Always an terrific food destination, St Thomas is in the midst of a gastronomic renaissance, with a renewed focus on traditional classics and a new push to highlight local cuisine.  

Indeed, more and more eateries are putting the food of St Thomas front and center, from food trucks to fine dining and everything in between. 

It all adds up to what is a full-fledged local food movement, where the emphasis is not just freshly-caught fish, but about putting the flavors and culture of St Thomas on the table.

Here are our favorite St Thomas eateries for exciting local food, from island institutions to hip, upstart eateries. 

Blue 11 No restaurant better exemplifies St Thomas’ new food movement than this. It’s called Blue Eleven, and it’s the the debut restaurant of leading VI chef David Benjamin, formerly of the Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas. The Yacht Haven Grande outpost is a fine-dining love letter to island food, with an exclusive tasting menu that lets guests embark on a culinary journey (including a wine-pairing option) through either seven, nine or 11 courses. With a focus on local ingredients, that means dishes like pan-seared wahoo, a brilliant spin on callaloo and jerk chicken with plantain gnocchi, among others. 

Twistt340 Set in the increasingly hot Yacht Haven Grande marina, Twist, the brainchild of Dimitri and Tamra James, is all about Caribbean cuisine — and puts a new spin on traditional island favorites. That means dishes like honey-drizzled johnny cakes, curry chicken sliders, jerk bowls and trios of the island’s famous pate. 

Gladys’ Cafe One of St Thomas’ most prominent places to eat, Gladys’ is a Charlotte Amalie institution, with out-of-this-world Caribbean signatures: think curry goat, stewed oxtails; jerk chicken, pan-fried grouper and, of course, its “Ole Wife” fish. Make sure you get a side of fungi with creole sauce and thank us later. 

Petite Pump Room It’s been a hallmark of St Thomas for more than fifty years, first with Anna and Douglas Watson and now with their son Michael, whose family is expertly stewarding this USVI institution. It’s the essence of St Thomas: fresh locally caught fish; soursop ice cream; sautéed conch; and a must-try rum punch. 

PlantTastic Yes, St Thomas’ food movement now includes a vegan option — and a food truck to boot. It’s called PlantTastic,a  truck serving up vegan and pescatarian dishes like black bean cakes with mango salsa; vegan crab cakes, falafel and fresh-catch poke bowls. It’s set in a location in Frenchtown by Radio One. 

The post How St Thomas Restaurants Are Putting a Spotlight on Local Cuisine appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao has become the first destination in the Caribbean to completely waive testing requirements for visitors. 

The island’s new rules, which took effect March 10, mean no Covid testing at all is required before traveling to Curaçao. 

Travelers simply need to complete the island’s Digital Immigration Card online before departure. 

Curaçao has also removed its “risk classifications,” which had set different rules for travelers from different countries and regions depending on their own local Covid situations. 

All travelers must also fill out Curaçao’s Passenger Locator Card 48 hours before departure, and carry a printed or digital copy with them. 

It’s a significant change for Curaçao, and could be an industry-shaking move for the wider region. 

While several destinations have begun waiving pre-testing for vaccinated travelers, Curaçao’s rules have no vaccination requirement. 

For more, visit Curaçao. 

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What’s the sound of one palm tree shaking? 

It’s one of the most beautiful sounds in the Caribbean, an instant reminder that you’ve reached the zenith of tropical beauty. 

And it’s a guarantor of instant relaxation. 

But as ubiquitous as palm trees are, the sonic delight of a swaying palm isn’t quite as common as you think. 

Even at many hotels in the region, delicate sounds like these can be rare, obscured by the hum of other guests; the music from a bar; the splash of a pool. 

But there are some places where quiet and serenity are not periodic visitors: they’re the Caribbean’s most relaxing places to stay. 

Sometimes it’s the hotel itself. For others it’s the calm of their natural environment. 

At these hotels, quiet isn’t just a luxury — it’s essential, central to the experience, havens for the quiet of both sound and soul. 

And it brings us to our tried-and-true relaxation test: can you hear the palm trees shaking? 

Here are our favorite “relaxing” hotels in the Caribbean, where relaxation is an art form. 

And where you can always hear the palm trees shake. 

Kahari Resort, Exuma, The Bahamas The Bahamas It’s one of the best-kept secrets in The Bahamas. The Kahari, a collection of 12 bungalows on ultra-serene Stocking Island, a white-sand wonder just across the water from George Town in Exuma. It’s almost unimaginably quiet, with secluded entrances, private outdoor showers, and the feeling that you’ve got an entire island to yourself. 

The post The Chill List: The Caribbean’s Most Relaxing Hotels appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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