Fish and Fungi

Dating back to the times of slavery, when the law allowed each slave to have six quarts of cornmeal and six salted herrings weekly, fish and fungi remained a staple food of the British Virgin Islands and is the islands' national dish. Fungi, also spelled fungee and pronounced "foon-gee", are not mushrooms, but okra cooked into a thick mash with the addition of cornmeal and water.

The fresh, whole fish is seasoned with a Creole-style seasoning and fried until it develops a typical crispiness. After it's fried, the fish is topped with a sweet onion gravy. Fungi and fried fish are served on the same plate, piping hot and ready to be consumed.

Although it is not a fancy dish, it is a must-try should you find yourself in the British Virgin Islands.