Coconut Grove's Goombay Festival: Hot Days, Fresh Conch, Bahamian Spirit

All photos by Laine Doss

Fresh conch salad made to order.

Extremely hot days didn't deter thousands from taking to the streets of Coconut Grove this weekend to celebrate Bahamian culture, music, and food at the 36th annual Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival in Coconut Grove.

Coconut Grove has held a thriving Bahamian community since the early 1800s, when the first black settlers came from the nearby island nation to find work building what would become Miami.

Each year, Coconut Grove celebrates these pioneers by having mini Junkanoo parades, dancing in the streets, and eating some great food. Short Order was at the festival, eating and drinking in the festivities that celebrate our closest neighboring country. Click through for photo highlights of the best eats we found this weekend:

Hudson & Hudson Catering's grilled chicken.

Papa Mo's Barbeque had several smokers working overtime. Papa Mo himself told Short Order that he was looking into opening a food truck. We'll welcome its arrival.