For a ride on the Jolly Roger, bring food, drink and be prepared to party! - photos by Rosemary Parkinson

Rosemary Parkinson, Gleaner Writer

The tour of the region's best places to dine continues this week with a look at some of Antigua's offerings. Why not check them out when you go there to watch the ICC Cricket World Cup?

Wow! That's all that comes to mind with reference to the opening ceremony of ICC World Cricket World Cup 2007 at the new Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium in Jamaica. It was a proud moment to see it on television from Barbados. Congratulations to everyone who participated - including the spectators.

Before I focus on Antigua, last week I forgot a spot in Jamaica for delicious steamed snapper. It is located in Montego Bay and it must be mentioned - Pork Knockers situated in front of Buccaneer Hotel overlooking the sea. Check it out.

Traditionally a dry island, Antigua's 108 square miles of English-speaking people, whose reputation for hospitality and sense of humour is second to none, is a model for the Caribbean. Rather than destroy or neglect the colonial past, Antigua has ensured and most of its original architecture still stands. This can be seen as one travels through the capital St. John's with its museum, courthouse, cathedral and Fort James and, further afield, Parham's (the original capital), Anglican Church, Nelson's Dockyard - the only existing Georgina naval dockyard in the world and home of many shops and good restaurants.

Betty's Hope is a 300-year-old sugar plantation with a working sugar mill, Harmony Hall with its 1843 Great House - there's a restaurant and bar here. Actually, the perfect tour of Antigua plus great information can be had in the AHTA's Life in Antigua & Barbuda.

Cavalier is the rum. Wadadli the beer. Traditional dishes are pepperpot, curry goat, saltfish and duccuna (like turned corn meal but better) and oxtail.

On Friday and Saturday, the market is brimming and good roadside traditional food can be had within and without. Try Saturday's black pudding. Divine.

If you get to know a local, Friday/Saturday nights is Jules at Villa for an amazing experience of grilled/steamed fresh fish with all you want to drink - this is off the beaten track and you should go with someone you know but the experience is wild, conversations are hot and interesting about anything and everything - a real delight.

The get away

Want to get away from the maddening crowd of cricket? Barbuda, Antigua's get-away island reached by air or boat, is surrounded by crystal clear waters and miles of silvery sand is the spot. A trip to its bird sanctuary is a little noisier for here mangroves keep the endangered whistling tree duck, Christmas and frigate birds, even the rare Barbuda warbler, well protected from public enemy No. 1 - humans!

For those who like a little hunting, the island's central plains might get you a wild hog before one gets you! Call 'Prophet' the tour guide in Antigua at telephone number: (228) 772 1209). Lobster is abundant. Recommended restaurants - The Beach House, phone: (228) 4951668, Palm Tree phone: (228) 460 0517 and Park Terrace, phone: (228) 460 0092. Prices range from US$10 up.

THE CAPITAL'S RESTAURANTS

Ice cream, the old-time way, is served at the roadside or in the market.

Cafe Napoleon. Lunch is best. Friday's hysterical. Monday to Saturday. Historic Redcliffe Quay. Phone: (268) 562 1820. Prices start at US$8.

Delightful Chinese Restaurant. Amazing Chinese food. 'Sizzling' dishes recommended. Monday to Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday dinners only. Upper St. Mary's Street. Phone: (268) 462 5780. Meals start at US$4.

Food Court. Authentic Antiguan local dishes. Take away meals or sit down to dine. Free delivery service available. Opening hours Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Woods Mall. Call: (268) 462 3663. Prices from US$2 upwards.

Mid-East Fast Food & Bakery, Newgate Street. Delicious home-made shawarma and falafel. Vegetarian available. Also at Redcliffe Quay. Open daily. Phone: (268) 562 0101. Prices start at US$3.

Mama Lolly's Vegetarian Caf? for everything ital. Open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Redcliffe Quay. Phone: (268) 562 1552. Prices start at US$3.

Hemingway's Caribbean Caf?. Upstairs historic house built 1829. Balcony overlooks Heritage Quay and St. Mary's Street. Interesting. Fresh seafood. Monday/Saturday. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. St. Mary's Street. Phone: (268) 462 2763. Prices range from US$5 upwards.

Home Restaurant. Caribbean haute cuisine. Blackboard specials. Try Mahi Mahi with plantain mousse in banana leaf. Dinner. Monday/Saturday 6:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Lunch Saturday, only from noon. Prices begin at US$8 .

Papa Zouk. Creole Bouillabaise the tops. Incredible rum selection. Best liming spot. Open Monday-Saturday from 7:00 p.m. Hilda Davis Drive, Gambles, phone: (268) 464 6044. Prices begin at US$6.

ELSEWHERE

Russell's at Fort James. Great sunsets. Amazing steamed whelks. End Fort James Beach. Prices start US$6.

The Sticky Wicket Restaurant & Bar. A real sports bar dedicated to cricket. Caribbean specialities. Texas Barbecue. Try the Artichoke Dip! Open daily. No. 20 Pavilion Drive, Coolidge. Prices start at US$5.

Turner's Beach Bar & Restaurant. On the beach. Try shrimp on pineapple. Open daily. Johnson's Point. Call them at: (268) 462 9133. Prices begin at US$5.

Shirle Lookout - 21 years of traditional Sunday Barbecue Party with Halcyon Steel Orchestra from 4 p.m. From 7 it's about reggae and calypso. You might be standing next to a celebrity here. The place rocks. Lobster. Fresh Fish. Ribs. Call: (268) 460 1785.

Shamaroony's Irish Pub. Well stocked bar. Fun! Open 11:00 a.m. until ... Redcliffe Street, call: (268) 462 5392.

Chez Pascal. Owner Pascal Milliat and wife Florence serve classic French dishes. Chicken liver mousse is great. Reservations - a must. Lunch and dinner. Galley Bay. They can be reached at: (268) 462 3232. Prices start at US$8.

Famous Mauro's. Thirty-one different types of pizzas. Open daily. Cobbs Cross, call: (268) 460 1318.

Mad Mongoose. Often packed; You may need to make reservations. Lunch-dinner. Sunday brunch with great roast. Closed on Mondays. Falmouth Harbour, call: (268) 463 7900.

A Princessa is a woman among women, a canny fighter, a steely sovereign. Take what you want out of life and remember - each night is as important as every other night; each day is yours for the taking.

- The Princessa by Harriet Rubin