World Country Guide

Social Profile

Food & Drink
In general, it is wise to order the speciality of the house or of the day to ensure freshness. Island cooking includes Creole, Continental and American dishes. Creole dishes include tee-tee-ree (tiny freshly spawned fish), lambi (conch), agouti (a rodent), manicou (pig- and wild pigeon-smoked meats), and crabbacks (backs of red and black crabs stuffed with seasoned crab meat). Bello Hot Pepper Sauce is made locally and served everywhere with almost everything. Food prices on Dominica are usually reasonable. Restaurants close at about midnight weekdays but are open later at weekends. Root vegetables, such as yams and turnips, are often referred to as ‘provisions’ on a menu.
Island fruit juices are excellent as are rum punches, particularly coconut rum punch (made from fresh coconut milk, sugar, rum, bitters, vanilla and grenadine). Sea Moss is a non-alcoholic beverage made from sea moss or seaweed, with a slightly minty taste. Spirits, local rum especially, are inexpensive. Wines (mainly French and Californian) are expensive. There is a wide choice of beers available. There are no licensing hours.

Nightlife
Some hotel lounges stay open until 2300 and there is music at weekends at several hotels. A favourite haunt in Roseau, La Robe Creole, has dance music nightly with live bands at weekends. Popular local discos include The Warehouse, Scorpio and Doubles International. There are often folklore evenings with authentic costumes and music. Hotel staff will generally be able to advise visitors as to the best places.

Shopping
There is no duty-free shopping, but there are some excellent buys to be found among local handicrafts including hats, bags and rugs made from vetiver grass joined with wild banana strands. The Carib Reserve Crafts Centre produces bags made from two layers of reeds that are buried in the ground to achieve a three-colour effect and covered with a layer of broad banana-type leaf to make them waterproof. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1300 and 1400-1600, Sat 0800-1300.

Special Events
For a complete list of special events, contact the Dominica Tourist Office (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Dominica in 2005:
Jan 1 New Year’s Day Celebrations. Feb Carnival (‘Mas Dominik’). This entails two weeks of celebrations, culminating in an explosion of parades. May Art, Craft and Flower Festival; International Sports Fishing Tournament. Jun Fete Isidore; Fete Mawen. Jun-Jul Dominica Dive Fest, Roseau. Jul Emancipation Festival. Oct National Independence Day Celebrations; World Creole Music Festival. Oct Creole Day. Dec Christmas Festival.

Social Conventions
Casual dress is normal, but swimwear is not worn on the streets in town. Evening clothes are informal but conservative. The Catholic Church is one of the most dominant social influences. Photography: Visitors should ask before taking photographs of local people. Tipping: A 10 per cent service charge is added by most hotels and some restaurants. Other less touristic places do not add service to the bill and therefore tipping is discretionary; 10 to 15 per cent of the bill is acceptable. Taxi rates are set by law and therefore taxi drivers do not expect tips.