PAELLA, PAELLA! I JUST HAD A DISH CALLED PAELLA! (CARIBBEAN)

GOURMET CHARTER MEALBeing a ‘Gourmet Chef’ was an evolution for me. An evolution that took a while. When Whitey and I first started working on charter boats I was very much a novice in the galley, kitchen, whatever you want to call it.   Luckily our first jobs as crew were in the British Virgin Islands, which is charter boat center in the Caribbean, which meant there were many chef’s to network with, swap recipes and get lots of ideas. All the networking provided all of the newby chef’s valuable assistance as we planned meals and cooked for our charter guests.

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WATER SPOUT PIZZA (OFF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN COAST)

With full fuel tanks and jerry jugs, we departed Mexico from the southern port of Zihuateneo. Those first few days heading south to Costa Rica and Panama were uneventful with not much wind or excitement. Even the dreaded Bay of Tihuanapec in Southern Mexico, which can have gales of 80 knot winds come up with no warning, was tame. The seas were flat and there was very little wind as we moved down the Central American coast. We had both sails up but at times, we were moving at only 2-3 knots. We would start the engine to charge the batteries but needed to conserve fuel as much as possible. It had been a slow boat to China, or Panama to be precise. Whenever conditions are so calm, it is a perfect time to cook up a meal that you wouldn’t normally attempt while under way. A pizza sounded just perfect to us. (more…)

CLAM BAY (BAHIA SANTA MARIA, MEXICO)

“I hear there are clams up that river”, said Steve who was cruising on his boat from Gig Harbor, Washington. “That’s right’ piped in his wife. “I read in the cruising guide, there is a small creek heading north from that beach that has lots of clams. We just need some buckets and something to shovel with.” The idea sounded great to us. A little land excursion is always good when you are living on a boat. (more…)