With thanks to Foodland St Barth
Caribbean yacht charters are immensely popular so it’s sensible to know what provisions to look out for while you’re there – and who to contact locally to help you source what you need.
As with any location, the Caribbean and its characterful islands are home to some incredible foods and dishes. Owners and charter guests alike will fall in love with the great tastes and flavours from across the region, but it requires the expertise of local provisioning companies to help the chefs bring these dishes to life.
Being on the ground, in the heart of their respective islands, these knowledgeable provisioners can source, transport and deliver whatever you’re looking for. Whether it’s the ingredients to mofongo from Puerto Rico, jerk chicken from Jamaica or flying fish from Barbados, local provisioning companies have the means and contacts to locate what you need.
Yachting Pages shines a light on must-try foods from the Caribbean, how to get hold of them and why it’s important to utilise local knowledge.
There are countless foods worthy of a mention when it comes to Caribbean cuisine, but we’ve decided to handpick a few of our favourites from around the islands for yacht chefs to salivate over. Are you ready? Let’s reveal the first plate.
Given that the Caribbean consists of numerous islands, surrounded by vast ocean, seafood is unsurprisingly one of the region’s culinary highlights. Flying fish are a firm and tender whitefish that are generally served grilled. They are particularly popular in Barbados and throughout the Windward Islands – Flying fish & Cou Cou is in fact the national dish of Barbados!
Tropical fish like Mahi-Mahi, Wahoo and Snappers are also very well liked.
The seafood specialities don’t stop there. Grouper make for good steaks and are commonly used in stews, while there is a large array of shellfish varieties on offer too - spiny lobster and conch are among the favourites.
There’s sure to be a dish to suit everyone’s tastes (aside from most vegetarians).
One of the first foods that comes to mind when you think about Caribbean cuisine is jerk chicken – the iconic flavour of Jamaica.
The term ‘jerk’ is ubiquitous and used to describe a variety of different flavours around the world. So what does it mean in its homeland? Well, in Jamaica, jerk refers to a very spicy dry or wet rub applied mainly to chicken, but also to other meat. Once the flavours have been absorbed, the meat is smoked or grilled ahead of being served.
This is a great dish for chefs to serve on board: It’s a hearty local delicacy that packs a punch. The level of spice can be tailored to suit the requirements of those on board too.
The idea behind this filling and healthy stew is that one pot will feed the family (or in this case, those on board). A pepperpot stew is made with aubergine, okra, squash and potatoes, slow cooked with a meat. Sometimes a simple, straightforward dish like hits the spot more than a sophisticated or elaborate meal.
One of the most popular pairings is Funghi and pepperpot, which is the national dish of Antigua and Barbuda.
There are a number of delicious fruits and vegetables found in the Caribbean, some native and some that have been brought over and grown ever since. These fruits include:
Provisioning for a superyacht in the Caribbean can be tricky, especially if anchored around smaller islands like St Barths. We spoke to Jordan Cappai of Foodland St Barths, a trusted provisioner on the island, to gain insight on the reality of sourcing food and drink within the region.
We outline Cappai's best advice and offer some top tips to ensure visitors source provisions successfully in the Caribbean.
[The following images are courtesy of Foodland St Barth]
The reality of provisioning within the Caribbean is simple: There aren’t many options. A local agent can be found, who may say they can help, but they are a Jack of all trades rather than a specialist who speaks the language of food. With this in mind, it’s important to have a flexible provisioner – and having more than one is best practice.
As every chef/guest has different needs, it’s important to be able to contact the right businesses. For example, when it comes to speciality foods, purveyors often know best – that’s why it’s important to have multiple options available to you on each Caribbean Island. After all, each island is different, particularly in terms of local produce, fisheries and agriculture.
That being said, it does help to have that one purveyor who you can trust to do everything to protect your interests.
A purveyor, like Foodland St Barth, takes huge pride in their ability to deliver an exceptional service. Even if they don’t have the product a chef is seeking, they will generally do whatever they can to help, knowing time is often of the essence. They aim to treat clients as friends rather than business associates.
There are a number of global provisioning companies that have a strong network and reach in the Caribbean. They have access to major airports and airlines, as well as virtually any product.
However, there is one disadvantage: They are limited by the logistics available to them, considering they are shipping from a location far away from them and thus not necessarily having the resources to distribute everything.
