Good Chillies Burn Twice

Food. One of the things we’ve been doing a lot of in Mauritius is eating a lot of fantastic food. Here’s my top 5 so far, in no particular order.

1. Dahl Purri, Dholl Puri, no matter how you spell it (and there are plenty of variations) and no matter whether you get it from Dewa in Port Louis or that guy in a van in Quatre Bornes market, this stuff is legendary. Thin and delicate, this flatbread is a treat best served in pairs – even more special as it is notoriously difficult to make at home. Whilst on flatbreads, I have to mention farata. Although I haven’t found one as good as my Grandfather’s, they’re still hot, flaky and delicious. Served with a curry or just a snack on its own: Does it get better than this?

2. It does. Fresh pineapples. On the beach. For $1. In fact the entire fresh fruit beach scene is booming, you can find all sorts of things – including fresh coconuts hacked open before your very eyes. But the pineapples are definitely the main attraction. You can buy a small one, peeled and eat it au natural or add some chilli and a pinch of salt for the real Mauritian experience. Yum.

3. You know what else is on the beach? Mine Frit from our favourite restaurant Ah Youn. Lashings of these fried noodles at lunch go down well with a cold Phoenix beer and are the perfect way to cap your morning in paradise and start that lazy afternoon. They come in any number of combinations from simple fried noodles with greens to noodles with The Lot: Chinese sausage, prawns, chicken and an egg. Eat with caution: addiction is guaranteed.
I have to mention octopus curry in here – sold everywhere good mine is found (and a few bad ones too). This stuff is equally delicious – but blink and it’s gone. Get in quick if you plan on sharing.

4. Gateau napolitan, my favourite sweet, deserves a mention. Two cookie sized shortbread biscuits on top of each other with jam in the middle and strawberry icing on top. These cakes are the best thing since cask rum.

5. Deep Fried Chilli. This is something new, I hadn’t heard of such a thing until Christmas Eve when we spent the evening with some extended family in Quatre Bornes. Big fat green chillies, battered and fried to perfection - hot and hot!