Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the B.V.I., including spicy conch soup, curried goat, a whitefish called “old wife,”
and more. See p. 211.
W
The Spareribs at Pusser's East
(Tortola;
&
284/495-1010
): Even if you're from
the South, you'll salivate over the ribs served here. Like all barbecue chefs, the
cooks here keep their sauce a secret—and is it ever tasty. See p. 212.
W
Mud Pie at Pusser's Landing
(Tortola;
&
284/495-4554
): Mud pie may appear
on many menus, but it's a classic at Pusser's, home of “the rum people.” It's so rich
that no one ever asks for a second helping. Don't like mud pie? Dig into the mango
soufflé. See p. 213.
W
Conch Fritters at Top of the Baths
(Virgin Gorda;
&
284/495-5497
): From the
Bahamas to Key West, hundreds of chefs proclaim that they make the best conch
fritters. We'd like to nominate the cooks at this little eatery for their spicy, delec-
table fritters, which are meals unto themselves. See p. 232.
W
The Painkiller at the Soggy Dollar Bar
(Jost Van Dyke;
&
284/495-9888
): We
can't compete with the yachtsman who drank 10 Painkillers in 1 night, leaving him
feeling no pain indeed. But this delectable rum-based drink, whose recipe is a
closely guarded secret, gets our vote for the best-tasting rum punch in the B.V.I.
Its home is the bar at the Sandcastle. See p. 238.
W
Grilled Swordfish at the Cow Wreck Beach Bar & Grill
(Anegada;
&
284/495-
8047
): This elegant fish is grilled and flavored to perfection here. “It gets no bet-
ter,” proclaimed one happy diner at the table next to us, and we agree. Our dish
was so fresh that the fish must have been just “harvested” from the sea. See p. 242.
THE
best
SHOPPING BUYS
The U.S. Virgin Islands are the shopping mecca of the Caribbean, mostly because
there's no sales tax and because shoppers can take advantage of the $1,600 duty-free
allowance. St. Thomas's capital, Charlotte Amalie, is the nerve center of the shopping
activity here. Look for two local publications,
This Week in St. Thomas
and
Best
Buys
—either will steer you toward the goods you want.
Before you leave home, try to check out the price of comparable items you hope
to buy; that way, you'll know if you are really getting a bargain. With that said, your
best deals will most likely be found in the following categories:
W
Arts and Crafts:
Though arts and crafts are not the high-priority items that they
are on such islands as Haiti and Jamaica, you can certainly find them in the Virgin
Islands. The
Tillett Gardens Center for the Arts
in St. Thomas (p. 102) is the
premier art gallery and craft studio in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In St. John,
Mon-
goose Junction
(see “Shopping,” in chapter 4), in a woodsy roadside area right at
Cruz Bay, offers the best assortment of locally produced arts and crafts (all tax-free
for U.S. citizens). Handmade pottery, sculpture, and glass are sold here, along with
locally made clothing. If you're looking for handicrafts exclusive to the U.S. Virgin
Islands, head for
Many Hands
(p. 184), also in Christiansted.
W
Fine China & Crystal:
Sometimes (not always) you can find great deals on these
wares—many shoppers report savings of 30% to 50%. We noted that Baccarat
goblets sold on St. Thomas went for about a third of the price quoted in the U.S.
catalog. Again, know your prices before you land on St. Thomas. The best outlet
for fine china and crystal is in St. Thomas at the
Crystal Shoppe
(p. 103).
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