All the talk before Goombay was arepas, at least among the cognoscenti who like to eat odd food while standing up.
It is impossible to deny that there are some few people in Key West who don't much care for Goombay, a weekend festival supposed to celebrate Bahamian culture, such as it is. There was pigeon peas and rice for sale, conch in fritters and in salad and barbecue. But there was more. There were arepas.
Arepas are Colombian food and very good they are too. When my wife and I sailed to San Andreas in Colombia we used to eat from little street stands selling weak coffee, actual Colombian style oddly enough, and little fried treats including arepas. In the US these fried corn cakes, sweet and oily are grilled and filled with molten white cheese and they are still sweet and oily and utterly delicious. We ate several. Goombay is about food.
This is the week when Bill from Buffalo, New York, comes to Key West. Two years ago he spotted me at Goombay and frightened the shit out of me by coming up to me and accusing me of being the author of this blog. Last year he ordered me try alligator. This year we snacked on fried pork skins, crackling of epic size and crunchiness.
Like I said it's all about the food. Try the meat pies. 
Can I have a smile? I asked. She obliged.
Diana, Bill's camera shy wife, bought fried plantain chips. Lots of salt and quite delicious.
I exaggerate of course. Goombay is also about dust catchers.
Crepes aren't Bahamian but the crepe place is down here these days so it's just another flavor in the mix.
Goombay is also about fellowship and meeting friends.
I never saw creole cooking in the Family Islands...
...but I had some at Goombay...
...before I went to work.
There was music too, put on by students from Gerald Adams school, and tin drums actually are Trinidadian I think. Close enough.
We had to be at Goombay early owing to my work requirements but there were lots of people enjoying themselves early hanging out with friends.
It is impossible to deny that there are some few people in Key West who don't much care for Goombay, a weekend festival supposed to celebrate Bahamian culture, such as it is. There was pigeon peas and rice for sale, conch in fritters and in salad and barbecue. But there was more. There were arepas.
Arepas are Colombian food and very good they are too. When my wife and I sailed to San Andreas in Colombia we used to eat from little street stands selling weak coffee, actual Colombian style oddly enough, and little fried treats including arepas. In the US these fried corn cakes, sweet and oily are grilled and filled with molten white cheese and they are still sweet and oily and utterly delicious. We ate several. Goombay is about food. 
This is the week when Bill from Buffalo, New York, comes to Key West. Two years ago he spotted me at Goombay and frightened the shit out of me by coming up to me and accusing me of being the author of this blog. Last year he ordered me try alligator. This year we snacked on fried pork skins, crackling of epic size and crunchiness.Like I said it's all about the food. Try the meat pies. 
Can I have a smile? I asked. She obliged.
Diana, Bill's camera shy wife, bought fried plantain chips. Lots of salt and quite delicious. 
I exaggerate of course. Goombay is also about dust catchers. 
Crepes aren't Bahamian but the crepe place is down here these days so it's just another flavor in the mix. 
Goombay is also about fellowship and meeting friends. 
I never saw creole cooking in the Family Islands... 
...but I had some at Goombay... 
...before I went to work. 
There was music too, put on by students from Gerald Adams school, and tin drums actually are Trinidadian I think. Close enough. 
We had to be at Goombay early owing to my work requirements but there were lots of people enjoying themselves early hanging out with friends. 
Some of us have metaphorical monkeys on our backs, others have real ones, in diapers.
Cotton candy brings joy.
Tables are in short supply.
Nice hat- it would go with my Crocs.
Nice funnel cakes too. I wouldn't know though, as my wife wanted one last arepa instead of a funnel cake.
Cotton candy brings joy. 
Tables are in short supply. 
Nice hat- it would go with my Crocs. 
Nice funnel cakes too. I wouldn't know though, as my wife wanted one last arepa instead of a funnel cake. 
12 comments:
Arepas are wonderful. My first visit to Key West was during the Goombay Fest. My visit next year is going to be during that week.
Dear Sir:
I could have eaten my way through this entire festival.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
You cant beat Goombay...cheap beer..not that you could have any since you had to be at work at 6..cheap exotic food..meat on a stick...and arepas..a great way to end my Key West vacation..!!!
Buffalo Bill
This looks really fun! I would love to come for Goombay Fest! Lots more fun than the Lobster Fest we hit when we were there for in August-- which just seemed like another reason to get people to troll Duval.
Goombay still feels like a street festival. Though Jack, you poor deluded fool it was hotter than Hades still and you would have died. (I would be reluctant to give you the kiss of life in public). I would call for an $800 ambulance ride instead!
Danette: many of the booths keeping popping ast the all the festivals, goombay has it's roots in the community in some way that buffalo bill and judi have seen.
Looks like my kind of festival. Plenty of local food though the heat would have killed me...
Thank you for the tour!
Dear Conch:
You can give my ass the kiss of life, if you like.
Fondest regaeds,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
Dear Richard, riepe would have killed you in the stampede to get the food. Alaska happily is the home of wacky elections this year and we are suitbaly grateful in Florida.
Dear Jack, your comment saddened me as I kissed your ass less than two weeks ago and already you have forgotten. It must have been a pretty pathetic kiss. I'm so sorry.
Wish they would sell the left overs next week at Meeting of the Minds. Cold, miserable 39 degrees in Montana with snow, rain and wind. Can't wait to get to your island paradise!
Bob in Montana
Mr Conchscooter:
did someone mention food ? I know nothing of these delicacies for they are foreign to us, but the arepa looks sweet and delicious. I like sweet stuff.
I also want to try the shrimp Creole
bob
Wet Coast Scootin
Two of everything, please! (Minus cotton candy & monkey.)
dear bobskoot, no one doesn't like arepas. Well some people don't but they are very good, and gone for another year. Boo hoo.
dear cindy - you will be sick. pleasantly sick, but sick notheless.
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