Bonaire Eats – Part 3 – Blue Garden

As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, Bonaire though a small island, with a small population, has a very diverse population. There are over 75 different popualaions represented on this small island, including a Brazilian group.

One of the restaurants we dined at, also a restaurant we have visited in the past, was Blue Garden. Blue Garden specializes in seafood and Brazilian foods, and is decorated with many Brazilian influences.

We popped in for a late dinner after a night dive and a shower, and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of our evening. We ordered a mixed seafood plate as an appetizer and a plate of lionfish. Both were cooked to perfection. The mixed seafood was a combination of shrimp, calamari, mussels, and fish.

Lionfish is a big problem in the warm Caribbean waters. They are an invasive fish that can easily destroy the whole reef, especially since they breed so prolifically in the warmer waters. They are an invasive species all throughout the Caribbean. It is hard to keep the lionfish population under control, so a few years ago, many local Caribbean governments sponsored and encouraged catching and killing as many lionfish as people could catch. They became very popular on many menus, which is a good thing for seafood lovers. They’re delicious to eat once you cut off the poisonous spines. They are beautiful fish, but deadly; certainly deadly to the local reefs, and are toxic, though not deadly, to people when alive. Only the spines are toxic, so once those are removed, lionfish is good eating! Lionfish are venomous rather than poisonous to humans, meaning their meat is completely safe to eat once cooked, but their sharp spines can inject a painful neurotoxin if you touch them.

Life is short. Make the most out of everyday and live life to the fullest. Enjoy the ride. Have a great day and make everyday great. ‘Til next time.