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To see
Sunshines' website please click here.
Sunshines Bar & Grill, Nevis
By Robert Eugene
Hardwick
DEEP BACKGROUND
It all began eight years ago when the
eponymous Sunshine - Llewellyn Caines - set up his grill under the palm trees and began
cooking fresh seafood for hungry beachgoers. He scavenged a few chairs, used tree stumps
as tables and erected a thatched-palm roof. Bit by bit, the place became a popular hangout
that today stands in whimsical contrast to its ultra-swank next-door neighbor - the Four
Seasons Resort Nevis. "I've been blown away five times by hurricanes," says
Sunshine. "So I don't go for nothing fancy." The only nod to haute décor is a
few old posters of Jimi Hendrix, Malcolm X and Billie Holiday tacked to the driftwood
walls. There's no phone, no TV. But Sunshine takes pride in his CD player and blasts out
an eclectic mix of rhythm and blues.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
No telling who you might run into at
Sunshine's. Princess Di dined here, so did renowned hockey player Wayne Gretzky. Refugees
from the Four Seasons - which reopened in November after being closed for renovations
following 1999's Hurricane Lenny - drop in to loosen up before heading back to their
US$500-a-night digs. Yachties anchor offshore and dinghy in to the bar, and there's an
unending parade of locals who stop by to spice up the scene.
THRILL OF THE GRILL
The basic fare is fresh lobster, shrimp and
chicken done up spicy over an open fire. Depending on his whim, Sunshine will roast corn
or sweet potatoes as side dishes.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Sunshine's monthly Full Moon Party draws a
more raucous crowd than usual, thanks to its complimentary rum punch. Main attractions
include a big bonfire and a limbo contest.
TRY THIS AT HOME
You can't visit Sunshine's without trying
the house drink - the Killer Bee. Sunshine is secretive about its exact ingredients.
"First there's some rum, then some passion-fruit juice," he says. "Then
some more rum."
Beyond that, you're on your own.
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