Eating local in the caribbean (USVI) during the winter months

[Girl Friday]

What is in season in the Caribbean in February? What fish can you rely on to be locally caught and which ones are almost always flown in? We are going to the USVI for our third year next winter, and I never know what to eat to have a local experience. Thanks for any help.

[cleobeach]

Where in the USVIs are you travelling?

I always see mahi and snapper on the menu. When we visit St. John, local lobsters can be hard to find if the seas are up so when it is available, I always order it.

If you are on STJ, keep an eye out for Josphine's produce. She grows it on her own farm.

[Girl Friday]

We are going to St. John. We've been there twice before so we know the layout (at least of Cruz Bay and surrounds - haven't made it down to Coral Bay yet...) The past few years when we've gone, I've looked and the only local (Josphine's) produce we've seen is herbs. Where is she located? Is there a farm stand? As for fish, I usually stick with Mahi, even though I like more tender fish like snapper. Is the local snapper sustainable? Lobster is usually out of our price range. What about the wahoo? Is it sustainable? Do any of the restaurants in the area feature lesser known options like hogfish?

[cleobeach]

Josphine's is over in Coral Bay, there is a road by Lilly's Market and you turn back there and go in a ways. (I know those are awful directions, sorry)

I think she now sells greens at the Dolphin Market and Starfish. I think the new Fatty Crab restaurant is also featuring her stuff.

I have not seen lesser known options at the restaurants on STJ. (We have on VG and Anguilla.) I can't speak to sustainability of local snapper but the whole grilled fish at the LIme Inn is my favorite meal ever.

[cleobeach]

Oh, speaking of Coral Bay - there is a food truck at the intersection that does all sorts of vegan and meatless vegatarian options that is reported to be very good. I haven't tried it yet have heard great things about it.

Have you tried Vie's in Coral Bay? She is a local lady that does chicken, conch, etc.

[Girl Friday]

Last year we stayed on St. Thomas and came to STJ via ferry for a few days trips (no car). year before we stayed on STJ but never made it to Coral Bay. Vies, Lucy's and Skinny Legs are at the top of my to try in Coral Bay.

[cleobeach]

I like Lucy's. I would add the Shipwreck to the list too. (on the same road as Lucy's but closer to the main intersection. I am not a Skinny's fan but many people think it is fantastic.

Check out Sogo's in Cruz Bay for "local" food. There are some who would argue about how local it is but it has been there since we have visited STJ.

[Veggo]

Spiny lobsters, hogfish, and snapper are all good, local, and sustainable reef dwellers. For blue water fish, wahoo and mahi mahi (dolphin) as phelana indicates are good. Most billfish are catch and release now in the area. I'll fess up that I still enjoy grouper. Strawberry or red grouper don't reach a size to feed on lionfish, that I know of. In fact, grouper of any type feeding on lionfish are rare sightings.

[phelana]

Stick with Mahi Mahi. It is sustainable. Never eat Grouper. It is not sustainable and the only predator known to the Lionfish.

[Girl Friday]

I actually read an article recently (a search turned up dozens of articles. Here's one: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38632799/... ) about some people eating lionfish. Apparently, once you remove the venom, they are fantastic. It would be nice if someone figured a way to successfully (safely) harvest them so we could enjoy lionfish on our menus instead of all that overcooked mahi I always end up with.