EPISODE 7 | DINO'S GOURMET CONCH SALAD

There’s no way you can claim to be a Bahamian without eating some conch salad; so it was only fair that the team take a visit to Dino’s Conch Salad stand in historical Gambier! Dino’s was made popular with the invention of the Tropical Conch Salad, which Sasha Laurel wasn’t a fan of before the visit. Dino, the owner of the stand, said he came up with the idea when he noticed a man across the street from the stand wasn’t taking his job seriously. It was then that he decided to step up to the plate (literally.) and give him a run for his money. Pineapples were always present at the stand because the lemonade and fruit punch sold there was garnished with a wedge of it, and the rest is history!

Dino prepared four of the stand’s hot sellers for the team. These included the regular conch salad, the scorched conch with tomatoes and purple onions (Sasha’s favorite), tropical scorched conch, and the infamous tropical conch salad.  The visit was truly an unforgettable experience. As Sasha said, “You can go anywhere in The Bahamas for a tropical conch salad, but you can’t go anywhere and get this sort of love!” 

Check out the full episode here: 

EPISODE 6 | INTERNATIONAL CULTURE FESTIVAL

 Any opportunity to basically travel the world and taste different food is a great one in our books! This week watch as Sasha Laurel and the team takes over the International Culture Festival (ICF). It was truly a Bahamian star studded event filled with cultural festivities, and the aroma of all the good food from all around the world! Sasha spoke with a number people from countries like the Philippines to Columbia, and of course tasted some awesome food!

At the first stop, Sasha spoke with the President of the Filipino Association of The Bahamas, Dr. Capuli, for a bit about why they decided to be so consistent in participating at ICF throughout the years. She also taught us that the Philippines have some Spanish influences in some of their dishes.

The next stop was China where Sasha and the team had an opportunity to talk to Lloyd Wong. Wong explained to the team that the Chinese have been participating at ICF for the past 14 to 15 years! “They [Bahamians] are very familiar with Chinese food, and it’s very popular amongst them” Wong explained. After the discussion, Wong allowed Sasha and the team to sample the food, which was nothing less than amazing!

To wash down all of that good food, we made a stop to the Burns House stall to speak with Therese Demeritte about what Burns House had to offer thirsty patrons. Sasha sampled a few of their hot sellers like Verdi, Barefoot Red Moscato, and the Lamonthe Parrot mellow reserve red, which is affectionately called “Mother Pratt” by Bahamians.

The team then went on to make a few more stops by a number of passionate and innovative entrepreneurs. Overall, Sasha and the team thoroughly enjoyed themselves at the International Culture Festival; and look forward to experiencing this incredible event for many more years to come! 

Missed Episode 6?

Check it out here!

EPISODE 5 | VAN BREUGEL'S

The team found Van Breugel’s to be a true gem! The ambiance, passion, and impeccable customer service definitely sets the restaurant apart from its competitors! Sasha had a chance to speak with the mastermind behind it all, Mr. Freddie Van Breugel, to get an inside scoop into how the whole idea came about. Having owned a couple of other restaurants in the past, Van Breugel definitely knew his stuff, and has the passion to execute his ideas exceptionally well. He takes pride in building his staff to accommodate the dining experience he has created, and considers them to be a part of his family. 

We quickly met with bartender Kim to try a few of the restaurant’s signature drinks, and journeyed to the kitchen to join Chef Tanya in a high energy cooking tutorial.

Van Breugel’s is the perfect spot for a special date, a girl’s night out, or if you’re just looking to have some good food! The Happy Foods 242 Team left the restaurant with a happy face and no complaints! 

Missed Episode 5? Check it Out Here!

EOISODE 4 | GONE FISH'N

The team was blessed to receive a hands on view into one of the best jerk and barbecue joints on the island!We met with Haymish Moxey, the owner of Gone Fish'n,in a flavor filled and informative segment on all things grilling! Haymish explained to the team how much work goes into creating the perfect plate and , of course, allowed the team to taste test for themselves! The Gone Fishn'n staff also served the team a spread of their hot sellers which included the barbecue ribs and salmon burger; just to name a few. They also were kind enough to offer us a cup of their refreshing hard lemonade to wash it all down!

Gone Fisn'n offers you great food, service, and one of the most breathtaking views you'll ever experience being stationed on the beautiful Junkanoo Beach. If you're ever in the Arawak Cay area, Gone Fish'n is the place to be!

View Episode 4 Here!

