Bahamas 4 - Conch Threesome!

Conch (pronounced "conck"). Remember? The local delicacy. On our last adventure we saw Scuba Scotty pluck it out of the water and make an interesting salad (albeit, a little chewy!) - well conch fans...I've been doing a little more exploration of this local treat, just to see what the cocky conch can do (say that up 10 time fast)!

So, what you have above, other than the total envy shot which was taken yesterday at Stocking Island (we sat in those chairs in the water all day - that's me in the chair!), is conch done three ways. And I have eaten this three ways conch over the last two days - and what an interesting pleasure it has been!

Let me talk you through it.

First up, is the Conch Burger - this was eaten for lunch yesterday on Stocking Island (see envy shot) - I met the Island chef on the wharf waiting for Elvis, our water taxi driver, to take us out to there, and he told me how he made the conch burgers. He chops the conch into tiny widdle pieces, then seasons it with some cajun spices, forms it into a paddy and serves it on a roll. I had to give that one a go. And I did. Look above. Now, I have to fess up that I made one of those Basic Food Errors - when I was putting my burger together (you got to add your own salad and condiments), of course I saw a little cup full of this mushy stuff that looked like a salsa thing - so I slapped it on my burger with some mayonnaise and the lettuce and tommy - sat myself down facing that incredibly azure water, and took a bite. HOLY CRAP. MOUTH ON FIRE. Hmmmmm. Idiot. Yes, I grabbed my serviette to wipe off most of the extra hot salsa stuff I'd spread all over the burger. And as I waited for my mouth to calm down a little, I watched that azure blue water, the comings and going of the boat, the odd stingray swimming past, then went in again for another bite. Not too bad. Not amazingly good. But edible. I think it tasted mostly of the cajum spices, the conch itself doesn't seem to have much of a flavour, it's very subtle, seems meaty but light - if that makes any sense at all. I suspect we won't be seeing Cocky Conch Burgers on the Maccas menu any time soon!

The second conch way, you can see there, are those little round fried balls. Oh my. Conch Fritters. BLOODY BEAUTIFUL. They came highyly recommended by a guy in a golf shop on the only posh resort on the island (I take my recommendations wherever I can find them, even if it means talking to golfing type people). These were served up at Big D's (see first Bahama's post) last night as our appetizer (yes, I'm talking like a yank already, better get used to it!) and it was totally yum. I'd have these again in a heartbeat. There was that subtle conch flavour, the little chewy texture, but they were ground and mixed with some other stuff, battered and deep fried. And that wonderful spicey rose sauce....OH YEAH BABY. This conch dish wins!!!!! (in fact, just as a little aside, they sort of reminded of those little fried things, Nibblers, in that wacky Futurama episode)

Now for the final conch way. It was devoured today at lunch. And I would like to lay a guilt trip on all of you, as I watched my new yank mate devour her cracked lobster at Santana's (see Bahamas 2 post) again today, I went for the cracked conch - SO YOU GUYS WOULD KNOW WHAT IT TASTED LIKE. I realise that sacrifices are part of a good food bloggers life, but LOBSTER. Bloody hell. Anyway, as you can see above, the cracked conch arrived - along with the usual rice and beans (a staple side dish), fresh corn and some stewed cabbage (I think). Now conch fans....how did it taste??? The breading was divine - all nice and gooey and crispy and fried....how can you go wrong really...but again...the conch was a little tough, sort of like thick calamari - it was certainly more than edible...but not as tender as I had hoped - and I supsect watching my friend devour lobster tails certainly didn't help!!!

(In the last pic, you can see my drink, Bahamas Goombay Punch. I have quite taken to it. It's a pineapple soft drink, or "soda", as they say here. It's really sweet and yum and I order it whenever I can find it.)

So, there you have it. I have now eaten my conch four ways - these three plus the conch salad. I am assured it is supremely divine done the right way...so I'll keep on eating and let you know.

I have to say that I have become quite fond of the little conch critter - it's not the yummiest thing I've ever eaten, yet it's held in such high esteem here, and it is bloody cute, so in my books...the conch rules!