Caribbean Restaurant offers taste of Haiti
By Cloe Cabrera
CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT
WHAT: No-frills restaurant featuring home-cooked Haitian-American, Caribbean and Creole food.
WHERE: 2412 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa
HOURS: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday
CREDIT CARDS: All major
CALL: (813) 801-9200
R E V I E W
TAMPA - Simmering on the stove at Caribbean Restaurant are the dishes James Moreau's mother, Alourdes, cooked for him as a child in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Three years ago, Alourdes Moreau brought a bit of her homeland to the heart of West Tampa when she opened her first Caribbean restaurant.
Caribbean Restaurant No. 2 followed three months ago in Winter Haven.
``She's always loved to cook and bake,'' says James Moreau, 21, of his mother who speaks only Haitian Creole. ``She loves business too, that's why she opened the restaurants.''
Caribbean Restaurant has the distinction of being the only Haitian-American eatery in the area. They also serve Caribbean and Creole cuisine.
Haitian cuisine is rooted in the culinary traditions of the many nations from which its people emerged, so influences come from West African and indigenous nations, France, Spain and the United Kingdom.
While there are many similarities between Haitian and Caribbean food, James Moreau explains, Haitians like an unusual blend of spices that include fresh garlic, cloves, thyme and a variety of scotch bonnet peppers, so there's never a need to use salt.
The flavor of Haiti can be found in entrees, including Poule Mou (soft chicken), Boeuf (stewed beef), Ragou (pig feet) and Kabrit (goat).
The goat and soft chicken entrees really stand out.
The meats are incredibly tender, a result of hours of marinading in sour oranges, garlic and other spices, boiling, frying, then stewing the meat, Moreau says.
Entrees are large and come with a choice of vegetables that includes collard greens, lima beans, corn, bannan-n (green plantain pressed and fried crisp) and a choice of yellow rice, white rice or rice and beans.
The rice and beans, which are made with lima beans or red beans, are cooked in a broth of coconut milk that makes the rice tender and flavorful; Acense, a popular white powder seasoning that brings out the flavor of food, is also commonly used.
Dishes range in price from $5.89 for Codin (turkey) up to $9 for Lambi (conch).
Call ahead to check on daily selections.
Breakfast is a real treat. Choose from Foi-Du (liver), Morrue (salt fish), Saucisson (sausages) and Pwason (fish) served with girts, Haitian grits made with yellow corn meal, plantain or sweet potato. Prices start at $2.99.
The restaurant offers take-out; and there's free delivery for orders $15 and up.
Caribbean Restaurant is also a catering service.
Caribbean Restaurant
