Seychellois Creole cuisine is influenced by African, Chinese, English, French and Indian traditions. The careful blending of spices is a major feature and much use is made of coconut milk and breadfruit. Breadfruit is prepared in similar ways to the potato (mashed, chipped, roasted and so on) but has a slightly sweeter taste. Other locally produced fruits and vegetables include aubergines, calabashes, choux choutes, patoles,
paw-paws (papaya), bananas, mangoes, avocados, jackfruits, grapefruits, guavas, lychees, pineapples, melons, limes and golden apples. Lobster, octopus, pork and chicken
are used more frequently than beef or lamb, which must be imported. Most restaurants offer a few items of what is termed ‘international’ cuisine, generally with a bias towards preparations of fresh fish and shellfish, as well as the Creole delicacies mentioned above. There are Italian and Chinese restaurants on Mahé. Some of the main hotels have bakeries and home-baked bread is also a feature of some of the small guest houses and lodges. Waiter service is the norm. All restaurants which are members of the
Seychelles Restaurateurs’ Association quote an average price per person for a three-course meal inclusive of two glasses of wine and coffee. A wide range of wines, spirits and other alcoholic beverages is available in the Seychelles. The same company produces
Guinness under license and soft drinks. Local tea is also popular.
Things To Know. A hotel license permits hotel residents to drink at any time. Alcohol can be sold to anyone between Mon-Fri 1400-1800, Sat 0800-1200 and 1400-1800. Other bars open 1130-1500 and 1800-2200. It is illegal to drink alcohol on any road or in public.
National specialties:
•
Kat-kat banane.
• Coconut curries.
•
Chatini requin.
•
Soupe de tectec.
•
Bouillon bréde.
•
Chauve-souris (fruitbat).
•
Salade de palmiste (made from the ‘heart’ of the coconut palm and sometimes known as ‘millionaire’s salad’).
•
Daube (made from breadfruit, yams, cassavas and bananas).
National drinks:
•
Seybrew (a German-style lager made locally).
Tipping: Tips in restaurants, hotels, to taxi drivers, porters and so on are usually already included, as 5 to 10 per cent of the bill or fare. All hotel and restaurant tariffs include a service charge, but payment is not obligatory.
NightlifeLargely undeveloped and unsophisticated. There is, however, much to be enjoyed in the evenings, and a specialty is the local
camtolet music, often accompanied by dancers. Several hotels have evening barbecues and dinner dances. Theater productions are often staged (in Creole, English and French) and there is one cinema in Victoria and casinos at
Beau Vallon Bay Hotel and the
Plantation Club.
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