New Caribbean Restaurant Coming to Punta Gorda on Alligator Creek

Down by Alligator Creek with windows close enough to the water that you can see the faces of boat passengers navigating the channel and watch the wildlife flock over the mangroves, the Riveria Oyster Bar welcomed locals for many years. Recently it closed, but fortunately new owners will soon open their doors to a new concept on the creek with a touch of the Caribbean.

Ophelia Rosen with her husband, Robert are busy with extensive remodeling of a building which hasn't had a facelift in years. They hope to open in early November.

'Callaloo Caribbean Restaurant & Bar'' will be the name of the new place. "Callaloo is one of Trinidad's National Dishes," Ophelia explained. "The main ingredient is a leaf vegetable that stems out from a large tuber called 'dasheen', somewhat like a yam or potato."  Because the leaf is not available outside the Caribbean the restaurant will use water spinach to make the dish consisting of okra, coconut milk, crab and seasoned to taste in a soup or with rice, dumplings, etc.

Ophelia describes "Trinidad and Tobago as  a ''Melting Pot'' with a vast mixture of ethnic backgrounds influencing  its cuisine. The Africans brought in Creole dishes, East Indians brought the curry and spices, Chinese introduced Cantonese dishes using local spices and ingredients that add a distinctive flavor, the Spanish brought Paella and French pastries and sweets. The cuisine also has British and North American influences, but we just add our own local spices and ingredients to the dishes." Ophelia told us.

The restaurant theme will be mainly Caribbean or West Indian, with most dishes from Trinidad, a few from Jamaica and Latin America. The Creole dishes are robust stews and one-pot comfort foods. Some signature dishes are pelau, macaroni pie and, of course, Callaloo. "We stew just about any meat or legume 'Trini-style'. We make rich, hearty and delicious soups like Oxtail soup and beef soup, to name a few." the new owner noted.

The food of the region uses lots of other spices like cumin, turmeric, saffron, masala, herbs and plenty of garlic. The two hallmarks of Ea 5500 Deltona Dr, Punta Gorda, FL 33950st Indian foods are ROTI and Doubles. Roti is a stove top flattened bread served with any curried meat or vegetable. 

"So expect dishes like roti, paella, jerk chicken and pork, bake and fish, macaroni pies, tropical fruit drinks and desserts, Trinidadian cakes and breads, and so much more,"

Location:

5500 Deltona Dr, Punta Gorda (turn off Tamiami Trail onto Rio Villa, then left onto Deltona to end)