One of my favorite parts of traveling is getting to try a different cuisine. There is good food out there and while the U.S. and Austin, TX provide a well-rounded mix of cuisines and flavors, there’s something special about trying the food in its country of origin.

As I mentioned in my post about Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort, we stayed and ate at the resort all week. Our package made meal times easy and I liked that they included traditional Belizean dishes on their menus. I tried as many new-to-me foods as possible! (I also tried to take the best photos I could, though many are from dinner time.) Many of these dishes are Caribbean dishes, so you can find them in multiple countries.

Fry Jacks

Deep-fried dough, how can you resist? One of my favorite things I ate in Belize was this traditional Belizean delight. While I ate it plain at breakfast, it can also be stuffed with meat. I would describe it like the shape and structure of a pita with the taste of an unglazed donut. Basically, I’ll be dreaming about these. (Pictured here with a mini frittata and Belizean coffee.)

Marie Sharp’s

You know what they say about Marie Sharp, right? She’s the hottest lady in Belize! Haha, that joke didn’t get old. This hot sauce comes in multiple flavors and levels of heat, and it’s a typical condiment you’ll see on tables. From what the locals say, stay away from the one called Beware!

Stew Chicken or Beef, Fried Plantains, Coconut Rice and Beans

I could have eaten this every day. There are a lot of complementary flavors in this hearty dish. What makes Belizean Rice and Beans special is that it is cooked in coconut milk.

Ceviche

We encountered two types of ceviche in Belize. One was what one typically thinks of ceviche, with white fish or shrimp. We also had non-fish ceviche with watermelon and pineapple. We ate ceviche every day!

Seafood Galore

Ceviche, grilled fish, fried fish, cocktail shrimp, fish cakes. I definitely reveled in the seafood bounty when in Belize! I had everything from snapper, jackfish, and lionfish. I also enjoyed Belikin beer battered shrimp!

Chaya Leaf

Also known as tree spinach, this leaf is a traditional Maya ingredient and added to omelets and soup. It’s a little tougher than spinach but has more flavor.

Johnny Cake or Journey Cake

Johnny Cakes are dense, circular bread made with flour and coconut milk. They last a long time, so they are an ideal snack for a long trip, hence it is also known as “journey cake.” You usually slice it horizontally and add stewed chicken or cooked fish in the middle to make a sandwich. (On this plate, you’ll see other things typical of a Belizean breakfast: fry jack, fish, and refried beans.)

Coconut Bread and Desserts

With the abundance of coconuts, it makes sense to use the coconut meat and milk to make bread and desserts like coconut cake, coconut ice cream, and coconut pie. I loved all of it!

Beetroot Carpaccio

I first had this Italian dish in Costa Rica. I think about that dish frequently but haven’t encountered it again. So, I was ecstatic when I saw it on the menu in Belize. The dish has thin slices of beetroot, arugula, shaved Parmesan, red onion, horseradish cream, and capers. I could eat it every day. The Internet has plenty of recipes for this dish, so I hope to make it one day!

Garifuna Sere

I tried a traditional Garifuna dish of fish poached in coconut milk and loved it! Garifuna is a language and culture of the Garinagu, Afro-Caribbean people who have settled in Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. In Belize, the Garinagu have communities in Southern Belize.

Cassava Pudding

Cassava is a root vegetable that some might know as tapioca. This isn’t the typical “pudding” you need to eat with a spoon. Cassava Pudding, a popular Caribbean dessert, is more like a dense, glutinous cake with a similar texture to mochi. They served it with plenty of vanilla ice cream.

Fresh Fruit and Juice

What do I love about tropical places? Fresh fruit and juice! Papaya, watermelon, pineapple. We snacked on fruit every day and drank it at breakfast.

Belikin Beer by Belize Brewing Company

When in Belize, Belikin is your beer! Belikin Premium is a good beer with flavor but Belikin Regular is close behind. Also made by Belikin, Lighthouse Lager is close to beer water. Craving dark? You’ve got Belikin Stout.

Craft Beer

Ok, beer snob. If you don’t want to drink Belikin, you’ll need to make your way to San Pedro to try Island Time Brewing, a nano brewery in Belize. There are a handful of other craft beers but they don’t have distribution around the country either. Your best bet is to hop from bar to bar to see what craft beer they’ve got!

