Have you ever eaten in the shade of a long-standing rubber tree on the azure-blue Indian Ocean after a long beach walk? Where the Michelin-star experience is not about the geometrically precise, neatly arranged bites, but about the 50 shades of turquoise ocean and azure sky, the tranquillity, and the mix of cultures in this magical place? If not, and you’re looking for a D.I.Y barbecue tip, be sure to read on!
On a summer day in October, with a tub of sunscreen and 3 tireless kids along the coast, we set off to explore Cap Malheureux and admire the Notre Dame Catholic Church with its red roof structure that can be seen from a distance.
Along the way, the coastline showed us a thousand faces: the endless blues of the water shimmered in a myriad of hues as we walked on the dazzling white sand, balanced on stones, or waded in the cooling water. We could see and hear the awe-inspiring ocean as we stood on the breakwater rocks and relaxed in the shade of palm trees….
The colors of the water were broken by the distinctive sail shape of the island of Coin de Mire (a nature reserve, where you need a permit to dock).
As we approached our destination, we passed a coastal cemetery that left a deep impression on all of us: the island’s former inhabitants of different faiths (Hindu, Muslim, and Christian), regardless of their beliefs, are together keeping the peace of the island, setting an example to the world.
Then we arrived at our final destination, the Notre Dame Catholic Church. The striking red roof hides a solid, tidy little interior, which charms visitors of less religious persuasion.
And then back to our gastronomic adventure: behind the chapel, on the beach, stands the BBQ bar Chez Claudio, whose simplicity and proximity to nature give you the unforgettable experience of being part of a magnificent painting. We sat down at our table in the shade of a huge rubber tree, with a panoramic view of the Coin de Mire and the many bright colors of the surroundings in the background. The smell of freshly fried prawns, fish, and chicken only served to whet our appetite.
While the kids enjoyed the shade of the tree, which doubled as a playground, we had a peek at the show kitchen: now for the D.I.Y. barbecue tip for the hardcore! Take one (or more) iron barrels, cut it in half lengthwise along one side, so it looks like an opened shell. Open it up, put in the grates, and you’re ready for charcoal and all the earthly goodness you want to cook. That’s it. No frills, yet you’re eating the most delicious morsels.
After a nice lunch, we sipped our coffee and headed back with the kids under our arms. But since we, the tired, dehydrated, and very satiated wanderers, were no longer up for the trek home on foot, we hopped on the local, also amazingly cozy bus (which will be the subject of another post 😉 ) and trudged home.
And so it was that we had another adventurous route ticked off our bucket list: but there are countless others to come….
