Grenadian Throw Down in Washington DC

Who said you had to be in Grenada to eat good Grenadian cooking? A group of us from the Maryland/Washington DC area decided to “Throw Down” some Grenadian food last weekend. And with a typical Grenadian hospitality, we invited our other Caribbean and US friends to come eat us out.

grenadian food
The Name says it all

All I will tell you is that it was a big hit. Food Galore!!

  • Oildown –  Grenada’s national dish.  We had two pots: one for the meat eaters, and one for the rest of us. I commissioned the Oildown but that’s as much credit as I can take for it. All the praise for this delicious pot goes to the Iron Chef Willy a.k.a Rookie.
  • Callaloo Soup – this local favorite came compliments of Katina,  Michelle & Graeme
  • Fish Broth – A Grenadian Cookout is just not the same without some “Seafood Waters” , so we decide to go for extra credit and do not one, but two pots of Fish Broth: one with Red Snapper, and the other with Tuna … that was a Che and Graeme production.
  • Pelau – Nothing like a good Pelau. Michelle I need that recipe.
  • Curry Goat -from the Iron Chef again.
Graham, with Hosts Che & Michelle
Graeme, with Hosts Che & Michelle

But wait… THERE’S MORE:

  • Salt fish and Fig – Michelle again.
  • Baked Whole Salmon – prepared Grenadian style, by a Grenadian living in Baltimore
  • Baked fillet Salmon – As if the whole Salmon was not enough, my sister Gwen showed up with even more Salmon
  • BBQ chicken – My other sibling Hazel took no chances and decided to walk with her favorite meat
  • Corn Soup – Che knows this is good for any occasion, but he also know it’s very appealing after a long night of drinking
  • Mango Chow – Since Michelle found a recipe for this, no function she hosts is ever without it. It’s a good healthy, tasting snack

And on top of all that, the other guests did not come empty handed. Who didn’t bring drinks brought some other Caribbean dish, or desert, as I said before Food Galore!!

Oildwon Grenada's National Dish
Oildown Grenada's National Dish (My plate)

Grenadian Recipes just for You

Now I know some of you have never heard about some of the dishes above. Don’t worry. To better acquaint you with Grenadian Cuisine, I will post the recipe for some of these in the coming week(s). And if you’re not brave enough to try the Grenadian recipes at home, then you’ll just have to wait until you Go to Grenada, to get the real deal.

Great food, fun friends, and sweet island music. The session was swinging from start to finish.

  • Them Trinbagonians beat their Iron all night
  • A Jamaican old timer and a Grenadian got in an argument about which island has the strongest rum. This time it was Wray and Nephew vs. Grenada’s Best.
  • A Grenville man and a St. George’s man argued over Rivers Rum and Clarkes Court. ( See what I wrote about Grenada’s Clarkes Court Rum here)
  • Them GBSS and PBC boys trash talk about high school life, and reminisce about the old days…
  • And of course with elections high in the air lots of rum shop politics talk.

Big Thank You

At the risk of sounding like Sarah Palin, I’ll like to give a “Big Shoutout” to our gracious hosts  Michelle (My Fav Cuz) and her husband Che. And another “Big Shoutout” to all the Master Chefs, and the entire party crew, we definitely doing this again (right Michelle?)… as they say when it’s nice you gotta do it twice (at least).

More Pictures from the Grenadian Food Throw Down


20 comments

  1. Boy I aint lying that food look good
    nice to see you invited ppl from all nationality
    but the next time u having something like that i would like to be there
    I live in Toronto and i will surely drive all d way 2 b a part of dat with my friends
    keep up d good works
    me aah grenadian from Victoria

  2. Hi Lisa,
    No Grenadian restaurant in Maryland that I know about, that’s why we had the “throw down”. Lots of other West Indian restaurants, although I would think New York (brooklyn) got Maryland beat.
    If I ever hear about one I’ll be sure to let you know… otherwise next time just come to Maryland when we’re cooking and we will hook ya up…LOL!!!

  3. hi, i googled callaloo soup and discovered this site. while i am in NY my sister and husband are in Maryland. when we visit her we never get the kind of home cooking like what you all had. any grenadian restaurants in that area? good going and best to all of my grenadians!

  4. Che Keens Douglas yuh mean as………..!!!! Dem tings aint right man! Grenadian/Bajans aint meant to feel so baddd! Yuh mudda raise yuh better dan dis. Ah got tears in muh eyes man!
    De food and festivities look toooooo sweet.

  5. Che`, this is SOOOOOO unfair!! I’m going to tell your mum!! None of allyuh fancy chefs planning a trip to Orlando soon????

  6. @Garvii,
    If you can’t be in Grenada all year round, you might as well come to the East Coast especially Washington DC… Good Grenadian Times Right Thru

    @Rochford
    Rivers? Smell Good? If it smells that good try recommending it as a mouthwash…and let me know how that works out LOL!!! That’s some potent stuff – smell and taste… you are a better man than me for drinking it… I can’t handle Rivers

  7. Gooch thats a real low blow to try to get me to move to the DC area. Shame on you! Good work Michelle. Oh yeah Che too.

  8. buh wait…ms. michelle you had me eating only plums in grenada when i could’ve been tasting your sweet han (from all accounts)? ok this calls for a trip to dc for true!

  9. Lord ha mercy! That food looking real amazing – you’all could open a restaurant and I would be there every day (although ah living in Canada)!

  10. In a word…Niiiice! Serious skillz. Even though I’m sitting here eating some sal’fish and breadfruit, I give big Kudos to my family– one family, one love, full belly, right!?
    And the web site is extra special, Gooch-gooch! Keep on.

  11. Grenada’s national dish “oil-down” is a simple, delicious and robust dish, which is very popular in local restaurants. It’s a hearty one-pot meal of salted meat, chicken, dumplings, breadfruit and other vegetables. The whole thing is stewed in coconut milk, herbs and spices to add even more flavor. Saffron gives this dish an exquisite element.
    —————–
    Martina

  12. Grenada’s national dish “oil-down” is a simple, delicious and robust dish, which is very popular in local restaurants. It’s a hearty one-pot meal of salted meat, chicken, dumplings, breadfruit and other vegetables. The whole thing is stewed in coconut milk, herbs and spices to add even more flavor. Saffron gives this dish an exquisite element.
    —————–
    Martina

  13. @Gillian: LOL! Really funny… yes they are dumplings, admittedly phallic in appearance, but nonetheless dumplings, who knows where the chef mind was… LOL!!! Anyways sometimes seeing is still deceiving, so next time come find out for sure.

    @Francine: Che is evil indeed to do that to a friend.

  14. @Gillian: LOL! Really funny… yes they are dumplings, admittedly phallic in appearance, but nonetheless dumplings, who knows where the chef mind was… LOL!!! Anyways sometimes seeing is still deceiving, so next time come find out for sure.

    @Francine: Che is evil indeed to do that to a friend.

  15. This Throw Down looked hmmm hmmm good! I’m a friend of Che and Michelle from Trini… One comment, I hope those are dumplings in that iron pot of with the corn and there aren’t a batch of castrated little Grenadian boys running around the island….. Lol.. yummmy…

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