The Truck Stop

The Truck Stop is my absolute favorite place to hangout on the island.  Located just one mile north of San Pedro Town on the leeward side of the island overlooking the lagoon , the Truck Stop is quickly becoming the hippest and most popular hangout around. It is Belize's first shipping container food park and beer garden and so much more. We find ourselves there at least three times a week as The Truck Stop has become the center of activities on the north side of the bridge. The perfect place for families to enjoy an afternoon or evening together. Friday is family movie night, so the kids can have pizza and ice cream with a family friendly movie while Mom and Dad can visit with friends and have a great hand made cocktail.

Sunday Funday

First lets talk about the food. There are three different "Food Trucks" that each offer a different style of cuisine. Arepa serves Latin Fusion Cuisine from Cuban Sandwiches to the Venezuelan  corn cakes that the restaurant is named after.  My fav for late night, the chicken mole covered fries! There is a daily special as well as a pretty extensive regular menu. Fantastic flavors and variety.

My personal favorite is Rasa! A truck with Indonesian and Asian flavors. I recommend the Coconut Curry or the Rice Noodles. They will spice the dishes to your personal preference.I happen to be a wimp on the spiciness spectrum and they make it perfectly for me every time. The spring rolls are great too.

 The newest member to the Truck Stop line-up is Slice of Haven brings New Haven style crispy,thin crust pizza to the island. The crust is charred to perfection in a high temp oven that  was specially brought in for the truck.  The Mozzarella is house made and there is a variety of both red and white pizzas. Our favorites are the Margharita , Pepperoni and Buffalo Chicken. Fantastic flavor and I love the crust. Such a great option when I don't feel like cooking, as they will box it up to go as well as eating there. 

 The fourth food truck and if you remember in the beginning I said that there were three of them, is not your typical hot food truck. It's Cool Cone! Ice Cream. Creamy homemade ice creams of fantastic flavors, some boozy ones like Fireball Ice Cream. Typical flavors and more original flavors like Sour Sop. You can get a sundae, waffle cone or sugar cone and the ice cream is the best I've had on the island. 

All of this added to the nice bar area and the picnic tables in the center are a great combination to please everyone in your group.  Check out the Truck Stop, you'll be glad that you did.

Fryjacks and Flip Flops, how to breakfast Belize style at Estels Dine by the Sea.

Sitting in a molded plastic lawn chair in the uneven sand of the beach patio, sipping a bloody mary or tasty sangria. That's how to start a San Pedro morning. The warm breezes blowing the napkins around as you wait for the waiter to come and take your order. Don't be in a hurry because at Estels they are on island time. Relax, you're on vacation and don't have to work today anyway. While viewing the spectacular Caribbean morning you will be treated to some of the best food on the island. You can see the reef from your vantage point over the sea. And remember the birds are your friends!

The staff get there early and most of the local dive and tour operators are in attendance in the mornings. You will often find Captain Robbie of Chuck and Robbies Dive Center holding court at one of the large indoor tables.  If you want to go diving or get certified while on vacation, he's your guy.

We make it a point to visit Estels every time we are in town at breakfast time. Or anyplace close to town for that matter. I often judge a place by its potatoes, cause I love a hearty breakfast and I'm Irish. So potatoes are my thing! . And these are the best in town. And the juices are amazing, fresh, alive with flavor.  The menu is a large chalkboard on the indoor wall, they list all of the choices that will make your breakfast custom fit to you. What kind of meat? Style of eggs, potatoes, beans or fruit, toast or fryjacks. Go for the fryjacks!  A deep fried dough similar to Indian Fry Bread here in the states. Served up with butter and homemade tropical jam or served with beans. Either way, yummy!

Here is a great how to video so that you can make your own at home.  This tutorial is from The Bare Pantry Show and you can learn over one hundred Belizean recipes from her YouTube Channel. Check it out!

Belizean Fry Jack Recipe

Aside from the usual bacon and eggs, Estels also serves delicious breakfast burritos, pancakes and all of your breakfast favorites. Lunch and dinner are also available and look for Charles to be firing up the BBQ for a great afternoon treat.  They serve a nice selection of chicken, rice and beans (of course!), burritos, sandwiches, hamburgers, all kinds of goodies. They can also prepare your days catch for you while you relax with a cold Beliken or cocktail on the beach. The nicest family and staff that the island has to offer.

You can find Estels right on the beach just south of Central Park, or phone them at (501) 226-2019

A great gathering place!

" targ