Downtown Nassau's Newest Culinary Experience for Hungry Locals and Visitors Alike

Wed, Jun 1st 2016, 10:11 AM


In the kitchen

Tru Bahamian Food Tours Launches Authentic Bahamian Cooking Class & 3-Course Lunch

After leading award-winning delicious and educational food tasting and cultural walking tours through Nassau’s downtown community for a little over 3 years, Tru Bahamian Food Tours is now expanding its reach to include cooking classes. The ‘Authentic Bahamian Cooking Class & Lunch Experience’ is the company’s newest interactive culinary adventure and presents an opportunity to enter a 5-star kitchen and prepare a traditional Bahamian meal with an Executive Chef. Following the hands-on food preparation, guests enjoy a private wine cellar tour of the renowned 3rd largest private wine collection in the world and a 3-course feast in the elegant Graycliff Restaurant dining room.

Bahamian entrepreneur and founder of Tru Bahamian Food Tours, Alanna Rodgers, said: “Our team is thrilled to be able to introduce this unique cooking class experience to both Nassau visitors and members of our local community- we’ve been developing this product for over a year now in collaboration with our partners at Graycliff and think it is a perfect complement to our signature Bites of Nassau Food Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour. The cooking class allows our guests to slow down and connect with Bahamian cuisine and culture on deeper level by going behind the scenes and learning how to prepare a “Tru-Tru” Bahamian meal with their own hands. The experience is interactive, personalized and full of entertaining Bahamian hospitality- a great option for special events and private group activities. What’s more, unlike our walking food tour, the class is accessible for guests who are unable to walk long distances or who prefer to do an activity indoors the whole time.”

Rodgers noted: “Just spending time on the Graycliff property is a magical experience- the estate has so much history and is full of old world charm. Graycliff is an outstanding partner of ours and we’re very excited about being able to offer this cooking class in collaboration with them.”


Pompey Square

The meeting point for the cooking class is conveniently located in Downtown Nassau’s Pompey Square (free parking options are available) and following a quick introduction, guests are lead on a short 6 minute stroll to the esteemed Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant where the class takes place. During the 3.5 hour experience, guests prepare an authentic 3-course Bahamian feast under the expert and charming instruction of Executive Chef Elijah Bowe, a native of East End, Grand Bahama, and are immersed in the fundamentals of traditional Bahamian cuisine, and shown basic cooking techniques that they can apply in their own kitchens at home.

In the second portion of the class, guests enjoy the unique opportunity to dine in Nassau’s only 5-star restaurant while savouring the delicious meal they’ve prepared, along with Chef-selected wine. The seasonal menu features fresh, local ingredients and has been specially designed for the class with a focus on replicating a hearty Bahamian meal. A sample menu includes: welcome cocktails and nibbles; Bahamian conch chowder topped with Graycliff’s signature sherry pepper sauce; fresh hog snapper broiled with native limes, bell peppers, onions, and garden thyme, served alongside Bahamian peas and rice, embellished tropical coleslaw, and traditional baked macaroni and cheese; and finally a decadent dessert of guava duff topped with a rum butter sauce. The 3-course affair promises that no one will leave hungry!


A Traditional 3-Course Bahamian Meal, Including Wine Is Served For Lunch

In addition to a full belly, guests also walk away with a Eating Nassau Dining Guide- a printed booklet full of insider’s restaurant recommendations as well as “must-eat” local foods and a special recipe collection for recreating Chef Bowe’s tasty Bahamian dishes at home along with a branded Graycliff apron.

Public cooking classes are available on Saturdays at 10:30AM and limited in size to 12 guests, ensuring participants receive personalised attention from the chef and Tru Bahamian Food Tours’ guide. Private classes are also available Monday-Sunday between 9:00AM and 4:30PM upon request for groups of 2-16 guests. Priced at $136.00 per person (plus tax), this culinary experience provides exceptional value as a memorable, fun, and educational experience and is designed for both cooking enthusiasts and kitchen novices alike.


Guests Enjoy Hands-On Instruction By Executive Chef Bowe In Graycliff’s 5-Star Kitchen

The launch of the company’s ‘Authentic Bahamian Cooking Class & Lunch Experience’ comes 3 years after the company’s signature Bites of Nassau Food Tour was introduced back in late 2013- an activity that has since garnered much International acclaim. Lead by an knowledgeable and charismatic local guide, this 3-hour walking cultural tour takes guests on a culinary journey through the historic Old Nassau neighborhood highlighting Bahamian cuisine, food traditions, history, culture and architecture along the way. The tour features six delicious local tastings (enough for a hearty lunch) from restaurants, cafes and specialty stores in the Downtown Nassau community- including Bahamian steamed chicken, baked macaroni and cheese and conch fritters, to locally-made Bahamian fruit gelato and freshly baked rum cakes.

“We are so grateful to our tasting partners for their partnership and willingness to allow us to share their stories and their delicious local foods with our guests. The tour is all about showcasing the chefs and artisans of our diverse and distinctive Downtown Nassau community- we’re so proud that we have the opportunity to introduced curious visitors to such talented and hardworking local business owners. Each location provides a unique perspective on Nassau’s historically rich and colourful tapestry that informs the Bahamian community. It’s the families, restaurateurs and entrepreneurs that make Downtown Nassau’s story so vibrant and we are incredibly passionate about sharing their stories with both curious visitors and locals alike”, said Rodgers.

Decorated with multiple TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Awards and designated as a Fodor’s Travel Choice Experience, the Bites of Nassau Food Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour has hosted over 12,000 guests to date and earned its position as Nassau’s #1 Tour Activity. Operated by a team of passionate local foodies, Tru Bahamian Food Tours has received more than 1,350 5-star TripAdvisor reviews from past guests and has been featured in over 20 international publications including: The Washington Post, USA Today, Boston Herald, The Independent, Toronto Star, Southern Living, and Gothamist.


Cheers! Around The Table In A Private Dining Room In Nassau’s Only 5-Star Restaurant (Photos: Tru Bahamian Food Tours)

The company’s cooking classes and food tours are available year round and can be purchased online at: www.TruBahamianFoodTours.com. Gift certificates, private group experiences and customized events are also available. For more information about the these delicious culinary adventures, visit the company’s website, connect via Facebook, Twitter @TruBahamianFood or Instagram @TruBahamianFoodTours or call: (242) 601-1725 (local), or 1-844-850-2318 (US/CAN). Hungry for more? Follow the company’s Discover Nassau Foodie Blog: www.TruBahamianFoodTours.com/Blog for Bahamian recipes, insider travel tips and more.

Full Gallery of Images:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lbr385gnwcuhdar/AAAZ-xhDiBri3zNTgsYoL5xva?dl=0
(Photos: Tru Bahamian Food Tours)

ABOUT
Tru Bahamian Food Tours was founded in 2012 with the mission of connecting visitors of The Bahamas with authentic local foods and the entrepreneurs that prepare and preserve these culinary traditions. The company offers unique and innovative local culinary experiences in a safe, sustainable, and environmentally responsible manner. Our meticulously crafted tours take visitors along the island’s less-travelled paths and feature engaging and knowledgeable local guides who are eager to share the most authentic and delicious version of the Bahamas.

In addition to public cooking classes and food tours, Tru Bahamian Food Tours offers private group tours and gift certificates. For more information about the company or to make a booking, visit: www.TruBahamianFoodTours.com or call: (242) 601-1725 (local), or 1-844-850-2318 (US/CAN).

By Anna Bancroft, Marketing & Sales Manager

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