EPISODE 3 | Sur Club Sushi

The staff of Sur Club Sushi blessed the Happy Foods 242 Team on a windy Friday night with their impeccable food and service! The night began with a mixology exhibition with Vincent, a mixologist that had recently been flaunting his talents in China. He expressed that he had just returned to The Bahamas and was excited to show the team a good time! He began with a drink called the “Bahama Sunset”, a wonderful combination of pineapple, mango, and coconut! (Definitely sounds like a crowd pleaser!) He then went on to create another glorious concoction called the “Geisha’s Delight” which main ingredients consisted of Baily’s and Frangelico! Vincent also made the team two of his original drink cocktail recipes that was just as spectacular!

After hanging with Vincent at the bar, we then moved inside to the Sushi Bar where we met with Chef Kendrick. Kendrick, with the help of Sasha, created the Sur Club Roll; which was a combination of avocado, spicy tuna, and breaded shrimp! Then came the show stopper! Chef Kendrick then proceeded to demonstrate how the Bay Street Roll (the team’s favorite by the way) was made. The roll consisted of cracked conch… enough said. After dubbing this wonderful creation as Happy Foods 242 Endorsed, Sasha described the roll as “fried heavenly goodness”. 

After the team finished what was left of both rolls, we were invited to the main kitchen; where the real magic happens. It was here where the team got a chance to check out the authentic Japanese and Bahamian cuisine that the restaurant also has to offer. We met Chef Tyrone, and he prepared Chicken Teriyaki and Sweet and Sour Conch, which was Sasha’s personal favorite because it was served on a bed of fried mashed potatoes (YUMMY!).We then had an encounter with one of the best desserts the team has ever experienced called the “Baked Eleuthera”. This dish includes vanilla ice cream served in a real pineapple bowl topped with pineapple chunks and a meringue topping! (Sigh!)The team found no fault in what the restaurant had to offer, and if you’re ever in the mood for good food, drinks, and a wonderful atmosphere; Sur Club Sushi is the place to be! 

Check out the Sur Club Sushi Episode for yourself!

OUT AND ABOUT | Taste Our Bahamas Festival

The Happy Foods 242 Team took over the Taste Our Bahamas Food Festival on October 11^th! We joined with a number of food loving Bahamian in our own mini competition to determine which Bahamian island had the best food. We started with drinks with Angelique Griffin at the “Switcha” (Bahamian Lemonade) stall. Griffin explained to us a little about the “Switcha” brand and its intention to expand its flavors. She also allowed us to try three of the new flavors, which was out favorite part! 

We then went on to Andros where we met with Deborah Green and Tiffany Newton. These two charming ladies showed the team how they prepare their delicious crab cakes! This a little close to home for Sasha, as her family is from Andros!

The team made a final stop at the Acklins stall where Sherice Colebrook allowed us to try their conchy conch fritters and amazing guava cheesecake! It was then when Sasha declared Acklins as the winner of our competition! There was Bahamian music, Bahamian people, and great Bahamian food! Overall, the festival was truly a delicious experience with a wealth of the essence of Bahamian culture!

EPISODE 2 | MOJO'S RESTAURANT & BAR

“I felt like I was in New Orleans!” Sasha expressed after experiencing the awesomeness that is Mojo’s! Mojo’s Restaurant and Bar located on West Bay Street, just a quarter mile away from Sandyport was actually the first episode that the Happy Foods Team shot. The team arrived on a Friday night meeting the restaurant packed and filled with life.

Head chef and owner Maurisa – she’s the Mo in Mojos – welcomed us with opened arms allowing us full access to the restaurant, its patrons, the bar and the kitchen. That night it was evident that Mojo’s was one of the hottest spots in Nassau. We immediately realized that the customers at Mojo’s were extremely loyal! One of the patrons even told us that she visits at least once a week! Another patron praised their infamous wings! The host can attest to that as she described the papaya BBQ wings as “awesomelicious”, in her words.

The kitchen, obviously where the magic happens, is where the team got to see chicken and waffles being made as well as the restaurant’s famous Kobe burger. We also had the opportunity to try out the restaurant’s famous hard lemonades which were also a treat!

Joey – the other owner and the Jo in Mojos – also took time out of his busy schedule to talk to us about the restaurant. The idea actually came from a birthday party for Joey which Maurisa catered.

It’s clear that these two young Bahamians are committed to what they are doing and that Mojos will be around for a long time to come.

View Episode two here: