Every culture has their own unusual ‘delicacies’ and Belizeans are no exception. Maybe due to the mix of cultures that settled here; the escaped Africans slaves as well as the German Mennonites, Maya (and more) over the years who brought their own customs and traditions. Mash that into one melting pot and you have a plethora of bizarre!
1. Meet the Gibnut or Paca, also affectionately known as the Royal Rat (since served to Queen Elizabeth II on her Belize visit some years ago). Many Belizeans will tell you its a must-try delicacy. Check out Travel Channel’s Andrew Zimmern gibnut feast here.
2. Split pea soup with Pig tails or Pig Snouts – served with handmade flour dumplings over white rice, this Belizean comfort food is dear to our hearts.
3. It’s no secret that Belizeans love game meat and the Peccary is no exception. Stewed, roasted, smoked or any other variation – it’s an exotic dish that begs to be tried.
4. Armadillo – also known to the Maya as “Wech” is often roasted and served in tacos (with a twist of lime, yum!), as sal-picon (a roasted meat ceviche) and a variety of other ways .
5. Cow-foot or Cow-tongue soup – a famous Belizean response to a hangover is exactly what it says it is.
6. Hickatee or River Turtle is prized meat – already an endangered specie and with a limited hunting season in Belize, consider yourself lucky if you get to try it.
7. Bamboo Chicken or Iguanas – Definitely an acquired taste and mostly consumed in rural areas, but if your taste buds crave the rare and exotic – this is a must try! (Don’t worry, our resident iguanas are perfectly safe from our kitchen!)
8. Bukut or Stinking-Toe (Cassia Grandis) – Not all the bizarre food in Belize are animals; this lovely tree that showers Ka’ana’s guests with its tender pink petals as they’re shown to their rooms, produces pods with sticky, jam-like sections surrounding the seeds. The odor leaves much to be desired (hence its Belizean name) but it’s well known for its medicinal and nutritional values.
Carlota, Candy and Mirsa are our most pleasant (not to mention the loveliest) of our servers here at Ka’ana. I dodged them while they took a well-deserved break out by the fire deck. They were as always, happy to speak with me and definitely willing to pose for the camera
Do you have any specials you personally prefer from our menu?
Carlota: I love the glazed pork chops – the way these guys prepare it so juicy and tender makes your mouth water – its really good!
Candy: I love lobster – when its in season I will definitely always have it and recommend it.
Mirsa: I definitely love the shrimp-chorizo wrap, when I eat here this has always been a favorite and I always recommend to guests as well.
What do you guys love most about your job here at Ka’ana and what inspires you?
Carlota: well to tell the truth, I honestly love the natural beauty of the place. I love going about my work and hearing the birds singing early in the morning, the trees and nature in general; knowing that guests are enjoying it.
Candy: I love interacting with guests. I love serving them new things and seeing them enjoy it and knowing that I contribute to their happiness.
Mirsa: I love seeing guests happy as well,showing them what I can about my country and helping them to get the best experience ever really makes me happy.
Where is Belize? That is the question most people ask when first hearing about Belize. Contrary to what some people think, Belize is not in South America, nor Africa. It is, however, situated in the heart of Central America.
Most people don’t know that this Caribbean wonder is just a hop, skip and a jump from the U.S. Right under Mexico, next to Guatemala, welcoming the waves of the Caribbean Sea in the East. But that is part of it’s charm.
For the most part, only a small portion of the world’s tourist population has been to Belize; that has kept Belize’s Barrier Reef, Maya ruins and pristine rain forest “unspoiled” for all to enjoy.
Armando Cocom is an up-and-coming young chef in our kitchen. A local “boy” from the nearby Maya village of Succotz, only a couple miles down the road – he has been with Ka’ana almost from the onset. I caught up with him as he was preparing one of the new in-house specials and asked him a bit about what makes him tick.
How long have you been here at Ka’ana and how did you come about to your current position?
Well, I started out as a dishwasher when Ka’ana just opened in 2007, left for a short while, then returned and have been here ever since. To tell the truth I was just a regular kid that lived to play football in my village, I never really thought about what I wanted to do in life, but I realized I was growing up and had to find a job; this was actually my first job.
So how did you come about cooking?
Well, being here for a bit, I started observing what was going on around me – I noticed the other chefs and the preparation going on and I thought it was like “art” to see the food plated the way it was using all the ingredients grown right here in our organic garden – something that is not common at other resorts. Hearing the feedback from our guests was also very exciting and inspirational to me, so I started paying more attention. Pretty soon I was assisting and getting more involved.
What’s the most exciting part about your job?
The most exciting part about my job, honestly, (smiling shyly) is that I love what I do 101%! I never knew that I would find my life’s calling; I love being in the kitchen and being creative even when I am learning a new skill or technique. I am constantly training and learning – these days with Chef Jeff and its really great to work with him.
Is there anything that you personally helped to create that’s on our menu?
