Expats and Food

Dominica draws some interesting people from all over the world into an expat community that thrives on the rustic, wild nature of this island. Or maybe its how cheap it is. Or maybe its the anonymity. Are they hiding? Running away? Entrepreneurial? Whatever it is, I've met a number of people who now call Dominica their full time home or home for part of the year. 

A delightful Canadian woman, Carol, has been here for more than 20 years now. My British friend, Naomi, and I found her at her place, Buttercup Bakery, in Calibishi. She married a Dominican long ago and has been here ever since. Her bread, cake, cookies and jams, all locally sourced, are scrumptious... and given the style of bread made here (cardboard-esque but very cheap), her bread is almost worth the drive. 

I've befriended some other Canadians who live here half of the year, Danielle and Jack. I met them on the beach (they were tending the "bar") and they love it here. They seem to thrive on the forced simplicity, minimal attire, and wild natural living. In conversation we realized our shared love of mushrooms and are in the process of searching out mushroom farmers on Dominica. Danielle knows someone who used to work for the Agricultural Department of Dominica who is going to help us. I guess mushroom farmers don't spend much time online... Stay tuned for that adventure.

Another expat is a French man named Nicco. Being French, he brings with him, what else? Culinary beauty! His tiny bakery, Le Petit Paris, does big business here and is a favorite among the med student spouses. While the service and availability of offerings really follows the Dominican way (who knows, maybe not, nope we don't have it, not this time, oh sure...), the baking is decidedly FRENCH. 

Nicco serves up delightfully flakey fresh croissants: original, ham & cheese, and chocolate. He has french style pizza pies, wine tastings, chocolate swirly things, baguettes, and a friendly Bonjour to greet you.

The latest expat I've come across is a woman named Marie. She requires her own post... She is a painter living in Dominica and her studio was out of a storybook. I'm hoping to go back and paint with her so I'm going to wait until I have more to share beyond just my first visit. Here is a teaser though...