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Dining on Iguana for Lunch

Updated on March 3, 2012

A Different Lunch

One of the joys of travel is new discoveries. While I like trying new foods, especially those made with chocolate, I do take the plunge occasionally and try something really exotic.

While strolling along the main street of Coxen Hole on the Island of Roatan in Honduras looking for a place to eat recently my wife spied a sign on some restaurants offering iguana on their menus. After some coxing she finally talked me into trying it.

So, we began looking for a place to try Iguana.

A rare Blue Iguana
A rare Blue Iguana | Source

My father used to talk about rattlesnake being on the menus of some restaurants in San Antonio, Texas when he was briefly stationed there at Ft. Sam Houston before being shipped overseas in World War II.

I also remembered seeing in some western movie a Mexican or Indian kid coming to the rescue of the hero when he was stranded in the desert. For dinner the kid caught a couple of iguanas and cooked them on a spit over the campfire for dinner.

Also, among the many exotic pets that my oldest son used to bring home was an iguana. We didn't have it for long as David soon lost interest in it and gave it to a friend. I never thought of eating it.

I have on occasion, threatened to send our chihuahua, Chika when she misbehaves, to a friend who claims his Mexican ancestors used to eat chihuahuas.

But, I have never really considered eating a pet.

Bar & Grill On The Spot Restaurant

Sign Outside the Bar and Grill on the Spot in Coxen Hole, Island of Roatan, Honduras
Sign Outside the Bar and Grill on the Spot in Coxen Hole, Island of Roatan, Honduras | Source
 Bar and Grill on the Spot Restaurant in Coxen Hole, Island of Roatan, Honduras
Bar and Grill on the Spot Restaurant in Coxen Hole, Island of Roatan, Honduras | Source

Lunch at the Bar & Grill on the Spot

However, to twist the old saying a bit, When in Honduras do as the Hondurans do (or at least as the Roatan Islanders do), I decided on impulse to go along with my wife's suggestion for lunch.

Proceeding down the street we found a little place called Bar & Grill On The Spot. It was a small place with two tables inside and what looked like a walk-up takeout window outside.

But they had iguana and it was actually less expensive than some of their seafood items. Which probably made sense since they would have to buy the seafood from local fishermen but could just go out into the backyard and catch an iquana.

The price for the iguana meal was U.S. $10 per plate plus beverage. Not knowing what to expect, we decided to order just one plate with two forks and two soft drinks.

It was actually a rather hearty meal with the plate consisting of a healthy serving of beans and rice, and equal amount of stewed iguana and a fried banana (it was a banana and not a platain - I asked the cook and she said it was just a common banana). The banana was very dry and I didn't care much for it.

Hub 2 for 30 Hubs in 30 Days Challenge

My chihuahua assistant, Chika, and I trying to write and publish 30 Hubs in 30 Days
My chihuahua assistant, Chika, and I trying to write and publish 30 Hubs in 30 Days | Source

It Was Actually a Tasty Lunch

The beans and rice were as good as any I have had other places and the iguana was tasty. Actually, the iguana had the same taste and texture as chicken.

The problem, other than the idea that I was eating a lizard, was that it was full of small bones. The best way I can describe it would be eating a turkey neck that has been cut into three or four places, boiled or stewed until the meat was falling off the bones and then serving it up bones and all.

We ate the entire meal and found it to be a satisfying and filling lunch. Having said that, I have no desire to consume any more lizard type creatures.

However, I can't say that I swore off all reptiles as a few days later at another stop on the same trip my wife decided we should try some turtle. But that is another story.

It's Just Lunch!  Dining on iguana  Coxen Hole, Honduras.
It's Just Lunch! Dining on iguana Coxen Hole, Honduras. | Source
An iguana in the wild
An iguana in the wild | Source
Iguana is the House Special at the Bar and Grill on the Spot Restaurant in Coxen Hole
Iguana is the House Special at the Bar and Grill on the Spot Restaurant in Coxen Hole | Source
The food was plentiful at the Bar and Grill on the Spot Restaurant in Coxen Hole, Honduras
The food was plentiful at the Bar and Grill on the Spot Restaurant in Coxen Hole, Honduras | Source
A Plate of Stewed iguana at the Bar and Grill on the Spot Restaurant in Coxen Hole, Honduras
A Plate of Stewed iguana at the Bar and Grill on the Spot Restaurant in Coxen Hole, Honduras | Source
Food Menu for Bar & Grill On The Spot (prices are listed in U.S. $) in Coxen Hole, Honduras
Food Menu for Bar & Grill On The Spot (prices are listed in U.S. $) in Coxen Hole, Honduras | Source
Beverage menu for Bar & Grill On the Spot Restaurant in Coxen Hole, Honduras
Beverage menu for Bar & Grill On the Spot Restaurant in Coxen Hole, Honduras | Source
Corner of our table at the Bar & Grill on the Spot Restaurant in Coxen Hole, Honduras
Corner of our table at the Bar & Grill on the Spot Restaurant in Coxen Hole, Honduras | Source
Bella in front of entrance to Bar & Grill On The Spot Restaurant in Coxen Hole, Honduras
Bella in front of entrance to Bar & Grill On The Spot Restaurant in Coxen Hole, Honduras | Source
Local woman walking down main street in Coxen Hole, Honduras carrying a load of fish on her head
Local woman walking down main street in Coxen Hole, Honduras carrying a load of fish on her head | Source

Chika's Link to Darlene Sabella's Latest Hubs

At the left are the latest Hubs by fellow Hubber and fellow 30 Hubs in 30 Days Challenger Darlene Sabella.

If it hadn't been for Darleen's challenge we would not be involved in this writing frenzy to produce thirty Hubs in thirty days.

So we salute her and encourage you to check out some of her offerings in this challenge.

As I explained in my Hub about this project I also would not have been forced to hire my dog, Chika, to assist me in this project.

My editor, Chika, at work on her computer
My editor, Chika, at work on her computer | Source
A
Coxen Hole:
Coxen Hole, Honduras

get directions

City of Coxen Hole, on the Island of Roatan off the Coast of Honduras

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