A Taste of Paradise

A Taste of Paradise
By: Carl-Henri Boulos

After a two hour flight with much scenery, you enter the city of Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. The view is breathtaking, the waters embrace this country and city. The people are all walking, save the bad drivers that fill the air with sounds of honks and motors. The sun is shinning and yet there is no tremendous heat as the constant breeze buffets you. Spend a few hours in this place and the meaning of “Island life” will be a norm. The supermarkets are no joke, these thing will put Wal-Mart to shame, ranging from two to four floors. The first floor will blow the mind of any expecting a simple grocery store, it has everything one needs. The checkout lines seem to go on forever yet there are twenty-five lanes. To selection is massive and in the middle the “Bodega of Wines”, is the massive selection of different wine varietals. The seafood section has an assort of raw fresh seafood sitting on massive chunks and shaved ice. The sight is quite amazing as raw slimy and shiny giant squid ranging from two to four feet are laying there. Slabs of conch stare at you in the face so big and heavy you have to pick them up with two hands.


If you find yourself one of the lucky who do not get stuck in the massive rollercoaster of “island driving” take a second to enjoy the beautiful ocean at every corner, you will find several steakhouses around these places with such views. One in particular if you have the honor of going to is La Parrilla, a steakhouse in the most of traditional ways. As one walks up and lose the faint smell of the ocean, which is replaced by a strong smokey smell of different meats being grilled and charred. This small wooden steak house is filled with bottles of wine and one at each table waiting for you. Gone are the days of plates here, this is strictly flintstone dinning, a block of wood, steak knife and fork are your eating silverware here. Your appetizer is always four pieces of sausage served family style with salsa and avocados. You are teased by just the mere sight of this as the sausages are still dripping their juices and the water now opens your bottle of wine that is designated to each table. Casillero del Diablo, Cabernet Sauvignon, seems to be the choice of wine in this place, and you are blessed by this because it is free at each table. Once the teaser of the juicy sausages are gone and nothing is left but the a faint memory as the board on which you ate on is still marked by seeping juices of the sausage, as a crime scene and foreshadow of what is to come. The second course is a carnivores dream, as another slab of wood comes this time sizzling still, in the middle of the table as you and your guests mouths start watering and falling under the spell of the next wonderful sight. An assortment of more flinstone sizes pieces of meat; pork, lamb, veal, beef, chicken, and more sausages; all still sizzling and dripping of juice. They are not worried about marking these fine pieces of meat just cooking them to perfection and having them ready for your watering mouth. Nothing is sparred, it’s a free for all and not even the three musketeers would keep their motto at the sight of this smoregishboard. The water comes back with the condiments to go along this, not talking about ketchup which seems to be banned from this restaurant, but grilled onions, boiled yucca, potatoes, avocados, tostones, plantains, and even “pappa frites“ (french fries). It almost makes you want to go, “Yabadabadoo!”. For those not to wanting of this carnivores dream, there is a Ahi Tuna served also with grilled vegetables, and don’t be afraid that because you go the route less taken that it will not be as sizeable. This dish comes with two twelve ounce portions of tuna perfectly seared and served to you.

If you find yourself hungry at night but want to go dancing at the same time, La Rojo is the place to go. This place is found in the center of a plaza,, named the red with both indoors and outdoors sections. This is the diamond of this plaza it seems, everyone knows of it and you simply have to ask anyone “Donde est La Rojo?” They will be more than happily to literally point you in the direction since they know you are visiting, it seems the directions to this place is known from birth of a Santo Domingo resident. As you get closer to your destination the music and smell of food captures you and lures you into it’s domain. The women of course are all beautiful dancing enhancing the ambience of this place. A small bar in the middle of the dance floor, interestingly put to keep people drinking without even leaving the dance floor. The rest of the restaurant and second bar is inside with tables outside. Recommended you sit outside for the entertainment and fresh air, for appetizer you should try their Carpaccio. This is served with raw meat, for those of weak stomachs, although it is highly recommended, thinly sliced and placed on a plate with a balsamic vinaigrette, arugula and fresh thinly sliced parmesan. This light meal is all that is recommended for the fact that you will be enjoying yourself dancing with an assortments of drinks at your command, they have a special of Presidente beer and Clamato, a tomato cocktail.

The key to enjoying this island life is to be open-minded, they are very friendly and by the end of each night it will be leaving you satisfied. Accept the sweet embrace of the countries love and it’s people and you will not fail in enjoying yourself.