Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
KABARS
If you're passionate about Creole music, try to attend a
kabar
. A
kabar
is a kind of impromptu concert or ball
that is usually held in a courtyard or on the beach, where musicians play
maloya
. It's usually organised by associ-
ations, informal groups or families, but outsiders are welcome. There's no schedule;
kabars
are usually advertised
by means of word of mouth, flyers or small ads in the newspapers. You can also inquire at the bigger tourist of-
fices.
ARCHITECTURE
The distinctive 18th-century Creole architecture of Réunion is evident in both the grand
villas built by wealthy planters and other
colons
(settlers/colonists) and in the
ti' cases,
the
homes of the common folk.
Local authorities are actively striving to preserve the remaining examples of Creole ar-
chitecture around the island. You can see a number of beautifully restored houses in St-
Denis as well as in the towns of Cilaos, Entre-Deux, Hell-Bourg and St-Pierre, among
other places. They all sport
lambrequins
(filigree-style decorations),
varangues
(verandas)
and other ornamental features.
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Food & Drink
Réunionnais like to eat and their food is a pleasure on the palate, with a balanced melange
of French cuisine (locally known as
cuisine métro
) and Creole specialities and flavours,
not to mention Indian and Chinese influences.
Réunion Classics
It's impossible to visit Réunion without coming across
carri
(curry), also spelt
cari
loc-
ally, which features on practically every single menu. The sauce comprises tomatoes,
onions, garlic, ginger, thyme and saffron (or turmeric) and accompanies various kinds of
meat, such as chicken
(carri poulet),
pork
(carri porc),
duck
(carri canard)
and guinea
fowl
(carri pintade)
. Seafood
carris,
such as tuna
(carri thon),
swordfish
(carri espadon),
lobster
(carri langouste)
and freshwater prawn
(carri camarons)
are also excellent.
Octopus
carri
, one of the best
carris
you'll eat, is called
civet zourite
in Creole. Local ve-
getables can also be prepared
carri
-style - try
carri baba figue
(banana-flower
carri
) and
carri ti jaque
(jackfruit
carri
) - but they incorporate fish or meat.
Carris
are invariably
