Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE ROYAL RAT
Feeling adventurous? Then how about a plate of grilled rodent?
Gibnut
(elsewhere in Central
and South America it's commonly called “paca”) is a nocturnal rodent that's hunted in the
northern and western jungles of Belize. It's then grilled, carved up and served as a local
delicacy. Belizeans, particularly those who grew up in rural areas, have been dining on it for
years - but gibnut first came into the international spotlight in the 1980s when it was served
to Queen Elizabeth II at a state dinner in Belize and gibnut got its nickname, “Royal Rat”.
So, what does it taste like? On the plate, gibnut looks like pork - slightly fatty, and often
tender enough to cut with the side of a fork; in the mouth, its wild nature comes through,
with a pungent, earthy gameyness. In fact, as many chefs report, when hunters haul in gibnut
to the kitchen, the odour is so powerful and rank that the meat has to be dunked in a vat of
lime juice for the day.
Tracking down gibnut is also part of its appeal. Most tourist-geared restaurants don't offer it,
but just ask around, and you'll get directions to the nearest family restaurant that serves it. One
spot to try it in Belize City is the cosy
Nerie's II
(see p.56). Bon appétit!
plantains that are mashed into a paste, and then
cooked with fresh fish.
Central American-style,
streetside
snack bars
are found all over the country, and provide cheap
and delicious fast food. Try tasty
tamales
(savoury
cornmeal, usually with chicken, wrapped in a
banana leaf and steamed), tacos,
empanadas
(similar to tacos but the tortilla is folded in half
after filling, then deep fried) and other Latin
staples. In the north, particularly in and around
Corozal, which is near the Mexican border, many
restaurants offer a flavourful hybrid of Belizean
and Mexican cuisine.
Lighthouse; and the malty Premium. Belikin also
features seasonal varieties, including the Sorrel
Stout during the holidays, and the refreshing
Verano beer for the summer. The
legal age for
drinking
alcohol
in Belize is 18.
Cashew nut and berry
wines
, rich and full-
bodied, are bottled and sold in some villages, and
you can also get hold of imported wine, though it's
far from cheap. Local
rum
, in both dark and clear
varieties, is the best deal in Belizean alcohol and
there's plenty to choose from.
Fresh fruit juices, particularly orange, lime, water-
melon and pineapple, are generally available.
Tap
water
in towns, though safe, is highly chlorinated,
and most villages have a potable water system.
Filtered, bottled water and mineral water are sold
almost everywhere, and pure rainwater is usually
available in the countryside and on the cayes.
International cuisine
International restaurants have sprouted up across
Belize. You'll find quality Indian places, which
often have vegetarian main dishes, in Belize City
and San Ignacio. Also popular is Lebanese and
Middle Eastern cuisine, with good authentic
restaurants throughout the country. As well,
Belize has many
Chinese restaurants
, varying
enormously in quality. Chinese food will probably
feature more in your trip than you anticipated, as
it's often the only food available on Sundays, or
late evenings in smaller places. And, of course,
there are plenty of American-style restaurants in
the tourist areas, where you can sink your teeth
into juicy burgers and fries.
Health
Belize has a high standard of public
health, and most visitors leave without
suffering so much as a dose of diarrhoea.
Tap water in all towns and many villages
is safe to drink, though most visitors
(and locals) prefer the taste of bottled
water (which is widely available). Restau-
rants are subject to stringent hygiene
regulations, so ice in drinks will almost
certainly be shop-bought or made from
treated water.
Still, it's essential to get the best
health advice
you can before you set off; always schedule a visit
with your doctor or a travel clinic (see p.30). Many
clinics also sell travel-related medical supplies,
Drinks
Belikin, the only brewery in Belize, produces almost
all the
beer
consumed here. Belikin beer comes in
several varieties, including regular, a tasty, lager-
type beer; a dark, rich stout; the golden, lighter
