Heather here, taking over on the blog writing duties from my partner Hopper as he wings his way back north. I know that, as the guy behind this whole crazy idea, he takes immense satisfaction in being part of the team that sets up a new trip and gets the ball rolling. And while I know he hates to leave us, he’s happy knowing this place is such a good fit for our little swimming company. Thanks for a great week, Hop! We will work as hard this week to do you proud!

Jason and I goofing around, Zack exploring the HUMONGOUS “devil tree” at the marina, Zack and Ace in the front of our taxi, Zack and I racing to eat Klondike bars in 100 degree heat. He gave the rest of the 6 pack away!

Just as quarantine was so connective for us as a crew, our in-between days - the 24+ hrs between one charter and the next - are an important time for our team (though not quite as restful). We work our butts off to flip the boat and get it restocked with everything we will need to run another trip. We reprovision, manage charter issues, solve little behind the scenes problems and more. It’s a gritty, sweaty time, but we work hard and together and it all gets done.

The in-between day is usually a time when we get to meet and work with more local folks as well; our taxi and go to guy, Ace, our charter company team Dennesse and Hiro, locals at various markets and shops. In short, these kinds of days are when I get to know a place and the people I’m working with even better. I treasure this.

After the work was done yesterday, Jason suggested a local joint he knows for dinner. It’s called Patrick’s Local Home Style Restaurant and it’s just across the street from the marina entrance.

*Patrick’s. A must dine here in Greens.*

If you want to KNOW Grenada, or “Greens” as Ace told us the locals call their home, you gotta go to Patrick’s. Walk through a door surrounded by brightly colored signs and enter a causal porte-cochére, with muraled walls, cloth covered tables, and red and green bulbs giving the whole place a warm glow. This is a family place, as the first person we met was Wayne, the brother of the owner and chef, Karen. Wayne welcomed us, sat us at a table with a smile and story about the original owner, Patrick, who has passed away. Karen, a childhood friend of Patrick who worked with him for a decade, now runs the place, does all the cooking, and dreams up new ways to get people in the door. Her son, Milton, serves Karen’s fantastic food to lucky diners. Jason recommended we each get the sampler - an order that includes a small serving of about 20 different appetizers on the menu. It’s essentially tapas, but every dish is local. I mean, LOCAL. This is a very authentic experience where one is treated to the absolute best of Grenadian culture and cuisine. They did not have some stand out items last night, most notably, possum, iguana and rabbit. I admit to some relief about this. Everything else on the list was there, prepared perfectly and brought out to us on small plates with enough for each of us. The amount of preparation and work that must go into this meal is hard to imagine, but Karen came out of the kitchen to check on us with a big smile and background on many of the dishes. She and Miriam talked shop for a while, as Milton brought us out 4 small pieces of rum cake with dark chocolate rum sauce, along with a complimentary shot of “under the table rum” - this from a jug filled with spices and seasonings that get rum soaked and fermented and pretty powerful during their tenure under the table. I’d call that shot of rum A Hot Gulp of “Greens”. A perfect cap to an incredible meal.

We lingered for a while, chatting with this restaurant family and promising to spread the word. We came in hungry and left with bellies and hearts full. More new friends to come back to. I love this place.

If you come here, when you come here, no matter what you do, Please go have a meal at Patrick’s. It’s a shortcut into the heart of Grenada.

We ambled back to the boat and one by one stumbled to bed. I think we each woke still thinking about the meal because as my crew mates appeared each one said to me “Thank you for that lovely meal last night”. What a gift to be able to treat our crew to such an authentic experience.

Ok I gotta get to some boat work here, as our new guests arrive in a little over an hour!

We are reprovisioned, we are well fed, we are bonded and ready to do this again.

Greens is starting to feel like home.

(Oh God, Jason is eating a chicken foot right in front of me. I gotta go.)

Heather

Greens and In Betweens.

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