Actually I helped to come up with the concept of the layered tortillas recipe that I know is a crowd favorite.
Any advice to others who would like to follow in your footsteps?
Well of course, I would tell that if they find out that they really like to do what I do then to show their interest and go the extra mile to learn for themselves and train whenever possible and not to let anyone distract them from their dream. A special thanks to my bosses for taking an interest in this “village boy” and giving him an opportunity to excel!
Wilbert has been with Ka’ana from the onset of the company in 2007, but has been a specialized tour guide even longer than that. He is an outgoing people-person who loves nature and the great outdoors (to say the least)! I caught up with him and shot off a few questions just before he headed off to his newest adventure of the day.
What’s the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is showing off my beautiful country and sharing some of its secrets with guests the way I would with my own family. Knowing that many of them have never been in a jungle environment before makes me even more eager to teach them as well as learn a bit about the world they come from. Its a win-win situation.
What are some of the popular spots most people like and why?
ATM caves, Tikal, Xunantunich & Cave tubing are the most popular tours. People love it because they are having fun as well as learning even while they are immersing themselves in the Maya culture.
I’ve heard many guests comment that you are a walking encyclopedia. Where do you get your knowledge/inspiration?
(Laughing heartily) I believe my own grandfather is the real walking encyclopedia, I’ve learned so much from him while growing up right here in the heart of Maya country – and I am an actual Maya descendant! I add to my knowledge by reading history, watching documentaries on TV and believe it or not, also from my guests. I still truly believe that I learn something new everyday and my biggest inspiration – the love of my country, the land and my family.
I live by my own motto – “I do what I love, and I love what I do!”
We’re so very proud of our little garden in bloom right now. We are even more proud to be able to show you where many of the ingredients for your meals come from – all fresh, all organic. We are currently harvesting potatoes and carrots and giant tomatoes, sweet peppers and arugula. Broccoli and cauliflower will be ready pretty soon. Your visit to Ka’ana is not complete until you check out our garden.
My husband and I recently stayed at the Ka’ana for the first leg of our Belizean honeymoon. We split our time in the country so that we could be adventurous and then lounge at the beach. My husband took the reigns in planning the honeymoon, so I was at first surprised when we arrived at the Ka’ana, and it was not located in the mountains, but was much more centrally located in San Ignacio.
What I quickly realized is that the location is perfect for people who want to travel around while in Belize. The Ka’ana is situated in such a way that trips to the mountains (Big Rock Falls- amazing) or the ATM caves or Tikal (right over the border in Guatemala) are all just over an hour away.
The cottages on the property are awesome. Comfortable beds, air conditioning, flat screen televisions, fully stocked mini bars, and a great bathroom. There is also a private back yard area with an outdoor shower and a chaise lounge for two. Perfect for relaxing before dinner. We took one day off exploring on Christmas and lounged by the pool. If you are looking to get sun, I would recommend snagging chairs on the lower level of the infinity pool. The staff was extremely attentive, taking food and drink orders and supplying the sun-bathers with water. The restaurant on site is great. I recommend the pork chop, short ribs or snapper from the menu- absolutely delicious. Complimentary breakfast room service is also a plus when you have early excursions.
The greatest part of the Ka’ana is the staff. They all know you by name, and are always available and willing to help you with whatever you may need. They are some of the nicest people I have ever encountered. They made our trip so enjoying and stress free. Along with the Ka’ana staff, the guides from the tour company they use are absolutely fantastic. If you are looking for adventure in Belize, and looking to do it in style, the Ka’ana is the perfect place to be
We’re loving Trip Advisor’s review of Awe-inspiring places to visit (especially since Belize’s Blue Hole is also featured)! Commentaries are all real reviews from visitors to these places.
1. Antelope Canyon, Arizona, United States
“This is a photographer’s paradise. Pictures rarely do it justice.”
2. The Great Blue Hole at Lighthouse Reef, Ambergris Caye, Belize
“Here’s a great landmark… one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world.”
3. Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
“The biggest and most stupendous of all the temples.”
4. Trolltunga, Odda, Norway
“Unbelievable… long hike, but once you get to the Troll’s tongue it is instant gratification.”
5. Golden Circle Route, Reykjavik, Iceland
“This scenic driving route through southwestern Iceland features excellent scenery and major sights.”
6. Moraine Lake, Alberta, Canada
“Spectacularly beautiful and the backdrop of the mountains makes it just stunning.”
7. Kyaikto (Golden Rock), Yangon, Myanmar
“Visiting the Golden Rock is an adventure… view from the mountain ridge is fantastic.”
8. Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto, Japan
“It’s amazing to walk in those red tunnels… it all feels ancient and magical”
9. Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia
“The sunrise/sunset and the way the rock changes color is just amazing…”
10. Jiuzhaigou World Heritage Site, Sichuan, China
“It’s highly unlikely you will see landscapes like this anywhere else in the world.”
