Hungry? Good! Suriname is an unexpected treasure trove for the adventurous eater… ranging from Caribbean fast food to Javanese specialities to fine European fare to a dose of traditional west African. And,
yes, a more-than-decent Indian curry if you care. Ever wanted revenge on those notorious toothy piranhas for your post-horror-movie nightmares? Suriname’s a great place to try out some traditional piranha stew. Just watch out for those peppers that look like cherry tomoatoes. They are, most certainly, NOT tomatoes.
You will have the opportunity for some great meals, especially in Paramaribo where places like De Waag and the dining room at the Torarica Royale delight visitors with a European flare and attention to detail typically lacking in the Amazonian setting. Fast food at outlets like Rooprams and homestyle Javanese at Jawa will surely delight even the most jaded urbanite. And the peanut stews and home cooking in the interior villages (Awarradam in particular) will warm your heart almost as much as the adorable Saramaccan women who prepared it for you.
There are more delicious fried plantains to be had here than in most tropical countries, and don’t miss a chance for a cold glass of dawet, a flowery sweet – but unexpectedly refreshing – Javanese milk drink sold in roadside stands.
Like they say in Suriname, “You cannot eat okra with one finger.” In other words, we all have to work together.
Bizarre Foods – Suriname
If you’re looking for a slightly more adventurous (and clearly amplified-for-TV) take on Surinamese cuisine, catch Andrew Zimmern’s Travel Channel series, Bizarre Eats, which made a stop in Suriname to learn about the country’s remarkable cultural and culinary melange. Note: most visitors to Suriname find themselves leaning towards ‘bored’ with the constant flow of chicken-and-rice plates, so don’t let Andrew’s over-the-top experience warn you away from what is a more typical eating tour in Suriname. That said, do note his obvious fondness for the Surinamese people who welcomed him into their world.