A group of 4 headed to Bonaire for first time mid-March. We are renting a home through SunRentals and I was told the home has a BBQ.

Some time ago I was talking to a woman on the phone who commented that she was going on vacation, and by coincidence, it was to Bonaire. She mentioned that their family has been going there for 18 years. She said they always rent a house and they usually pack a cooler of food, steaks, etc... to cook on the grill while they are there.

Does this seem realistic to do? We are packing so light anyway, we would have room to lug a cooler to the airport if need be.

Does anyone have advice about this?

Yvette:

If you search (i.e., try meat and cooler), you will find much on the topic. For example, http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/29/178229.html

As for me, I typically bring down a wheeled cooler of those "hard to find on Bonaire" foods. I know others prepare entire entrees in advance freeze them, and then take them down via cooler. FWIW, I had no problem finding quality beef on the island.

Our group brings frozen meats with us. We fly from the west coast with an 18 hour trip time, and have never had a problem.

It is realistic and ok to do but why?? We have super grocery stores here and a Latin Butcher too (Carcinera Latina in Tera Cora). To me it's such a head ache and hastle to carry food here when we have such great options. If anything shop duty free in Jamaica and load up on Lime Pepper Jelly, Blue Mountain Coffee, Pickapeppa Sauce and MORE.

P.S. I just bought fresh fish today...this is one amazing reason I love this island..fresh fish every day...

Ann,
That is one thing we want to do when we come to Bonaire: buy fresh fish. What species do you like most? Any suggestions about how to cook/bake/grill?
Toos

Yvette, Annie is right....you really don't need to bring a cooler with goodies. Years ago folks did do that, but there are so many great places to buy fresh and good foods and meats now that I don't think you need to go thru the hassle of lugging around a cooler and risk the authorities giving you a hard time or confiscating the food.

You can pack some of the things you might want to have in your regular luggage (non perishables) like Crystal Light or beef jerky, etc. but if you are packing "light"...Bless you...then don't bother.

Have a wonderful time on Bonaire! Carole

I guess the only reason we thought of bringing food is b/c we live on a farm - thus a freezer with one beef cow in it right now could use some relief. Secondly, our friend coming w/is a food broker and has access to whatever he wants as far as eats too. It seems a shame to let this benefit go to waste. I realize we can shop there, and we will get several local meals out, shop for several local delicacies to add to our meals that we have in.

We all thought if the food was confiscated it may not matter to us, we don't have a lot of money tied up in it.

We've never had any hassle from customs over many trips of bringing frozen food into Bonaire or the British or US Virgin Islands.

We normally cook in large batches at home, then freeze in dinner-size portions. When we head for the Caribbean, we just raid the freezer and pack the food into a half-size cooler. This year we'll strap the cooler closed, then put it into its own cheap duffel bag, just to keep it closed. Other times we've put it into a carton.

This way, we have "home cooked" main courses when we're on the island, just heat and eat. Supplemented, of course, by food bought locally. And it saves lots of time and money vs. eating out every evening, or even vs. preparing from scratch with locally-purchased foods (which are, as noted elsewhere, easily available).

Of course, if getting away from the stove is one of your reasons for going on vacation, then Bonaire has plenty of good food in restaurants at all price ranges.

David

We used to pack food but stopped because we have found everything we need in the different stores. If you send us your e-mail we can send you a list of shopping tips we have put together.

Hey Alan and Joan, why not publish it on this board?
Toos

Regardless if you buy on the island or bring from home make sure you pack you favorite condiments and spices. They can run a small fortune and they are light and take little space.

We always pack a medium size collapsable cooler with frozen meats. We wrap them in beach towels for extra insulation. It stays frozen for 2 days.

Besides the herbs and spices, we always bring a sharp kitchen knife. I've never found a sharp knife at kitchens away from home.

David

OOPS:

(I tried to add the following to my previous message, but it took me over the two-minute editing limit.)

