Terrific, Relaxed Atmosphere
Martin & I agreed many years ago to be "daring" when it came to trying out new restaurants. We even played a game when we were dating of picking a restaurant this way: We will eat at the (1st, 2nd,3rd, etc.) restaurant on the R- or L-hand side of the (1st, 2nd, etc) street we pass. We randomly filled in the answers above & then drove into an area that had restaurants. W.a. y. B.a.c.k. T.h.e.n... our choices were more limited but some were great, some not so great & some were real dives! Yet we stuck to our plan & found some terrific places to eat that way!
This time we asked the locals where a good place to get "great local food" was. The answer: "The little white place just after the round-a-bout across from the market. You'll see it! It's white & little!" =)
Yes - this is it! It's white & it's little - The Corner Diner in San Ignacio, Belize
I kid you not - you are looking at the entire restaurant! It's GREAT!
It's location is convenient - being right across from the store........ because
when they needed more ingredients, one of the cooks just walked across the street.
Talk about fresh food! =)
Meet Tanya...... & YES, that's a huge knife she's cutting something small
in her hand, in her little work space.
That's Muriam cooking on her stove.
OK, now meet Muriam getting the table service for us.
During the time we were there, at least 10-12 other customers (not including school kids) came & left with "take out" orders, so they were doing a brisk business that day. Most of them seemed to have standing orders or were at least familiar with the two cooks.
You know the guy (OK, Martin - if you're new to this blog) but do you know my all-time, very favorite, THE MOST DELICIOUS drink in the world? Soursop!!! Or you may know it as Guanabana or Graviola. Think of all your favorite fruit flavors & then add cream - that's the way it tastes to me. =) My drink is on the left - Martin is having fresh lime juice. What's not to love about this restaurant at this point?
Here's what the fruit looks like, We have some growing on the property, too - YUM!
I have no idea who named it, and it definitely is an ugly fruit but it's
worth the effort to make the juice!
I ordered what every typical Belizean family eats the most: Rice & beans with chicken. (The potato salad on the left was totally out of character.) At the restaurants here they also ask which part of the chicken you want! =)
Martin ordered a quesadilla - the cheese was real, too. Many restaurants here use the "yucky" (my opinion) cheese sauce due to the high price of everything related to dairy. It was stuffed w/ chicken & veggies. We know the pico was fresh because Tanya went to the store for some of the ingredients. =)
We each ate half of what we ordered & then switched plates, so we could share. You can tell - we LOVED it! Yes, I took the remaining Soursop with me "to go."
You question the sanitary conditions of this tiny, little open-air kitchen/restaurant?
Not to worry, when I asked if I could give the chicken bone to the local dog,
the answer was, "Sure but only out in the street." =)
School was out for lunch while we were there & many children came for food "to go." This grandmother brought the 2 younger girls & boy.
Maria, on the stool, is Tanya's (the cook w/ the knife) daughter.
Loved the family atmosphere here, too.
SO - if you're in San Ignacio, Belize & want a great lunch - eat at The Corner Diner. It's near the junction of Joseph Andrews Drive & Benque Viejo Rd - across from David's Super Store. "It's white & it's little." We'd add: "It's great!" Oh, yes, the price was less that $20 Belize - which is less than $10 US. =)
