We will be visiting Bonaire for the first time in the beginning of July. There are certain spices that I am allergic to, and need to ask that the meal not be perpared with them. Are restaurants generally accomidating to this type of need? We went to Belize last year, and I STARVED. I loved the trip and diving, but I lost 10 lbs, because it was hard to find things to eat! Thanks!

I suggest you post your allergy list here now and ask for help in translating it to get the spice words in both Dutch & Papiamento (maybe even Spanish--all three languages will be spoken in the kitchens here), so when you do get to a restaurant here, at least you can have a written "no-no" list-much safer for you & easier for staff too. Whether or not a kitchen can work around it depends on your list.

My boyfriends brother in law came with us last year...he is allergic to everything (we call him bubble boy)...Can have no condiments. peppers...sauces...anything with flavor! you name it!... We had no problem feeding him,,,the restaurants were very accommodating to his problem....He ate bland food but that is what he is use to....Steaks, Chicken,Fish and veggies are everywhere. We brought bagels and cereal bars and such for snacks but lunches and dinners he had no problem filling up with!....

If you have a kitchenette where you are staying you can always shop at Cutimara and cook for yourself as well.

Don't forget Warehouse..I think the food is super..and Consales..I also love Mangoes from the Venezuelan fruit market.

Annie

Although there are American brands available at all the stores people mention above, if you want to try any of the Dutch products (it'd be a pity not to, esp. the selection at Warehouse), the ingredient listings may be only in Dutch...so you'll still need to have your spice translations if you are truly so restricted.

Thanks to all that answered! I am glad that my allergies won't be a problem in Bonaire. I am allergic to : garlic & all milk products like cream, butter etc.
Is the water safe for drinking?

The water is distilled from sea water on Bonaire, it is not only safe for drinking, it is good tasting. I always carry a couple of pint bottles on the plane for keeping hydrated on the plane(s) and in the airports while waiting. I then fill them up from the tap and chill them for taking with me when walking around or driving around on the island. If you don't have a kitchen(ette) where you are staying, you can get ice or rent a small fridge.

I recently became a member of this web site. This is my first post so hopefully I am doing this correctly.
My wife Sharon and I have never been to Bonaire but we hope to visit soon. Unfortunatly my wife is a celiac which means she is allergic to the glutin in oats,wheat,barley and rye (and anything made with them such as white vinegar, modified food starch, etc.) Does anyone have any thoughts, experience or suggestions about dining on the island with this problem? Any information will be greatly appreciated. THANKS!

check out the Bonaire Dining Guide, www.bonairedininggide.com. Most of the restaurants have e mail addresses. You may want to correspond with them in advance. You will find many, if not all, will go out of their way to cook special menus for you.

Hello Bob,

I am not living on Bonaire right now, but I have lived on Curacao for 13 years and have visited Bonaire a few times.

I know the problem with that diet your mentioning. Though I know you'll have a lot more choice in Curacao, I think you will be able to dine out in Bonaire.

I am not sure if you are saying that Sharon can't eat anything with white vinegar and food starch or just the glutin foods. If the former is so, it will be quite difficult. Or you'd just have to request that they cook without it. I know local foods are made with vinegar and starch (though that mostly is with maizena).

If your wife *can* eat anything with vinegar you should really try the local food: goat stew and fresh fish. I am not sure if Sharon may eat things like funchi (which is made of corn flour, water and salt), but there's always rice. The baked banana they're serving with local foods are very tasty as well.

Besides the local foods, there are a few restaurants that have a variety of choices. And I cannot imagine that there won't be anything for Sharon. I am sure there is.

More info on a few restaurants you can find via http://www.infobonaire.com/restaurant.html or via the search engine on http://www.searchbonaire.com

Hope this info is of any use to you... Have a nice trip, though. It will be a very good exprience.

Greetz,
Kitty

Thanks Michael, I'll check out the website you suggest.

Kitty, thanks for the information and website suggestions. Sharon cannot eat white vinegar because it's distilled from wheat and the food starch is usually made with wheat. Also a lot of foods with sauce or gravy can be a problem because they usually are thickened with flour.

She can eat corn and rice so if some of the foods are made with them then we shouldn't have a big problem if we can overcome the language difficulties.

Again, let me say a big "Thanks" to both of you!

Have a great day!!!
Bob

Welcome to the Board, Bob and have a great time on your "first" trip to Bonaire...undoubtedly, it will not be your last! Carole

Thanks Carole, everyone seems really nice and friendly.

I notice from your profile that you're from NJ. My wife Sharon is also from NJ, the Bridgeton area of south Jersey.

We are up in Morris Township...nice to meet you! Carole

Bob,

We have made 5 trips to Bonaire. I have extensive allergies, grains, milk products, etc. I understand the problem. Do you have a kitchen where you are staying? That helps a lot so you can prepare some of your meals. You can also bring some food if you want. We bring frozen food; so I can bring prepared meals that I know I can eat like home made soup, and we bring steaks, brats and frankfurters. Some people pack a separate cooler and check it in as luggage. We just freeze the food and pack it in an insulated bag and put our clothing around it. It is still frozen when we get there.

If you go to Gibi s Terrace for the Tuesday night Bonaire Talkers dinners, Gibi is very accomodating. He fries his food in corn oil which I can not have, so I brought him a little bottle of canola oil that I bought at Cultimari on Bonaire. He prepared my meal separately. Very nice man. His food is local, and varies but he usually has ribs, fish , chicken, goat stew, (stroba kabrito in Papiamentu) You might want to pick up a few terms in Papiamentu as that is what the locals speak, although they all speak English as well to some extent. The waiters usually speak English well enough to understand what you need.

Feel free to email me if you have specific questions. When is your trip, I am sure you will have a great time, and will be able to figure out the food you need.

Jean Wood

Bob...were you ever employed at Tenneco?

Carole, thanks,nice to meet you too.

Jean,you have been very helpful. Thanks! I may e-mail you a little closer to travel time. We have a timeshare that we are trying to trade and use in Bonaire but have been unsuccessful so far. We may have to rent a place so no set date at this time.

Kay, I've never worked for Tenneco but I probably would have made a lot more $$$ if I had! All my work has been here in central NC at a cotton mill(3 years) and a polyester company(33 years) then I retired nearly 2 years ago at age 55. It must have been a different Bob McBride. Nice to meet you though!