Eating Out in Mauritius - A Culinary Guide

Mauritius has enjoyed a diversity of culture forinfluences.
hundreds of years. Much of that diversity is dueRestaurants Of Note
to the occupation of other countries. Over time,First, the small merchants who line the sidewalks
the population of Mauritius has come to reflectin Mauritius and offer food to passersby are
the demographics of these other lands. It's noworth noting. Despite the presumed lack of
surprise that the cuisine of the island nation hashygiene, much of the food is incredibly tasty. Of
also come to reflect these influences. Today, thecourse, if you're eating out in Mauritius, you'll want
dishes are comprised of a rich blend of variousto reserve your appetite for the restaurants.
foods from a host of cultures. This unlikelyThey're usually small with meager furnishings.
mixture fuses these influences to offer uniqueHowever, don't let that dissuade you as many of
tastes that are exclusive to Mauritius. Below, we'llthe best dishes can be found there. Here are 3
describe the cultures that subtly manifest in theMauritian restaurants that you should consider
cuisine of the island. Then, we'll offer a fewvisiting:
notable restaurants to consider when eating out in#1 - The Amigo
Mauritius.If you enjoy seafood, visit the Amigo for a
As Cultures Convergeunique mixture of flavors from Creole and
Due largely to the French occupation of the islandEuropean cuisine.
during the 1700's, a Creole style of cooking is#2 - Chez Manuel
evident in the food. Dishes such as coq au vinThe Chez Manuel has developed a reputation for
served with a high quality wine signal the influence.delicious Chinese food. With the exception of their
Also palpable in the food are tastes stronglychinese fondue, the dishes are mostly pure from
reminiscent of Chinese cuisine, a result of migrantother culinary influences.
workers from China coming to Mauritius during#3 - The Happy Rajah
the late 1800's. Indian cuisine is also anThe exquisitely marinated meat and carefully
unmistakable influence, the product of indenturedbaked naan bread offer the tastes of Indian
servants who arrived from India during the middlecuisine. Curries and stews are created to
1800's. Finally, traces of European flavors areperfection with just the right balance of spices.
apparent in many dishes. This is likely due to aEnjoying The Flavors Of The Island
long history of exposure to several cultures overThe flavors of the island nation's food are as
hundreds of years.colorful as the cultures from which they spring.
When eating out in Mauritius, you'll find that someEating out in Mauritius is an experience you'll likely
of the restaurants prefer to isolate the flavorsremember long after having returned home. Take
from one particular style of cooking, effectivelythe time to enjoy the unique dishes and flavors
purifying the dishes from other ethnic influences.offered by the myriad of small, quaint restaurants
That being said, many restaurants revel inon the island. You may find yourself returning to
offering dishes that creatively blend each of theexperience those flavors in the future.