Barbados Food Wine & Rum: Fisherpond Great House

One of the Food, Rum and Wine Events in which Melanie and myself had the pleasure of attending this year was "Lunch at the Great House", or Fisherpond Great House. We have featured this wonderful restaurant many several times however, being hand selected out of many to be part of the Internationally acclaimed Food Rum and Wine Festival says something, doesn't it? This year John and Rain went even further to jazz up their 383 year old, Georgian styled plantation house, filling it with exotic orchids and bougainvillea amongst many other flora. Guests gasped at the exuberance as they entered the front door. As usual, it was drinks in their overwhelmingly beautiful garden along side macaw parrots, budgies and their natural limestone drip filter. After a few, we were welcomed inside to begin the feast.

You had a choice to sit in the main dining room, the music (or red room), the wrap around veranda or the famous 'Molly's Knouk'. Each and every table setting was unique and bursting with a colour which added to the so very lavish and charming ambience. Now to the food, the feast started with the soup. Just like their Sunday lunches, there was a choice of either, Pumpkin, Carrot and Ginger soup or Callaloo (Caribbean Spinach) with Shrimp and Crap Soup. Most of those who are in for a culinary adventure choose the Callaloo and are never disappointed. The following course is Fish, with a selection of unique Caribbean delicacies such as Creole shrimp on Breadfruit Cou-Cou Balls, Salt Fish and (Jamaican) Ackee and finally Red Snapper Pate. Now to the main course, where there was a never ending supply of entrees. Some of these included Curry Chicken (with over six condiments like raisins, mango chutney, bananas, coconut, chopped egg, diced onion), Roast Pork, Fried Barracuda, Peas n' Rice, Macaroni pie, Candied Sweet Potatoes, Corn Souffle, Pumpkin Fritters, Creole Green Bananas, Broccoli Salad, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, Pickled Cucumber and mixed lettuce. Now, even though you feel this should be the end, the meal does not end there. For dessert there is a diversity of Barbadian Candies such as Sugar Cakes, Cherry Squares, Sugar Sticks, Guava cheese, Tamarind Balls along with Lemon Meringue Pie, Guava Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce, Fruit Trifle, Chocolate Torte, and twice baked Apple Cheese Cake. To compliment this diversity of pure sweetness a choice demitasse coffee or tea is served in a collection of fine and rarely seen antiques.

It is clear that the personality of Rain and John Chandler (the founders and owners of Fisherpond Great house) shine through in the wealth of details, colour and character of the operation. John often speaks that this is 'the labour of love' and clearly it is so as Fisherpond has been graced by the presence of many VIP's including Prince Harry, Princess Anne, Tony Blair, Drew Barrymore, and Sir Cliff Richard. Additionally, the audacious critique Michael Winner who I must mention had only good things to say in the Sunday Times about Fisherpond. His review came as a pleasant surprise to many considering Michael Winner's History of 'bashing' many top ranked international hospitality institutions. What can I say, Mr. Winner must has seen the sincerity and same unique character that both Melanie and myself saw during this fabulous Food Rum and Wine Festival event held at Fisherpond Great House. 

Open only on Sundays or Thursdays travelers must book in advance as usually the house is sold out. Some individuals book one year in advance and its for good reason. Just a few quick notes,  the 5 course meal is US $57.50 per person (excluding drinks) and the establishment does not take credit card, so walk with cash when you head on over for "one of the best experiences of a lifetime".