Cashew Wine

While I didn’t get to try it for myself, Cashew Wine is a popular wine choice in Belize. It’s wine made from cashew fruit.

Rum Cocktails

While you can find all kinds of liquor in Belize, rum is king. Rum punch! Piña colada! Other fruit-forward rum drinks! Belize has you covered.

Fresh Coconut

There are coconuts galore, so look out above! Fresh coconut water is a refreshing and hydrating drink. Make it a party but pouring in some liquor.

Before we decided on staying at Hamanasi, I was already making my restaurant list. Here are some recommended places around Belize to check out.

• Innie’s Restaurant (Hopkins)
• Errolyns House of Fry Jacks (Caye Caulker)
• Dee N’ D’s (Caye Caulker)
• Robin’s Kitchen (San Pedro)
• Palapa Bar and Grill (San Pedro)

P.S. Want to explore more travel eats? Check out these dishes in Thailand, Greece, and Costa Rica.

P.S. See all my Belize posts here!

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Eating and Drinking in Belize appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Vodka and Sprite. That used to be my alcoholic drink of choice. In my usual ‘late bloomer’ fashion, I started drinking later than most of my college friends, and beer was never my first choice. Beer, the watery amber liquid that smelled and tasted unpleasant, had one job, and that was to fill red solo cups for beer pong or flip cup.

Fast forward to post-college and my discovery of craft breweries in Austin. I’ll admit, I was first attracted by the craft and the passion of the brewers, not the taste of beer, though it was different and much better than the first beers I had tasted in my life. I eventually found appreciation for the flavor of beer after visits and tastings at brewery after brewery. My go-to, favorite beers have shifted from light lagers to hoppy and smooth IPAs.

The past couple of years have propelled my love of craft beer to new heights. It was my first time attending the Texas Craft Brewers Festival, but I know it won’t be the last! The weather was great, though slightly warm, and the beer was tasty and plentiful.

Produced annually by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild since 2003, the Texas Craft Brewers Festival featured 65ish Texas breweries sharing at least two beers each. We see new Austin breweries popping up constantly, but the fest was a strong reminder that new craft beer is being brewed all over Texas. The area most notable to me was the suburbs of Houston. Dallas and Austin also had strong showings. I was glad to see Big Bend Brewing Co and Lone Pint Brewery, two of the more hard-to-get-to breweries we’ve visited, there also.

For about $30, each ticket provided eight three-ounce pours, 24 ounces total per TABC rules. You could buy eight more three-ounce pours for $5.

Some brewers had special tappings that were released at different times throughout the festival.

Next year, I won’t forget my snack necklace! As the maker and wearer of this necklace explained, bringing in outside food and drink is prohibited, but edible jewelry isn’t!

Even though I didn’t wear a snack necklace, I satisfied my munchies at the fest. The food vendors included Salt & Time Butcher Shop and Salumeria, Noble Sandwich Co., Oasis Texas Brewing Company, M’lady’s Bakery, Napa Flats Wood-Fired Kitchen Austin, YAPA Artisan Empanadas, Johnny Joe’s BBQ & Catering, and Leo’s Gorditas.

I aimed for breweries I hadn’t visited with beers I thought I would like. Many of those beers were in the Houston area. Here are a few of the beers I tried:

• Braman Brewing (Richmond) – Double Action (Double IPA)
• Brigadoon Brewery (Plantersville) – Green Ogre (Imperial IPA)
• Jester King Brewery (Austin) – Cherry Funk Metal (Sour Barrel-Aged Stout Refermented with Cherries)
• Lorelei Brewing (Corpus Christi) – Ephyra (Double IPA)
• Orf Brewing (Austin) – Oocheenama (Asian white ale)
• Southern Star Brewing (Conroe) – Mango Theory (Fruit IPA)
• TUPPS Brewery (McKinney) – For Ella (Double IPA)

The breweries represented areas all over Texas. The booths were arranged alphabetically, making them easier to find. The signs also listed the beers the brewery brought.

The fest was a great place to learn about new breweries. Southern Heights Brewing Co, a soon-to-open brewery in Austin, had a prime parking spot for their cute VW van outside the fest entrance.

