Discovering Mauritius' culinary heritage

A veritable melting pot of flavours, a culinary trip to Mauritius starts with street food. There's nothing like nibbling on Indian snacks sold in the streets for a few rupees. Eating on the go is a way of life on the island. According to The Telegraph's 2017 ranking of the world's street food cities, Port Louis came 9th. Proof that the capital shines for its culinary diversity.

The journey of a thousand flavours begins at the Port-Louis market, commonly known as the "bazaar". Here you can immerse yourself in Mauritian food culture, with stalls of fruit, vegetables and spices. You'll find chouchou (a lumpy green vegetable), giraumon (pumpkin), brinzel (aubergine), lalo (a vegetable shaped like mini peppers), margoze (similar to chouchou but very bitter), patole (a kind of cucumber), calabash... Fruit includes mangoes, soursops (a large, spiky green fruit), jackfruit (used to make chutneys), carambola (star-shaped), Chinese guavas and lychees.

As you leave the market and wander through the streets of the capital, it's easy to spot the stalls with long queues. You can sample samoussas, chickpea-based "gato piments", "gato arouilles" (a small tuber), dumplings...

But two specialities stand out from the rest, and are a firm favourite with Mauritians: dholl puri (a light pancake made from yellow split peas, cumin and curcurma; served with the topping of your choice: tomato rougaille, large pea curry, satini) and roti (made from flour, served with the same topping as the previous dish). From neighbourhood to neighbourhood, the stalls abound, as do the flavours, some Indian, some Creole, some Chinese...

Street Food Tours are offered by agencies such as My Moris and provide a different way of discovering the island. During this culinary tour, you can explore the capital in a different way, going back in time through the history of the volcanic stone buildings, which date back to colonial times. Of course, you can sample the specialities as you wander through the different districts. The tour takes place in small groups, with a guide explaining the secret corners, the origins of each speciality and the history of Port Louis. The tour lasts 3 hours and is available in English or French.

Another culinary experience: take a Mauritian cooking class! In good company, you can learn everything, and cooking is not that complicated. Mauritian gastronomy is a blend of passion and feeling. Every Mauritian has his own recipe, his own curry, his own method. So you have to know how to improvise with the spices and vegetables, but use them sparingly! Many recipes can take a long time to prepare, but fortunately it's possible to learn quick and easy dishes.

Head for Maison Eureka. A half-day traditional cooking workshop takes place in this colonial house. The activity is only available in pairs, accompanied by a guide. Before joining the cook, you'll have to go to the market and collect the ingredients you need for the meal. Then, on the terrace, you can familiarise yourself with the local spices so as to combine the flavours correctly. Then it's off to the stove, where you'll share, participate, cut and stir... The aromas begin to fill the kitchen, and then it's time to sit down to dinner! To book this service, please contact Maison Eureka directly.

By staying in certain hotels, you can also enjoy similar culinary experiences. This is the case with the Attitude group, which owns several hotels on the island. At Ravanela Attitude, Creole cuisine takes pride of place, particularly in the restaurant. The chef will not hesitate to give you advice and teach you all the facets of this cuisine. With his help, you'll be able to concoct a few Mauritian specialities. After this experience, you'll be delighted to go home with the techniques and the recipe.

Still with the same Attitude hotel chain, you can dine directly in the home of a local, a hotel employee to be precise. The experience is authentic and based on sharing and exchange. Hotel guests are transferred to the local's home. Just like at home, everyone pitches in to prepare the meal. We chat and toast with rum (in moderation). We knead the dough to make the bread (called faratas), while the curry (dish in sauce) simmers. Then it's time for dinner with the whole family. This is an opportunity to share experiences and beliefs.

In Midlands, in the heart of the cane fields, in a place completely lost from mass tourism, a table d'hôte offers Mauritian specialities. Kot Marie-Michelle is an address not to be missed. You'll find Marie Michelle, the cook, ready to give you a tasty experience. As tradition dictates, she cooks over a wood fire in her old caraille (a cooking pot in Creole) and opts for traditional recipes, just like in the old days. For hours on end, she simmers a number of curries: "cari zac", "daube de poulet", "curry de poisson"... There's no fuss here, the host welcomes you as if you were his family. An unexpected and unforgettable experience!

Other, more luxurious hotels are becoming increasingly involved in Mauritian culture and are including in their programme an immersive activity to be enjoyed with the locals. In the south of the island, the Shanti Maurice hotel includes an exceptional experience with the locals in its catering.

In the kitchen of the La Kaz Mama restaurant, we meet the grandmother at the stove. She promises a 100% Mauritian experience with traditional, ancestral and local recipes. The restaurant uses produce from its own garden (herbs and vegetables) as much as possible. It's a culinary escape with hearty, family-style dishes. The chef prepares the traditional bread, farata, on a tawa (cast-iron griddle), while giving good advice. The meal takes place under the beautiful pergola, where you can enjoy the exotic dishes. The experience ends with home-made Mauritian sweets, tropical fruits and sorbets.