Creating a perfect fusion of culture, cuisine and history, the Tru Bahamian Food Tours is one of the newest and tastiest morsels to be added to the plate of touristic attractions that the Bahamas has to offer. The team at BahamasLocal.com recently had the pleasure of joining Alanna Rogers, Founder and President of Tru Bahamian Food Tours on a private group tour through some of the most flavorsome and culturally rich locales in Down Town Nassau.

The aim of the tour is to be a portal for curious visitors to experience the true Bahamas – it’s unique character, rich cultural heritage, and it’s charismatic community through discovering, learning about and most of all tasting authentic local Bahamian cuisine. Needless to say, the tour achieved just that and more. The tour began at Bahamian Cookin’ Restaurant where the group was given a tasting of conch fritters and baked macaroni. While enjoying the dish, Rogers gives an enthralling background on why it was chosen, the significance that particular dish has to the Bahamas and how it related to culture and society.

 

Proof of the tremendous amount of thought and effort placed into the organization of the tour is when Rogers escort the team to a quint Jamaican restaurant called Pepper Pot Grill and Juice Bar much to the team’s confusion. However, Rogers quickly explain that the reason this was included in a Bahamian tour is due to the impact that Jamaican food, culture and people have on and within Bahamian society.

It is then you realize that it’s not a simple tour just food enthusiasts but it’s a well-rounded experience that allows for one to explore history, culture, modern society and even architecture through the food found in the Bahamas.
Furthermore, even while walking to each food tasting destination we were taught about places like Christ Church Cathedral, Balcony House, Gregory’s Arch and much more. Each stop played a role in telling a complete and concise story of the Bahamian history and culture. Whether it is a restaurant or historical site it was carefully chosen. Pepper Pot Grill and Juice Bar being Jamaican, the Athena Café and Bar being Greek, Government House being an architectural structure dating back to the colonial era are carefully inserted as the respective cultures and time periods are intrinsic to the story of the Bahamas and New Providence.

Filled to the brim with delicious socio-geographical, historical and political tidbits the tour appeased intellectual appetite. The educational aspects works as the surprise center of the Toostie Roll pop for the unsuspecting culturally inclined foodies.

 

Further to this, when asked what inspired her to create a tour of this nature Rogers said that Tru Bahamian Food Tours started with the mission of connecting visitors with what is believed to be the island's most unexplored yet eternally delightful cultural treasures - the cuisine. “Despite our diverse, vibrant and delicious food culture in The Bahamas, very few of the 3 million + visitors that arrive in New Providence by boat or plane each year, have an opportunity to experience authentic Bahamian cuisine (and all of the pleasures that accompany it)”, said Rogers.
The tour is also in place to provide a different and unique opportunity for local entrepreneurs, artisans, and small business owners to showcase themselves and connect with visitors who otherwise wouldn’t have found them through the barricade of gift shops and the blaring business of Down Town. So in this way it not only benefits tourism and the businesses involved but this is something that the in the future maybe even schools and the Ministry of Education can take advantage of.

After experiencing the tour it’s obviously something that locals could very much enjoy as well.

Culture and history is an integral part of each countries unique story that they have to tell and as Rogers told us, “food is inevitably, part of that story”.

Tru Bahamian Food Tours guided tasting and cultural walking tours take you on a 3-hour entertaining culinary adventure through historic Downtown Nassau, seamlessly combining delicious and authentic food and drink flavors with some serious fun. All food tastings, enough for lunch are included in the ticket price of $69.00. Private Group Tours and Tru Bahamian Food Tour Gift Certificates are also available. www.trubahamianfoodtours.com