The fest was also well-managed. Though the line to get in was long, it went through quickly. There were rarely lines at each brewery booth unless it was for a special tapping. There was plenty of space to walk and mingle and lots of areas with shade. Of course, there was live music in the center of the park. Water stations with cups were positioned around the festival.

It was a fun day to celebrate the Texas craft beer community and enjoy the fruits of their labor. I hope everyone had as much fun as I did!

P.S. Want to plan an Austin craft brewery crawl? Check out this post!

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Kimchi Fried Rice at The Peached Tortilla 
I’m a fan of The Peached Tortilla and I like what the restaurant is doing. I enjoyed dinner service back in March and thought their dishes were fantastic. For brunch, I went with nostalgia and ordered the Kimchi Fried Rice because it has Spam mixed in. I know. I haven’t had Spam in years but it was a part of my childhood, for better or worse. Despite the health factor, I did enjoy the dish and wouldn’t mind ordering it again for a family-style meal.

4th Tap Brewing Co-Op
A new brewery opened in North Austin near Circle Brewing and Adelbert’s. Since it is near boyfriend’s work, I got the inside scoop and tried it early. I like 4th Tap because they have an IPA called the Long Walk that isn’t too hoppy. They already have three beers canned. While they are new to the physical building, they are not new to Austin’s craft brewery scene; they’ve been going at it since 2011. Check out their grand opening party on November 7th!

Quiche at Bolsa (Dallas)
I’ve been wanting to try brunch at Bolsa for years. Years! I finally checked it off the list and enjoyed this skillet quiche. The crust was soft and flakey unlike a usual crispy pie crust.

Sweet Treats at Joy Macaron (Dallas)
After brunch at Bolsa, we were close enough to stop for some macarons at Joy Macaron on the way out of town. Yum! We got a six-pack with salted caramel, Nerds, blood orange, rose and lychee, pistachio, and Italian cream. All dainty and delicious. My favorite was the salted caramel (of course).

Gyro at Shahi Café
This hidden gem in North Austin is my favorite place for a quick, filling bite. The gyros are fresh and flavorful. The service is top-notch. Their summer drink, the ginger basil limeade, is a must every visit, though they may be transitioning to a fall drink now.

Crab Cake Benedict and Oysters for Brunch at Mongers Market + Kitchen
Mongers Market + Kitchen is delightful. Inside is a beautifully designed dining room and outside is a roomy patio. The menu has an abundance of seafood items. The mimosas are on point. The raw oysters are high-quality. All in all, it was a lovely brunch with my friend MJ. The Crab Cake Benedict comes with tomatoes, potatoes and arugula and is a very filling dish. My few bites of MJ’s slightly caramelized French toast were the perfect end to the meal. This restaurant will be a top choice for my seafood fix!

Kangaroo Carpaccio Nacho and Meatloaf at Lonesome Dove
I ate kangaroo! It tasted like beef. I also had a hearty dish of meatloaf, collard greens and mashed potatoes and finished the meal off with butterscotch budino. Lonesome Dove missed the mark for me. While the restaurant is beautifully constructed and presents the opportunity to eat exotic meats, the dishes lacked spark. I wouldn’t mind dining here again but my expectation will be a meal that is good but not great.

San Francisco and Sonoma Eats
I’ve updated my San Francisco Eats post by adding a few restaurants enjoyed on trip number two. Check out my notes on farm:table, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, R&G Lounge, Jane, Brenda’s French Soul Food, and Comstock. Also check out the phenomenal Sonoma restaurants in my Sonoma Travel Guide.

$6 Happy Hour Burger at Gardner
I had dinner at Gardner late last year and it wasn’t my favorite, but this burger has me denouncing all other burgers I’ve eaten. It’s juicy and it comes with addicting French fries. They have drink specials and as low as $15 bottles of wine. To top it off, their bar and patio area is looking good and patio time in Austin has arrived. This burger special is on their patio during happy hour until the end of November and I highly recommend taking advantage of this deal! Get there as close to their 5:30 pm opening time as possible to snag a seat.

What recommended eats do you have to share?

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Brisket, beef ribs, pork ribs, potato salad and beans at La Barbecue
My friend Aaron (one of my best eating companions!) and I have wanted to try La Barbecue for a while, so we luckily got a pre-order in one Saturday morning. What they say is true – this is some of the best barbecue in Austin. Yes, you’ll need to get to this trailer at least an hour before to get the best selection of meat and to get it ASAP.