In situations like this, a local provisioning business is in a better position to help. Not only are they closer, but they can generally alleviate the costs associated by having the product readily available on site. The other key difference is that utilising a provisioner that is ‘on the ground’, they are often able to answer captains and chefs right away, face to face. This often makes for a much better service and overall experience.
The world of yacht charters revolves around unforeseen requests and last-minute demands. If a captain requires something ‘by tonight’, the only provisioners able to meet those demands are the ones on site; global provisioners don’t have the same adaptability.
Caribbean superyacht provisioning businesses also utilise other techniques to ensure they are equipped to cater to visitor requirements. Many, including Foodland St Barth, ensure they load the freshest products across the 5-7 flights that come in from Miami, New York and Paris each week. A quick phone call is all that’s necessary to get something added to the list of products that are dispatched.
All provisioners know the tricks of the trade to ensure products have the best chance of arriving on time, but local businesses are better suited to the task given it's their daily job.
Budget restrictions aren’t often an issue within the superyacht industry – especially in desperate times when a captain or chef urgently need something.
That doesn’t mean superyachts should be exploited, however. Foodland St Barth, and many other local provisioning outlets, pride themselves on being fairly priced. Freight charges can be steep – shipping by air is anywhere from 8-10 times more expensive by weight – and this is something captains and chefs need to bear in mind. Fortunately, most perishables are imported by boat instead.
Global provisioners often see greater costs given a lack of presence ‘on the ground’ and a subsequent need for additional transport options.
Never underestimate the importance of timing! You can work with the best concierge providers and provisioners in the world, but none of them can buy time. For purveyors like Foodland St Barth, maintaining inventory on every item is impossible. All they can do is follow the trends and estimate as best as possible because they don’t know what superyachts will arrive and what they will need.
With this in mind, timing is of the essence. Sometimes advanced warning isn’t possible, but the earlier they know the better – then it’s up to them to figure out what they can do to save the day.
As mentioned earlier, it’s hugely beneficial to captains and chefs to know who the provisioners are on the island and what their capabilities are. This can save time and money.
Many provisioners and purveyors around the Caribbean – and indeed the globe – have had to rapidly improve their gluten-free, vegan, egg-free, plant-based, MSC-certified, organic, grass-fed, natural and Kosher-certified product offering over recent years. It’s much improved, but as with all items it’s impossible to store everything.
The solution is effective communication. With email, WhatsApp, phone calls, and social media available at the touch/click of a button, it’s vital that these platforms are utilised to avoid mistakes from happening.
It’s important for captains and chefs to be specific. Generally provisioners will suggest/source the best quality product unless they are told otherwise, but sometimes this isn’t what chefs are necessarily asking for. Sometimes they may be looking specifically for something local at the request of a guest.
There are challenges to provisioning in the Caribbean, that much is true, but it doesn’t have to be a big headache. There is an array of local provisioning businesses that are experienced, knowledgeable and determined to provide an impeccable service to visiting superyachts.
These provisioners aren’t necessarily equipped in the same way global provisioning businesses are – they may not have immediate access to the goods requested. But their ‘on the ground’ expertise can be an essential ingredient in a superyacht charter’s visit to the region, alongside other options. The key for captains and chefs is to establish what they need as early as possible, to give their provisioner the best chance of delivering the goods.
Search for a specialist provisioning company near you on Yachting Pages. Alternatively, find more provisioning advice in our dedicated content library.
Yachting Pages has put several of the leading safety cases (and other associated products) to the test. The objective: to ascertain how each product performs and determine which one is best equipped to safely contain a lithium battery-induced fire.
In the realm of maritime luxury, the quest to offer yacht charter guests the perfect night's sleep has become an art form, one which luxury bed and linen supplier, CC Design, has fully committed to.
A jacket completes any crew member's uniform so it's an important garment to get right. In this Tried & Tested, Sea Design pits eight popular jackets against one another to determine which one is best for superyacht crew in 2023.
Port Tarraco, a hub for maritime activities and trade, has taken a significant leap towards environmental sustainability...
In a groundbreaking move toward sustainability, Torqeedo GmbH, a global leader in electric and hybrid marine propulsion,...
Search our industry-leading directory for over 20,000 superyacht suppliers, providers and marinas.
Search now
Google