Taste from Afar: Lobster in Vanilla Cream

Since we’re spending time in the Western Indian Ocean this week with our travels to Mauritius, we thought we’d keep you in the region by sharing one of our very favorite cookbooks: The Island Kitchen.

This brilliant composition is the work of a Mauritian-British author and chef, who learned to cook with her mum in Mauritius, but lives in England and knows how to shop at an international grocer (e.g.: without many of the fabulous, tropical ingredients only to be found on an Indian Ocean isle). Her recipes are easy to make – and all taste divine — there’s not a bad one (nor even a mediocre one) in the book. The dishes allow you to travel between the islands of the Indian Ocean, from Mauritius, to the Seychelles, the Maldives, and Madagascar.

But, there is one recipe, the national dish of the Comoros Islands, that really beats them all. I was at first put off by the title of this dish, as it sounded too sweet. Au contraire, it is not. In fact, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever eaten: a wine-butter sauce scented with vanilla bean, poured over lobster and served with spinach and rice. Absolute magic!

The Island Kitchen by Selina Periampillai, available at your local, independent bookstore, or Amazon.

Photo Source: Syllogi and The Island Kitchen

Syllogi’s ‘Musings’ is a series helping you paint a picture of a destination while traveling from your living room. From relevant books and articles, inspiring movies and tv shows, to songs and even treats and dishes, our goal is to curate a sensory experience that will prepare you for an upcoming trip, reminiscence on adventures past, or simply to envision a place that exists in your bucket list fantasies.