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Posted: Thursday 16 July, 2015 at 10:57 AM

Restaurant Week Vibes: Chinchillas

By: Adam Anderson, SKNVibes.com

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - FRIDAY night rounds the corner and I’m excited! The second place I had visited when I first came to the island was Chinchillas. That was the night I learned about the Strip. I found out quickly where the fiesta was and I was scheduled to eat there again, so I knew I had to take some friends and hangout on the beach.

     

    As I arrived at the destination, I remembered the orange and green metal cylinders that lined the edge of the restaurant. I walked up the stairs and saw a familiar face…David, the manager, greeted us with a large grin. He was not too sure about what the whole food review process was about. So I assured him that all he really needed to do was provide some of his signature nachos and a colorful drink to show on camera. (I knew they were good before I went. Is that cheating?) He winked and replied  by telling me that he’ll take care of it…

     I laugh to myself because he brought nachos, but he decided to prepare food for us the only way he knew how!


    We found a seat right off the shore and he swiftly returned with a variety of different drinks for my guests and I. Two orange and one yellow.  

    “Two sexy monkeys for the ladies and an orange vodka with a surprise,” he chuckled.

    I tried my drink and it was delicious. I can’t tell why I loved it, but there's something in it that I can’t put my tongue on. I reluctantly guessed.

    “Vanilla Rum? Is it Pineapple Vodka? I just couldn’t figure it out but I know it is so aromatic,” I thought to myself.

    I came to find out that it was gin. It’s one of my favorite liquors. It adds a well justified savory aromatic note that is true to the spirit.

    After we shared some jokes and small talk, my friend suggested I try her drink. The sexy monkey is what I like to call a creeper. It is so smooth and sweet you won’t know it before it hits you…I took note of this island cocktail favorite. It had Tequila, Vanilla Rum, Banana Rum and Mango Rum. I’ll tell you what, after 3-4 glasses you’ll be feeling all warm and tingly inside! 

    As we finished up our drinks, he promptly returned with two plates of appetizers… 

    That was a foreshadow to the epic night encroaching. 

    One plate had two items, Sope and Flautas. Sope is a corn batter fritter with chicken and a three-pepper sauce on top. First bite and the bitterness of the peppers played nicely with the savory chicken and the sweet corn flavour. I couldn't help but feel endorphins as I ate to the sound of the ocean crashing. I progressed to the next item. Flautas are crispy flour tortillas with chicken in a fresh tomato sauce all deep fried. By then, I don’t have to tell you how much I love anything fried, but that was just superb. Savory and tangy and a crunch that was to be expected. 

    Now the second plate had my favorite, ceviche. Best that I’ve had only second to my mother's! (sorry Chinchillas, my mom reads these articles). Grouper spiced with cilantro, salt and lime, allowed to cook in the juices. What is not to love about that? I took a warm fresh tortilla chip and dipped my first bite. Sour, savory and with a mild heat, all followed by the taste of delicious fresh grouper. It was prepared so perfectly cradled in a corn tortilla bowl. We all dug in and fought over the last bites. It was all so dang good!

    Feeling an overwhelming happiness from the food, I decided to take off my shoes because, boy did I feel at home. The sand felt nice and warm. It was so much fun to laugh and share stories as we drank and ate good food. We didn't even notice the short wait. Not but 7 minutes later arrived the main course…There were the Nachos we ordered...but wait, there’s more!

    Three plates were laid before us. One had a whole red snapper fried and then covered in their famous red sauce. A hemisphere of rice accompanied the plate. On the other was a chicken in their house made three chili sauce with seasoned rice garnished with two pink petal flowers and a photo perfect piece of green lettuce leaf. The last plate had the second meal I had in the island. Chinchilla’s Nachoyomamas! 

    I didn’t know where to start! The red snapper was so moist and delicious. The breading had soaked up all the flavour of the tomatoes and herbs used to make the sauce. Every bite was like a beautiful day at the beach...Ironic in the best way possible. The rice acted like the shore to the ocean of flavour that was the fish. Fresh and tender as if to clean itself off the bones. I quickly restrained myself from eating anymore because, on a typical night out, I would have gotten stuffed on it alone. It was finger-licking good.

    The next plate tried was the chicken. This one reminded me of the sope I had eaten earlier but with slightly more kick and a little more astringent. It was scrumptiously moist and each bite was too easy to eat. At least the fish made me pace myself because I didn't want to catch any bones, but this one was good enough to inhale. When I really love my food, I eat fast and I could have finished the plate in less than 2 minutes. It was so much food and all so delicious!

    I’ve been talking about the nachos so it’s safe to assume that we loved them. The last plate had a pile of grilled chicken, house-made salsa, sour cream, queso and a dollop of guacamole, all on a bed of tortilla chips. We decided to finish our night after the delicious meals sharing even more food as we drank and laughed. They are the perfect way to share when you're out with your friends. A little messy, but worth every queso-stained napkin. We sat back and enjoyed each other’s company. I was not expecting such a feast!

    We watch the sunset as the restaurant grew and grew with hungry guests. This place was the spot to be on a Friday night! I was under the impression that we were done for the night, but David came back for one last surprise.

    Mango habanero ice cream drizzled in chocolate on a homemade waffle cone. I’ve never heard of such a desert! I’m a connoisseur of spicy food, so naturally hearing habanero I prepared for the spicy endorphin rush. I took my first bite. Mango cream; it’s sweet and milky and a flavour I can only describe as tasting the pepper without the inferno you’d expect with habanero. It’s a pleasant aromatic backdrop to the creamy mango ice. It was surprising in all the right ways; it’s the first time I could taste this famous pepper without shedding a tear. Simply delicious…10/10 I would eat again.

    As we finished the ice-cream, we asked David to sit and drink with us. It was a night to lime and we loved the good company. He brought us another round of strong, sweet and sour margaritas, as we enjoyed the good vibes on the beach. We made sure that you could participate, so we made a video below. 

    If you're looking for a place to grab a drink and share with your friends, go to Chinchillas for Restaurant Week. The fiesta will have already started but, it's okay! I’ll see you there!
     
     
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