plate. CAL ABASH ISL AND EATS 1919 PEASE Street 832.529.6282
PHOTOS BY TŌMAN IMAGERY
cal abashisl andeats.com
Lessons in the Rhythm of Spice and Flavor N e w r e s ta u r a n t g i v e s D o w n t o w n a Ca r i b b ea n f l a i r By Nicole Marin Houston is easily one of the most diverse cities in the country.
It’s evident in the different people you see walking down the street every day and even more so in the city’s culinary scene. But Grenadian native turned Houstonian, Gen Barclay, saw a void in the market when it came to restaurants in Houston that serve up authentic Caribbean food and even better live music. There are over 7,000 individual islands that make up the Caribbean, including Cuba, Jamaica, Barbados and the Bahamas. And many of them are top travel destinations. “I noticed lots of people would visit the Caribbean Islands and have a great time, then return to Houston with no access to the same flavors or sounds they experienced while on vacation,” says Barclay, owner of the new Downtown restaurant, Calabash Island Eats. Calabash, the first restaurant of its kind in Houston, combines the diverse flavor profile of the top 21 islands into its menu using a largely Caribbean staff, “We have an older kitchen staff made up of people from all over the Caribbean including Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, so the tastes are definitely more authentic,” says Barclay. Calabash, the multipurpose fruit that the restaurant is named after, may not be found in any of the actual dishes, but it is still very much a part of the dining experience in its use as a bowl for guests. The menu itself includes traditional Caribbean dishes with familiar elements, such as curries, jerk seasonings and
delicious vegetables. Specialties include a whole fried fish, the Calabash lamb burger served with cou cou fries, and the must-try dish, the Miss Piggy, which is roasted pulled pork served with Puerto Rican rice and plantains. Whatever you do, come hungry! Keeping with the Caribbean spirit, the restaurant also includes an island-inspired Rhum Bar which provides tropical cocktails you can sip while dancing to live calypso, soca and reggae music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Don’t skip the outdoor patio and raised dining deck, which doubles as a cigar lounge and the perfect place to wind down after a long day!
Monday 11 am – 2 PM Tuesday–Wednesday 11 am – 10 Pm THURSDAY 11 AM – 12 AM Friday–Saturday 11 Am – 2 am Sunday 11 Am – 8 PM
36 fall 2015
downtownhouston.org