Review 5: Pearl of the Antilles
Diamond State Review 5: Pearl of the Antilles
Recently, I visited one of my favorite #DiamondStateGems, Pearl of the Antilles, the one and only Haitian restaurant located in New Castle County.
pearl of the antilles
noun phrase/place
an authentic haitian restaurant located in bear, delaware
Pearl of the Antilles, located at 100 Mario Dr, Bear, DE 19701
For those who may be unaware, "Pearl of the Antilles" is an endearing nickname once bestowed upon the Republic of Haiti. Historically, this term referenced the wealth generated through coffee and sugar production, as well as the natural riches found in the island’s land and waters.
One of those cultural riches includes our flavorful foods. Haitian cuisine is a vibrant blend of African, French, Spanish and Caribbean flavors with rich, spicy stews, aromatic rice dishes, and savory fried plantains. The cuisine also includes flavorful meats such as slow-cooked stewed chicken, tender griot (fried pork), all seasoned with a unique blend of herbs and spices.
The minute I step into Pearl of the Antilles, I am always greeted happily by the owners, especially Judith, who welcomes each customer with a bright smile. In the background, you may hear plantains being fried, some Haitian music playing, paired with the delectable aroma of Caribbean spices and sauces in the air. You can expect genuine conversations from the staff who establish authentic rapport with guests. Each person I have interacted with at Pearl of the Antilles is respectful, takes their time to cater to my food needs, and ensures that I am satisfied. Upon receiving your order, you can expect mouth-watering, authentic Haitian food that is cooked to perfection with love. Overall, the ambiance reminds me of Lakay, which translates to “home” in Kreyol (Haitian Creole).
As a child of Haitian parents, I have always been fully immersed in our beautiful culture, especially when it comes to the delicious foods. Throughout my life, I moved around a lot, but most of those places were communities thriving with many cultures from across the world. Most of my early childhood memories in sunny South Florida included walking down the street one day for Haitian food at one restaurant, and the next day heading across the street for a Cuban sandwich. So you can imagine that when I eventually relocated to Delaware as an adult, it was a bit different from the environments that I had grown up in. However, the more I searched, I was able to carve a little piece of “lakay” in my own Delaware community.
Living in places like New Jersey and New Orleans allowed me to enjoy decadent, flavorful foods from several cultures. For that reason, I have a great deal of respect for global foods, and I am always on the hunt for places in Delaware that remind me of my many homes. Finding Pearl of the Antilles was one of the moments that brought me much-needed joy as a new Delawarean. If you have never tried Haitian food, I truly encourage you to give it a try. Yes, some of our foods might be spicy, but if you can’t handle the heat, there are other options. If you have enjoyed meals from other Caribbean and/or Latin-based countries, then trust me, you will certainly enjoy Haitian food, especially from Pearl of the Antilles.
My recommendation is to start slow with either white rice, slow-cooked stewed chicken, a side of fried plantain, and their macaroni au gratin (Haitian style mac and cheese). If you want to get adventurous, try their diri djon djon (black mushroom rice) with any meat option, preferably the stewed chicken or jerk chicken (if you can handle the spice). Don’t forget the pikliz! When you stop by, make sure to tell them that I sent you.
