On a recent trip to Barbados I had the pleasure of sampling one of the nation’s specialties: macaroni pie.
The noodles are thin and quite long, around two inches or so, and usually a mild tomato sauce works nicely with the cheese.
You can find it everywhere–it’s often featured on the menu in the hundreds of rum shops that dot the island, emblazoned with Banks Beer or Mount Gay logos. It’s served for lunch and dinner and makes a great snack.
I had my first mac pie at the weekly Oistins Fish Fry, where it seems half the island turns out for a night of food, drink, and dancing. The noodles were long and tender and the tomato sauce was hearty. There wasn’t much of a crust on top, but overall it was very satisfying.
Oistins Mac Pice
But mac pie isn’t not just a roadside staple or festival fare. I had my finest macaroni pie at David’s Place, a pleasant restaurant overlooking the sea. This was some high class casserole, my friends. Not as creamy as a traditional American macaroni dish, but the light notes of tomato and the fluffiness of the dish, almost quiche-like, made this one of my favorite meals on the island.
Macaroni Pie at David's Place by the Sea
If you ever find your way down to the beautiful island of Barbados, the people are friendly, the rum flows freely, and the macaroni pie is fantastic.