Beef and Pulled Pork Tacos at Tacos and Tequila
My friend Sarah and I enjoyed the $2 self-serve taco bar and drink specials for happy hour. The tacos aren’t fancy but they’re good for the price.

Dinner at Sushi NiNi
For good, cheap sushi in a sports bar setting in a strip mall right off I-35, Sushi NiNi is your place. Strange, I know! It’s a unique setting but their happy hour is great and their sushi is even better. I enjoy sashimi (raw fish without the rice) and their rolls are good also.

Funnel Cake Ale at the Texas State Fair
In addition to the Fletcher’s Corny Dog and flavorful fried gulf shrimp boil, I tried the Funnel Cake Ale. It tasted like regular ale with a bit of vanilla and the cup’s rim was dusted with powdered sugar. Not better than a real funnel cake!

Tapas Dinner at Casa Rubia (Dallas)
With a glowing review from a friend, I dined at Casa Rubia for dinner and it was an excellent choice. Some of the tapas we enjoyed from this Spanish restaurant included: Bunelos de Pollo (chicken croquettes), Codorniz (quail), Gambas al Ajillo (gulf shrimp), Vieiras (sea scallops), and Costillos de Cordero (lamb ribs).

TX Shiitake Quiche at CBD Provisions (Dallas)
I enjoy visiting Dallas because more than likely, I’ll enjoy brunch somewhere new with friends. This last time, we ventured to the downtown Joule hotel for this swanky and beautiful restaurant. It was a quiet Sunday morning, our food was a hit and the service was fantastic. There wasn’t a bite of kale and mushroom quiche left on my plate and the assorted pastries were a great way to start brunch.

The Milano, Pepperoni & Basil, and The Green Belt Pizzas at Pinthouse Pizza
If you’re looking for delicious pizza and beer, try Pinthouse Pizza. We shared three personal size (10 in) pizzas. My favorite was the Green Belt with ricotta, mushrooms and spinach.

Dinner at Andiamo Italiano
We don’t see a plethora of Italian restaurants in Austin, so I’m glad I can add Andiamo Italiano to my list. I enjoyed the Capesante dello Chef (seared sea scallops) and Paglia e fieno alla Boscaiola (Homemade fettuccine with sausage, mushrooms and onions in light cream sauce). I couldn’t stop eating the fettuccine noodles. They were tender and perfectly al dente. The sauce was delicious!

Grilled Oysters at the Whole Foods at The Domain
The problem with oysters: they disappear too quickly! The grilled oysters topped with parmesan coupled with a beer from their wide selection were a great mid-day snack.

Wundershowzen at JuiceLand
JuiceLand is my go-to for fresh smoothies and juices. While a little pricy, the convenience and the fresh ingredients make it worth it. I usually like my smoothies with almond milk and almond or peanut butter. My favorite has been the Originator but this Wundershowzen (almond milk, spinach, hemp protein, banana, and peanut butter) has been added to my list!

Dinner at Uchiko
It’s been a couple of years since I dined at Uchiko and it was so much better than I remembered. Our fantastic dinner included: hama chili (yellowtail), brussels sprouts, gyutan (grilled beef tongue), madi (Japanese bream), unagi (eel), sake toro (salmon belly), and finished off with the tobacco cream dessert.

Burger and Fries combo at Player’s
Player’s brings back great college memories. Since it is closing Nov. 23, Linda and I decided to pop in one last time for lunch. With the outside-the-ordinary burgers becoming the norm, it’s nice to get back to the basics of a simple burger.

Martin Códax Albariño and Seafood-focused meal at Josephine House
Martin Códax invited food bloggers to try their wine while indulging in a perfectly paired seafood dinner. Josephine House served Martin Códax’s Albariño and the wine’s crispness and acidity complemented the dishes very well.

Dinner at Odd Duck
Ending my month on a high note, I celebrated my friend Dan’s birthday with a group of friends at Odd Duck. Our dinner included: pretzel, steamed dumpling, lamb kebab, ceviche, fried chicken croquette, soft cooked duck egg, goat confit, coconut rice pudding and apple cake doughnut. The lamb kebab and apple cake doughnut were my favorites!

