Scoop of ground cornmeal with sliced okra mixed inside and topped with a Caribbean fish broth with tomatoes, carrots, celery, onions, peppers, and herbs.
Waterfront Cafe, Bridgetown, BARBADOS

Angela, our cab driver, suggested we try this local dish “cou cou”. It’s ground cornmeal cooked with what I’m sure is a LOT of butter, broth, and spices. This version also had slices of okra in it. It was pretty good, but the okra pieces were a bit slimey for my taste. The broth/sauce was very comforting.

The first part of the day was off-and-on rain, but it didn’t detract from the beauty of the island and it’s lush greenery. This yellow alder or buttercup bush (Turnera ulmifolia) was prevalently planted, I’m sure for its vibrant yellow blooms. I was surprised to find out that it belongs to the Passifloraceae family.