Boots’ Cuisine

If you happen to find yourself on the Island of Grenada looking for an authentic meal (a la Anthony Bordain) you must visit Ruby and Boots McSweeney. Ruby and Boots have decorated the patio to their house and made it into a lovely little restaurant with romantic mood lighting. Call a few days ahead to make a reservation and their son will pick you up and drive you to their house for a incredible Grenadian meal.
Ruby and Boots only serve food that is entirely from the island. Not a single spice is imported. Just remember not to eat at all that afternoon or you will find yourself in some serious pain with a distended belly begging them to give you smaller portions.
The night we went (just off-​season for tourists) we were the only ones there. Grenada is an island with a 30% unemployment rate and no public assistance to speak of. Not only does it enhance your cultural experience to dine with Boots — it enhances the quality of life for this amazing family.
We dined on fish stuffed roti — (think Carribbean burrito), calalou soup, sweet potatoes, salad, plaintains, and I had stewed conch for dinner and my BF had the chicken. Dessert was good — ice cream if I can recall but I was begging them to stop giving me food. The only downside was I don’t think that they don’t drink much because their wine glasses were about the size of thimbals and Ruby kept looking at us like we were alcoholics when we asked for more — but she graciously aquiesced. It might be a good idea to bring your own bottle of wine if you are a wine drinker.
On a funny note, we were sitting down to dinner and heard this terrifying man’s voice yelling in deep patois like he was beating a woman within her last inch of life. I was so scared, and was surprised that Ruby didn’t seem affected. Now, this place is deep in a local neigborhood and I wasn’t sure how they handled such matters. I heard «you think someone can hear you, someone will save you?» and was so freaked out I asked Ruby what the noise was. She smiled and said, «Oh the crusade — they’ve been at it for 2 weeks now» — I was like… crusade??? Oh, you mean revival? Yes, she said «The church you know?» Thank God. Literally. I thought someone was about to be snuffed. Whew!