Whilst around the globe, those winter nights are starting to draw in and there is a distinct chill in the air, BUT the only chill you’ll find over in the Dominican Republic – is everyone chilling out at the beach! Beautiful Autumn/Fall weather for this week, with temps at a very comfortable mid 80F during the day and falling to a high 70F for the evening and night time.

In the afternoon you will probably see the thunder clouds rolling in as they do especially on the north coast in the afternoons at around 4.00pm, a good bench mark maybe to leave the pool area and stroll over to the bar for a Happy Hour Drink or even get ready for a pre-dinner stroll around your complex or go on go for it – sneak outside those pearly gates for a quick peek at what Dominican Life is really about!

As you can appreciate this article is adapted from one of our weekly weather updates, but highlights the importance of food, love and appreciation of The Dominican Way of Life...

Now you maybe thinking about what to eat at the myriad of buffets and special a la carte restaurants in your resort, but spare a thought for your fellow countrymen as they will be sitting down to a typical Dominican supper.  Frugal usually but also tasty.  Dominicans seemed to have mastered healthy eating on a budget with a well balanced meal with all the key components, a carb, a protein and plenty of fresh salad or fruit for dessert.

No stopping off at a fast food restaurant for the family over here as there are two main reasons for this.  First reason – there are none (well there are but mainly in the capital city of Santo Domingo which from the north or south of the island where you will be holidaying is a mere 4 or 5 hour drive away!!) and the Second reason is it is just plain expensive.    Fast Food is definitely a fast currency commodity here in the Dominican Republic! Likewise it is nigh impossible to stroll into a local supermarket and purchase a “ready meal”.  Stouffers is unheard of; Lean Cuisine would be very lean by now, everything you buy for your 3 squares a day has to be made from scratch.  Which reminds me, a word of advice – If you are thinking of moving out to the Dominican Republic on a permanent basis and you cannot cook – take a quick course then before you come out and learn the basics!! 

Of course there are plenty of restaurants to go and eat out at, ranging from typical Dominican Diners to 5 Star glitzy first world country glamour gourmet, but when the Dominican Republic becomes your home full time, just like any country where you originate from – it is rare especially with families to eat out 7 nights a week!! For the Dominicans and like many of the Ex Pats living on the island too – eating out is for special occasions and a treat to look forward too.

The good thing about buying all your produce fresh is just that – it is fresh and sun ripened.  Organic vegetables are sold in abundance over here and not just as an expensive excuse to have an organic aisle – this is how they come and are grown.  Watch out holiday makers tucking into the salad bar for your first couple of days! Yes it is massively healthy but sun ripened means more fiber.  More of the good stuff means more of those trips to the bathroom and if you are up north it is commonly known as the Puerto Plata Splatters!! So you have been warned and take care! Joking apart though, many meats here are all free range even though you can buy stamped and approved beef from the States, the local stuff has been wandering around in beautiful pastures and mountain sides, so from hoof to plate it is comparable to top grade beef anywhere in the world.  Big fat chickens not pumped full of steroids can be bought in abundance here, with a slightly yellow colour to their skins and flesh due to corn feeding.  Delicious…

If you fancy going out of your resort where – ever you may be staying in the Dominican Republic whether it be north or south during your holiday or vacation, ask the front desk hotel concierge to recommend a good sea food restaurant.  Plenty of local fish are reeled in daily, and from sea to sea food platter the turn around time is incredible – literally just within hours of being caught – now how amazing is that? No frozen fish here at all!
 

The Dominican Republic has plenty of lobster which you can have in various ways.  The Dominican Langosta does not have the huge claws that if you are from State side you will expect, and is spiny in shape, but sweet sweet meat dribbling in fresh garlic is delicious.  Look out for the local fish, Dorada, Wahoo, Bonito (a member of the tuna family – slightly darker meat and more gamey taste) all grilled fresh and steak size hunks on your plate.

So come on – take a walk on the wild side and get out and about and support the local restauranteurs.  From Punta Cana’s gorgeous Bavaro beach of miles and miles of white sands you can sit beach front and dine under the stars.  Head out to CorteCito and either try Captain Cooks or the CorteCito Inn next door (Captain Cooks is more popular with tourists BUT CorteCito is quieter and has a similar excellent menu – both outside beach front too).  Captain Cooks restaurant offers a water taxi ride to and from your hotel.  If you are north side on your vacation then you can head up to Cabarete – surf capital of the Caribbean for a multitude of wide ranging restaurants all located on the famous Cabarete beach.  During the day sit back and watch the surfers and kite boarders or in the evening hang out at candle lit tables, you may be sitting in a huge sand castle chair as you dine…Also on the north coast if you are lucky to be staying in the EMI resorts, Sun Village or Hacienda resorts go down to the beach front.  There are a couple of very well established restaurants on the front that have been there for years and years and offer excellent choices of simple to 5 star menu’s. 

The weather is going to be glorious this week, and you have all traveled along long way for this precious vacation, take time then to go and treat yourselves and find out why the Dominicans live a long and satisfying life.  Food is a precious commodity to most Dominican families, and they prepare food with love as it fills not just the stomach but the heart and soul as well. They use food to give their families a head start in life - it is as easy as that.  They might not have shoes to wear or a Sunday best but they will always have a simple rounded meal. 

Even Grandad joins in with the food prep at the family home!  This is the love of the Dominican Republic, go and find a little of that love for yourselves and go and have a fabulous beach front dinner night out.  Atmospherically you’re onto a winner, and on the scrumptious scale – you’re off the scale! See you there!!