Alfred Zhang

THE Caribbean, famed for its beautiful islands and awesome beaches, always fascinates holidaymakers. So does its rich and creative cooking. While making a trip there requires both time and money, you can satisfy your Caribbean cravings in a cheaper and simpler way, with a Caribbean-style buffet, at Nanhai Hotel.

The Patio Cafe, which is offering the buffet, has assumed a delightful Caribbean appeal. Waiters are dress up like pirates. Flour-made pirate ships, treasure cases and various seashells are on display with a myriad of colorful Caribbean flavors. There are also maps on each table detailing the geographic locations of the Caribbean region, as your tongue travels through different tastes that originate from different Caribbean countries, including British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Trinidad and Jamaica.

The buffet has Cuba lamb with plantain red beans and coconut rice, Jamaica Chris' Ital soup, Haiti tropical fruit and shrimp ceviche, Aruba coconut saffron mussels, Dominica chocolate delight and Grenada baked banana pudding, and many more Caribbean items.

You probably don't know that the buffet, now popular around the world originated from Caribbean pirates. The legend goes that each time pirates successfully raided merchant vessels, they divided whatever booty they got. But they found it difficult to divide food into equal shares, so they put all the food together and let everyone choose their favorites. Gradually, it became a Western form of dining.

You may laugh at the story, but you must realize that Caribbean tastes are limitless when it comes to using different ingredients, like tropical fruits and vegetables, fish and meat, spices and herbs, while cooking methods bear influences from Africa, India, China, Spain, Denmark, Portugal, France and Britain.

Besides the buffet, you could also join a treasure hunt or dance to the melody of Caribbean music, performed live by the hotel's band. On Friday and Saturday nights, a BBQ is also available at the hotel's garden, with movies shown at the poolside.

Last but not least, don't forget to order a mojito --- an unique Caribbean drink mixed with rum, ice, mint and lime. It's a good choice for different occasions; whether you are enjoying the buffet or watching a movie on a beach chair near the swimming pool.

Prices: 118 yuan per adult, 98 yuan per child (Sunday to Thursday); 138 yuan per adult, 108 yuan per child (Friday and Saturday)

Tel: 2669-2888 ext. 360

Add: Nanhai Hotel, 1 Gong Ye Road 1 at Nanhai Thoroughfare, Shekou (蛇口南海大道工业一路一号南海酒店)