Cape Verde — Food and Dining
Cuisine
Cape Verdean food is an enticing mixture of Creole, Portuguese and African flavors. The islands have a wealth of seafood which is often cooked straight from the sea. The influx of tourists is causing an increasing number of quality restaurants to open up.
National specialties:
• Canja (a thick chicken soup with rice).
•Catchupa (a slow boiled stew of corn, beans, vegetables and marinated tuna).
•Fruits include goiabas, zimbrão, tambarinas, marmelos, azedinhas, tamaras and cocos.
National drinks:
•Aguardiente (sugar cane rum).
•A San Antao liqueur made from coffee, cinnamon, fig leaf, peppermint, orange or lime.
•Manecome (local wine from Fogo).
Tipping: It is normal to give 10% for good service.
Nightlife
Cape Verdean nightlife is based on traditional live music and dance. It is impossible to wander round at night and not hear locals playing ‘morna’ music - a combination of guitars, violins and lovelorn lyrics. Nightclubs are mainly found in the big hotels, although a number of local dive bars sell beer and rum on the islands.
