Packing a cooler and other food related questions...

Coden · Post by **Coden** » Sat May 14, 2011 7:52 am

So, for our upcoming trip we are thinking - maybe to pack a cooler. Mainly because we'll be there for 2 weeks.

We have a soft-sided cooler on wheels, that we normally line with newspaper, and put frozen fish in it when we go to Florida and bring back grouper. We put a towel on the top, before closing. It stays frozen for over 24 hours. Is this how you all do it?

Also, is there local honey sold somewhere? If not, is honey readily available in the stores?

What about organic foods in the store? We pretty much eat organic. Not that we can't back off of that for two weeks. It is just a personal preference. But wondering if in the canned and frozen aisles, if there is a good selection?

Signed - I still can't believe we are headed back!!

Exit Zero · Post by **Exit Zero** » Sat May 14, 2011 8:48 am

Locally produced and commercial honey is available.
There is a store on STT that has a large selection of organic fruits and vegetables - 340-774-8565 -The Fruit Bowl in Wheatley Plaza. Depending on your dietary needs it may well be worth a stop - if you are renting a car on STT certainly. If you are using a private taxi - like Rachel - she would be glad to stop there - again depending on your consumption level it may even be worth a ferry ride over mid vacation or combined with a STT day. The price difference and selection over STJ prices and selection would make a stop there work out no matter when.
Josephines in Coral Bay is a must stop for you too. She has the best local produce.
If you mean organic meats there is less of a selection on either Island - but possible.

Coden · Post by **Coden** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:13 am

Thank you, Exit. I was mainly talking produce, so we'll visit Josephine's. And we'll buy our honey on STJ once we get there - glad there is local honey. We are not 3 huge meal a day eaters. If we eat a large lunch we'll eat a small dinner. Or a light lunch, big dinner. Yogurt/fruit or cereal for breakfast.

Meats - we do buy organic here at home, so, if we bring a cooler, that is what we'll bring.

I know we'll eat more junk just because we'll be on vacation...plus our likker and stuff.

msgcolleen · Post by **msgcolleen** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:34 am

Hey Coden!
If you're planning to bring organic peanut butter, make sure you check it. They took ours away in our carry on rolling cooler and I was so

!
They also pulled us aside and thoroughly looked over anything in a metal can but luckily left all our frozen meats alone.
Looking forward to meeting you guys in just a few more months!

jimg20 · Post by **jimg20** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:44 am

We pack most of our meat and bring it. Our method is to have our butcher cryopack and wrap the meat in paper. We take the meat and freeze it assuring that it freezes into flat straight shapes. It packs better that way. We then pack the frozen meat in our 12 or 24 can Polar Bear cooler depending on how many are going and for how long. We also load a sheet of techni ice. We then use that every day when we go to the beach The entire package then goes into the freezer for at least 12 hours. I put a note on the front door to remind us that the meat is out of sight when the car gets loaded at 4 am. The meat is frozen solid every time. The only thing that does not stay frozen is bacon. It has too much salt. That's ok because we generally want to use it the first morning and it is still very cold.

JIM

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Sat May 14, 2011 10:31 am

We took our 24 can Polar Bear cooler packed to the brim! In fact it was so full, I had to leave some pulled pork at home. I didn't add anything like Technice, because I didn't want to risk the TSA making me open the cooler and taking it away from me. They did, however, ask what was in it, and they ran a wand over the outside, but let us go through with no incident. After 36-ish hours, everything was still frozen solid as a rock!

While we were on STJ, notanlines brought a salad of Josephine's greens to our Cinco De Mayo party, and I have to say it was one of the best salads I've ever had! Everything was super fresh and tender, and there were some some really tasty sprouts that I just picked out and ate separately! LOL!! I highly recommend Josephine's!

Coden · Post by **Coden** » Sat May 14, 2011 11:33 am

Thanks jimg20 & CA Girl - I think we'll be able to handle it. Most of our meats are already vacuumed sealed, so that is good.

CA Girl - we are looking forward to visiting Josephines...love a good salad! Thnx for the added info!

Oh - does anyone know if there are fresh eggs to be bought on island? We are really spoiled on fresh eggs.

Coden · Post by **Coden** » Sat May 14, 2011 11:40 am

And, I know this is way too much to hope for but...is there fresh milk or cheese on the island?
I know there are cows on the island, but are they milk cows?

And, who has the best fresh baked bread?

Headed to a BBQ festival today, about 1 1/2 hrs up the road...so see, we really aren't picky. LOL

waterguy · Post by **waterguy** » Sat May 14, 2011 5:06 pm

I heard there are fresh eggs under the Grateful shed as Ruth is now keeping chickens

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Sat May 14, 2011 6:28 pm

waterguy wrote:I heard there are fresh eggs under the Grateful shed as Ruth is now keeping chickens

Coden · Post by **Coden** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:33 pm

waterguy wrote:I heard there are fresh eggs under the Grateful shed as Ruth is now keeping chickens

Well, it is a good cash crop, a doz goes for $4 here. Maybe I need to visit Ruth.

Coden · Post by **Coden** » Sun May 15, 2011 2:31 pm

Let me ask you this...this is what we are thinking of packing in 1 cooler...

4 ribeyes, 2 chickens, 2 slabs ribs, 2 lb hamburg, and 2 lbs cheese.

For the 2 weeks, this will get us through many lunches and dinners. The question is...Is it worth our while? We have to buy all of it here (except for the steaks), prepare it, freeze it, then pack it and pay $25 to the airlines.

Just wondering if we should even worry about it. What is everyone's view on this?

Thnx!

EagleRayLover · Post by **EagleRayLover** » Sun May 15, 2011 3:16 pm

we always take our cooler but we take it carry-on so we don't have the airline fee. it is so worth it!

have a great time - sounds like a lot of yummy food!

Coden · Post by **Coden** » Sun May 15, 2011 6:14 pm

Hi ERL ~ Well, I'm not sure that it will fit into our carry-on. Maybe it will, I need to make sure our carry-on suitcases aren't too small, as in, maybe I can go up a size in luggage. Thanks for the idea.

toes in the sand · Post by **toes in the sand** » Mon May 16, 2011 11:45 am

My thoughts about paying the airlines $25 to loose my lunch (so to speak) is that I would rather spend the money on island and eliminate the hassle.

We are cooler people. We pack a cooler and put it with our checked luggage, BUT we always have a checked bag anyway. The cooler just fills it up. I imagine that the airline luggage charge will eat up any savings you realize and you take the risk of having it lost or delayed plus the trouble to pack it and haul it AND the costs if your taking taxi's and passenger ferries.

So unless you have need for something special that cannot be found on-island or you have a bag that you are already going to check, I would just buy it all on StJ. You can still bring down spices and non-perishable stuff in your carry-on.

usvi-on-line

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Packing a cooler and other food related questions...

Packing a cooler and other food related questions...