Unless you're going to the Zale's condo; I'm sure their knives are sharp. (BTW, I emailed Alan for his shopping tips list, and it's really great!)

David

Ann:

Where is your favorite place for fresh fish?

I just came back from the grocery store and bought small sizes of a few things that my kids can't live without & I haven't been able to find in Bonaire. These include: Skippy Peanut Butter (only saw Peter Pan), specific Mac & Cheese that picky 7-yr old LOVES, & Crystal Lite. The kids give me a hierarchy of preferred cereals when I go to the stores on the island & they get whatever I can find.

I haven't decided if I will pack several cans of Diet Coke. I brought down a 12-pack last year, as Coca-Cola Light just isn't the same & I am addicted. (my husband really thinks I'm nuts on this last item..)

I am looking forward to the muesli at Cultimara. I plan to bring back at least 5 kg, as I have not been able to find anything like it in the US, including Whole Foods. This will take up the space occupied on the way down by the Diet Coke!

I am like Sue and take a few things that are hard to find on island, such as Folgers coffee, tea bags in the brand we favor, instant oatmeal, Etc. These things fit well in corners of the dive bags. otherwise we buy on island and find most things we want
Andy

Tropical Flamingo has had made-in-America (as opposed to the cans made in the Aruba bottling plant, that really suck-read the labels!): Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite (even Diet Sprite-but I bought all of that, along with all of the caffiene free diet Coke), etc. in cans. I've also seen Folgers there too, though I'd never choose that over Douwe Egberts Silver Coffee from Holland. Think of it this way--if you have to bring down stuff like this, you're really not experiencing a true "island" life style (but on this, even I digress & bring back my favorite TAZO teas which are n/a here).
;-)

Sue, I'm not sure if US Customs will allow you to take back food like cereal (which contains fruits, albeit dried)--if nothing else, you have to check off the "I am carrying food..." box, and that usually means a diversion through the slower moving "I have stuff to declare" inspection lines.

Ruth,

Where is Tropical Flamingo? Do they really have Caffiene Free Diet Coke? I love it, but make due with Crystal Lite instead.

I took pack 1 1/2 bags of muesli last year. I've never had an issue with US Customs in Newark & I check the "i bought food" box.

Sue

Warehouse has bags of Muesli right now..yellow bags in the second aisle. I also got Muesli at Cultimara once..

and in Jamaica stop and get some Lime Pepper Jelly and serve with crackers and brie in Bonaire..super..

I think our food choices are incredible. I am not so thrilled about our fruit. Miss really lovely tropical fruit as I once found when I lived in Antigua. ••••••••••• miss here. The Quito berries are typically good.

I also have taken back food , two large wheels of Gouda from the airport..and we had to go through the special customs in JFK.. you tell them what you have and they didn't even flinch and let us go... I wonder if people who visit the donkey santuary tell customs that they have been on a ranch??

Ann, what the heck are you typing to get censored so much?

I've also heard of folks that lost their cheese on reentry to the US Freddie.

We always bring back a wheel of gouda and claim it on the cards you fill out prior to arrival at the US immigration/customs areas. We have never had a problem doing so in 15 years. I guess one of the agents could have a "bad" day and decide he needed some cheese at home for his/her own familiy...right Joe? Hmmmm.

We have never declared the Donkey Sanctuary on the cards, however! LOL. Carole

I have NO CLUE Seb..I am typing basic stuff..what gives..

"Tropical Flamingo. Located behind the NAPA auto store and around the corner from Donna & Giorgio restaurant. It’s a smaller version of Cultimara. It’s very well stocked. Open Monday to Saturday 8am to 12:30pm and 2:00pm to 6:30pm. Closed Sundays."(From the Zale's writeup)

Apparently has more specialty food items than other markets. North end of Kralendijk, Kaya Carlos A Nicolaas 4, just east of Kaya Gob N. Debrot (which is the main street at that point).

David