We started out vegan, with the lamb. If you hadn’t told me I would have thought it was meat. No kidding, I would not tell the difference in a blind taste test. Even the texture was spot on. Next up was a Brazilian cheese ball, Riki and I had attempted to make these a few months ago and had failed badly, Pão de Queijo is a true art form. Beautiful as simple canopies or delicious as part of a meal.
We explored the area which is made up of a few buildings separated by beautiful gardens. These contained shops of various types, a Sugar and Spice, which offered sugar-free cookies, I’m still laughing at Riki’s, “I guess it’s just spice then.” A full-out vegan burrito shop, a quaint coffee shop, with comfy chairs and a homely feel, and of course the restaurant with tons of seating, wonderful burgers and a fellow YouTuber, Lucy. Of course, we made her do a walk for the montage.
As this was Lucy’s home turf we let her guide us around for a bit. The pop-up shop filled with made-in Mauritius goodies had the girls oowing and aahing. All sorts of trinkets and knickknacks to take home later we headed out to the market. As the day was a little wet, many of the regulars were missing and they had decided to have another market in two weeks, but this didn’t stop us from checking out what was on offer
Recycled wood things, hand-made cushions, achaars, and of course I had to try a giant almond cookie. Everyone had their cameras out, filming this bewildered cookie, I think we got 4 angles on it by the end. I was fascinated by the bikinis, they are made from reclaimed fishing nets. Not sure about the whole process, but I think they take old fishing nets from Italy and turn them into a fabric that the guys at Tay-Bay then make into swimwear using Mauritius’ fantastically skilled artisans.
Outback is the reason Vanilla Village exists, the accommodation. Set in a stunning courtyard with trees that host vanilla plants, sculptures, and a fountain are the bungalows. Perfectly set out for a weekend away or a few days of exploring the area. As with everything in Vanilla Village, these were designed to the highest level. Staying in one of the rooms you have access to the pool, which I jokingly called the trout pond, a small gym, and a barbecue pit that also serves as a bonfire zone.
Our final stop was back in the shop for more samples. This time, vegan chocolate, made with dates instead of sugar. The ‘Nuttela’ was really good, but the truffles were magical, if you see Ynut get them, they are that good. I then met Paul from Spain and he had some glorious Spanish treats. I tried so many of them, but Paul kept giving me more. My highlight was the sardines in tomato sauce.
Vanilla Village has a quaint charm about it. The relaxed and friendly attitude of everyone there draws you in and makes you feel at home