in coconut milk and rum, served with cassava puffs (impeccably prepared and delicious), sautéed green beans in tomato choka, and house salad. These individual items were very lovely together. Perhaps the shrimp could have been spicier but it may have been our taste buds because of the earlier shrimp in the tropical salad.
We were intrigued with the similarities of the food (use of coconut milk, similarity in the bread), yet some differences we had experienced in Belize. Purple Hibiscus is based on the tradition in Trinidad and Tobago. So we started to talk to the owner and mentioned we were from Belize. Within five minutes we discovered we both knew a common friend from Belize, Bobby Lee. What a small world.
As they say in Belizean Kriol, “Ah mi gat wahn gud gud taim” (translated into English “I’ve had a wonderful time”)
As they say in Belizean Kriol, “Ah mi gat wahn gud gud taim” (translated into English “I’ve had a wonderful time”)
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