"Brataa
Rum bar and finest West Indian cuisine, Braata is one of a kind! Located in Frederiksted, near the new boutique hotel, The Fred, this eatery is nestled in a courtyard between Strand and King Street of St. Croix. According to the Caribbean Journal, Chef Digby Stridiron, owner of Braata is responsible for St Croix’s culinary renaissance.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Rico, one of Braata’s chefs who was also mentored by Chef Digby. He spoke about his participation in revitalizing the island with food along with a group of talented chefs in the area. In efforts to support the people of St. Croix after the hurricane, they cook large supplies of food for families. The money is raised from throwing pop-up events, themed parties, and brunches at Braata and its sister restaurant, Ama. Their collective goal is to refine, re-polish, and restore their island through leadership and action.

Braata’s menu changes from time to time while sticking to their signature Caribbean flavors. Currently, their dishes include griot with shrimp palau, accra with chimichurri sauce, and ginger jerk chicken. But, what’s a meal without a drink? Their West Indian inspired cocktails and “plum-infused rum” proves why preserving culture is so significant. Rico went into detail about his favorite dish at Braata:

“Our specialty dish is definitely the mahi ceviche salad. Not done the traditional way like submerging the fish in citrus juices, but instead taking a more charcuterie approach to it. I decided to try curing fish and making a ceviche a different way than the standard, I use a basic curing solution with the zest of various citrus fruits.”