Cooking in Belize

If you're here, and you decide to sample the barbequed chicken, be sure to bring your own fork -- and napkin!  The Belizeans generally get by with a flour tortilla for fork and napkin. (Well -- it's a BIG tortilla!) (Please see note 1 below.)

Belizean Recipes: The standard faire in Belize is pretty pedestrian:  Rice, Beans and Chicken in a variety of ways, with some interesting side dishes.  I've modified some of their dishes to provide more variety, and to satisfy some Gringo palates.  Click here to look.

Diner Food:  There aren't any real 'mercun diners in Belize but I can serve up some of the best.  My cooking maestro was Floyd "Sam" Johnson, who owned and ran the King's Chef diner in Colorado Springs for 40 years.  He shared many of his secrets with me, and I will share them with you here.   

Gourmet Cooking for Two:  You may have seen the cable TV ads for magical cooking appliances and utensils. You can do better, down here, with ordinary utensils because the raw materials are so fresh and so cheap.  Let me show you how to build gourmet meals at retirement prices.  New:  What do you do with frozen fish?  You can thaw and bake it.  I'll tell you how here.

Mexican Food:  In the States, we're used to California- or Texas-style "mexican food."  Chetumal has a Yucatan variety, Belize has its own.  I miss the old favorites, so here are my ways of cooking Mexican favorites -- 'mercun style. 

This spread at the Corozal Market is available year 'round, along with a dozen more. Prices are generally about half those in Colorado.

Note 1:  (Nov 2002) Some local Belizeans interpreted my wiseguy remarks above to mean that I am  suggesting that Belizeans don't know how to use a fork and napkin.  Heaven forfend!!!  Barbeque here is like KFC, ubiquitous finger-food, usually served by public-minded citizens trying to raise money for worthwhile causes.  They don't want to spend money on frills, and everyone (who knows anything) knows how to use a tortilla for spoon, fork and napkin -- when it's necessary. Even spastic ol' Sr. Ric has learned to use a flour tortilla for a multi-purpose eating utensil. Barbecued chicken includes baked beans, cole slaw or potato salad (yum yum) and of course, the flour tortilla, all for five dollah. ($2.50US) 

Of course the Belizeans eat a sit-down meal just like civilized folks everywhere. Napkins, silverware, ice water, etc. etc.  

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