What delicious things did you eat in October?

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At the beginning of January, I spent 32 hours in Denver. It was a near perfect (boo on 8 degree weather!) weekend filled with some of my favorite things: cupcakes, bears, breweries, great food and adventure.

Cupcakes
One of my favorite things to do when I travel is visit the cupcakeries in the city. In Denver, I was able to visit two: The Shoppe and Church of Cupcakes.

The Shoppe is a hip shop with a huge variety of flavors. Take a look at that display case!

Church of Cupcakes is still building their religious-themed shop, but I have a feeling it will be a hit. I loved the clever Ten Commandments and the “Confectional” that will soon be a photobooth. The theme carried over to the cupcakes with names like Pillar of Salt-ed Caramel, Sprinkle Salvation, Venerable Velvet and Devil’s Food.

Bears
Although it was “Free Day” at the Denver Zoo, it was empty because it was so cold. Nevertheless, we endured the cold for a little bit to see the bears. One bear was taking a nap until he woke up and played with a cardboard box and the other bear paced non-stop back and forth while shaking his head at regular intervals, which looked so sad!

We also saw the 40-foot Big Blue Bear at the Colorado Convention Center.

Breweries
One of the best parts of the trip was going on the Denver Microbrew Tour. We got to visit and try beers at four brewpubs: Rock Bottom, Falling Rock, Breckenridge, and Wynkoop. They all had some unique beers and it was fun learning about Denver’s microbrewery scene from our very knowledgeable and fun tour guide. We even coincidentally met three other Texas Exes on the tour!

Food
We had some fantastic meals on the trip. We had yummy Italian food at Osteria Marco and delicious burgers and more local beers at Cherry Cricket.

Adventures
Some other highlights from the trip:
-Pretending to be a Denver Broncos fan and watching part of the playoff game in a bar packed with fans
-Visiting Tattered Cover Bookstore, one of the largest independent bookstores in the U.S.
-Walking around Larimier Square sipping hot chocolate
-Stopping by the state capitol even though it was in the middle of renovations
-Making a quick walk-through of the flagship REI store, which easily inspires you to go hike a mountain or something equally as adventurous

Denver is such a fun city, and I can’t wait to visit again. Hopefully the next time I visit it’ll involve hiking, skiing and/or a concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater!

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My first brewery tour was at Live Oak Brewing Company and that experience had a lot to do with the development of the passion. It was a small group, about 20 people, and the brewmaster took the time to explain in detail why they brew, how they brew, and why beer tastes the way it does. Seeing the very equipment producing the beer I saw in bars around town and hearing straight from the passionate brewmaster himself made the beer and experience much more personal. The craft brewing industry is growing and it’s growing rapidly in Austin. It’s cool to think these brewery owners started with a passion for beer and found a way to share that passion with the community.

Craft breweries also have an impact on the Texas economy. A study was recently released by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild and it found that while 0.7 percent of the beer consumed in Texas comes from craft brewers, Texas craft brewers have created 51.2 percent of the state’s brewery jobs. The study also predicts the Texas craft beer industry will grow to $5.6 billion annually in eight years. Pretty cool.

Hops & Grain

While several of the breweries around town have adopted the fun, come hang out and enjoy our beer kind of “tour,” I personally enjoy getting to hear from the owners and brewmasters about their breweries’ story, obstacles, and future plans. And then followed by some time to sit around and enjoy the beer. My favorite breweries in Austin are Live Oak Brewing Company and Hops and Grain. If you want to learn about the brewing process in-depth, Circle Brewing has a great self-guided tour with an info sheet and numbered areas around their building. You can even see, touch and smell the different hops.

If you want to check out Austin’s local breweries, take a look at my Pinterest board. The list of local breweries keeps growing! Also check out this cool map of breweries in the U.S. There are so many! I just might have to add “take a brewery tour” to my must-do list when I travel to other cities.

[So far I’ve visited Live Oak Brewing Co, Thirsty Planet, Independence Brewing Co., Circle Brewing, South Austin Brewing Co., Hops & Grain and Austin Beerworks in Austin and NOLA Brewing in New Orleans.]

Have you been on any brewery tours in Austin or in your city? Which is your favorite?

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