When it comes to travelling foreign lands, one of the main attractions is trying the local food.  Whether it’s eating authentic cacio e pepe in Rome, scorpions in China or fermented shark in Iceland, local foods let you know that you’ve actually made a break from the menu of your homeland.  Roatan is no different.  There are foods you need to try here that just aren’t the same elsewhere.  To help you plan your trip, here’s some Roatan local cuisine to enjoy on your vacation.

Baleadas

Probably the most revered Honduran food, and the number one Roatan local cuisine to enjoy on your vacation, is the baleada.  You’ll find roadside stalls making them all over the island and the mainland.  They’re cheap, hearty and tasty.  A single baleada could be considered a snack, or you could have several and call it a meal.  So what is a baleada?  It’s composed of a white flour tortilla which holds beans, cheese and mantequilla – a Honduran sour cream.  To make them a bit more substantial you can add eggs and/or meat such as steak or sausage.

Desayuno Tipico

In Spanish, “desayuno” means breakfast and “tipico” means typical.  So, this is your typical breakfast in Roatan:  corn tortillas, fried eggs, fried beans, fried plantain, avocado, cheese, mantequilla, jam and juice or a cup of coffee.  If you want to wake up on the right side of the bed, this is a great way to start your day in Roatan.

Sopa de Mariscos

As an oceanic island, you’ve got to expect that seafood plays a major role in the local diet.  Sopa de Mariscos is a seafood soup that’s made with coconut milk and whatever the local catch of the day is. It’ll typically also contain potatoes, vegetables, yucca (a starchy root vegetable) and/or rice.

Lionfish

Lionfish is probably a fish that you have never heard of on your local menu but it is environmentally friendly and delicious, Lionfish is an invasive species that’s been causing havoc with the local coral reefs for decades.  The government has recently instituted an educational program aimed at local fishers and restaurateurs to promote the consumption of this damaging species.  Lionfish has a mild, moist white flesh that makes it appropriate for most fish-based meals.  It even tastes great deep-fried which makes it ideal for fish and chips.  Many restaurants will serve lionfish as their ‘catch-of-the-day’ in a number of dishes.

Monkey Lalas

It wouldn’t be a tropical vacation without a blended tropical drink!  In Roatan, it’s the monkey lala, which is named after a local lizard.  Although the recipe might differ with each bartender, a monkey lala will typically include rum, vodka, Kahlua and/or Baileys and coconut cream.  It may also get a shot of chocolate syrup before the whole concoction is blended with ice.  It’s a tasty drink, but it also packs an alcoholic wallop, so don’t let your tastebuds fool you into drinking too many at once!