Introduction: No Bajan Sunday lunch table is complete without a golden, crusty macaroni pie — a baked, custard-set pasta bake far heartier than an ordinary mac and cheese, seasoned generously with mustard, hot pepper and onion. Cultural Background: No Bajan Sunday lunch table is complete without a golden, crusty macaroni pie — a baked, custard-set […]
Introduction: Not a cake at all but a dense, chewy coconut and sugar confection, sugar cake is a classic Bajan street sweet sold from small trays by vendors outside schools, markets and rum shops. Cultural Background: Not a cake at all but a dense, chewy coconut and sugar confection, sugar cake is a classic Bajan […]
Introduction: Salt bread is the soft, slightly sweet-and-salty bread roll that forms the base of the classic flying fish cutter and countless other Bajan sandwiches. Cultural Background: Salt bread is the soft, slightly sweet-and-salty bread roll that forms the base of the classic flying fish cutter and countless other Bajan sandwiches. Baked fresh daily in […]
Introduction: Harees, a slow-cooked porridge of cracked wheat and meat beaten to a smooth, creamy consistency, is one of the most significant dishes served during Ramadan and Eid across Bahrain. Cultural Background: Harees, a slow-cooked porridge of cracked wheat and meat beaten to a smooth, creamy consistency, is one of the most significant dishes served […]
Introduction: Balaleet is one of Bahrain’s most cherished breakfast dishes, a sweet-and-savoury plate of saffron-and-cardamom-scented vermicelli topped with a thin savoury omelette. Cultural Background: Balaleet is one of Bahrain’s most cherished breakfast dishes, a sweet-and-savoury plate of saffron-and-cardamom-scented vermicelli topped with a thin savoury omelette. It began as a Ramadan suhoor staple, eaten before the […]
Introduction: Khameer is a soft, slightly sweet yeasted flatbread flavoured with cardamom and sometimes turmeric for colour, traditionally baked in a tandoor-style clay oven. Cultural Background: Khameer is a soft, slightly sweet yeasted flatbread flavoured with cardamom and sometimes turmeric for colour, traditionally baked in a tandoor-style clay oven. It is a beloved teatime bread […]
Introduction: Halwa is arguably Bahrain’s most famous sweet, a dense, glossy, jelly-like confection scented with saffron, cardamom and rosewater, traditionally studded with nuts. Cultural Background: Halwa is arguably Bahrain’s most famous sweet, a dense, glossy, jelly-like confection scented with saffron, cardamom and rosewater, traditionally studded with nuts. Manama’s old halwa shops have produced it for […]
Introduction: Muhammar is a distinctive Bahraini rice dish sweetened with date syrup or sugar, traditionally paired with fried or grilled fish. Cultural Background: Muhammar is a distinctive Bahraini rice dish sweetened with date syrup or sugar, traditionally paired with fried or grilled fish. Reflecting Bahrain’s coastal, pearl-diving heritage, the sweet-savoury contrast is considered a hallmark […]
Introduction: The Bahamas’ most iconic dessert, guava duff is a steamed guava-filled roll served in thick slices with a warm, buttery rum sauce poured over the top. Cultural Background: The Bahamas’ most iconic dessert, guava duff is a steamed guava-filled roll served in thick slices with a warm, buttery rum sauce poured over the top. […]
Introduction: Dense, moist and generously soaked in island rum, Bahamian rum cake is a gift-shop and holiday favourite, often studded with dried fruit and finished with a sticky rum glaze poured over the warm cake. Cultural Background: Dense, moist and generously soaked in island rum, Bahamian rum cake is a gift-shop and holiday favourite, often […]