Sunday, March 23, was World Meteorological Day, and Bahama Breeze invited many local bloggers to help them celebrate during happy hour and try the new Dark ‘n Stormy hand-crafted cocktail and half price appetizers. The Dark ‘n Stormy, named for the treacherous waters surrounding the island of Bermuda, is the perfect marriage of Gosling Black Seal Rum and ginger soda. We made our own ginger soda not too long ago, so I found it to be intriguing. The drink has a bit of a kick along with subtle hints of butterscotch, vanilla, and caramel that melded with the ginger soda.
I also tried the Curly Tail—Bacardi Oakheart and Malibu rums blended with secret ingredients—and topped with a small curly tail lizard (so cute). It was sweeter than the Dark ‘n Stormy. The combination of citrus flavors and wonderful aromas brought back memories of my last Caribbean cruise. The Curly Tail is popular enough to be the drink of the day on my favorite ship.
Amanda tried another personal favorite, the Pomegranate Cosmo. It’s a refreshing blend of Absolut Citron, Cointreau, pomegranate and lime juice (I promised I wouldn’t tell that she licked the glass many times over).
We also tried several of the half-price appetizers. We started with coconut shrimp, which are dipped in coconut milk before they’re battered and fried (the batter is filled with shredded coconut). These were delicious, and my favorite, I think.
The Warm Spinach and Artichoke dip in a creamy cheese sauce was one of Amanda’s favorites. It came with warm crunchy chips and crispy plantains (she ate them all). It was more than enough for the two of us.
The onion rings might be my second favorite. The onions were coated in the same batter as the shrimp but not dipped in coconut milk. They were crunchy and delicious, so much so that I didn’t find the need for the dipping sauce.
The Chicken Empanadas, hand-made pastries with a savory chicken filling, were tasty. We both loved the pastry more than the chicken filling, but they were good nonetheless (the salsa was yummy). We were both pleased with the quality and flavor of the hand-crafted drinks and half-price appetizers so much so that we ordered entrees to go. I picked up the Portobello and Manchego Cheeseburger (grilled Portobello mushroom, melted Manchego cheese, caramelized onions and other good stuff on a toasted brioche bun), and Amanda left with shrimp creole and yellow rice (her husband devoured it).
The menu selection represents the many islands of the Caribbean and then some. I don’t think they overlooked one of them. In addition to these selections, Bahama Breeze offers a fresh fish alternative and a kid friendly menu. Prices are reasonable, especially considering the quality and quantity of food that’s served up with each order. Happy hour is from 4-6 p.m.; that’s where you’ll find the delicious half-price appetizers and the Dark ‘n Stormy.
I’m a sucker for a great drink with appetizers. I’d have been in heaven!