The lizard and the nail

A Beaconite was first amused, then dismayed, last week when two restaurant patrons claimed to have found objects in their food that shouldn’t have been there: in once case, a lizard baked into a loaf of bread, and in another a rusty nail in some steak sauce. Photos and videos of the incidents were splashed across social media almost immediately. The Environmental Health Division quickly stepped in, both restaurants cooperated, and everyone else (who wasn’t unlucky enough to be directly affected) followed along on Facebook. However, the ensuing debate quickly devolved into chaos, with some residents promptly accusing the customers of fakery and defending the restaurant owners, and others making equally inappropriate accusations about the motives of those supporting the restaurants. In the Beaconite’s home country of the United States, foreign objects found in food are an unfortunate part of dining out (and even included, at one point, a human finger an alleged scammer claimed to have found in a bowl of Wendy’s chili, so it gets much worse). The Beaconite thinks both customers should be given the benefit of the doubt, and that the restaurants should do their best to handle the situation properly and cooperate with authorities — and be given credit when they do so. Foreign objects in food may be disgusting, but there is no need for the comments surrounding them to be.

 

 

Family feud

A Beaconite was caught in the midst of a family controversy when she attended a Monday press conference in Road Town about the future of Foxy’s Tamarind Bar on Jost Van Dyke. Though she had never met “Foxy” Callwood in person, she was delighted by some of his jokes before the event took place. “It’s too quiet in here,” he said as reporters braced themselves for what was to come. The Beaconite appreciated that he took the opportunity to break the ice and make the media laugh. As Mr. Callwood began his story, the reporter didn’t realise just how many people filled the room behind her. There were, of course, Mr. Callwood’s family members, but there were also government officials and others in the back of the room witnessing the family dispute play out. What matters here most, the reporter believes, is understanding the intentions of all parties involved. She hopes that the dispute will come to a peaceful conclusion, and that the bar and restaurant that so many have come to love will remain open despite the disagreements.

 

 

House hunting

With a hiccup in his lease, a Beaconite has found himself looking for a new place to live. Last week, he toured available apartments with a colleague in the same predicament, and while the process of house hunting in a fairly small, expensive market has created some stress, it was interesting to see how diverse Tortola’s housing stock really is. He first viewed a one-bedroom studio in Kings Town perched atop a hill overlooking Cedar International School. The studio was well-lit and roomy, but its layout bore a slight resemblance to that of a motel and it came unfurnished. Next, a pair of realtors took the Beaconites to a small complex of studios across the street from Cane Garden Bay. They toured two properties, both with spacious, clean designs, and each with its own quirk: one of the studios had an outdoor shower, while the other had a little seating area attached to the kitchen. The Beaconites’ last stop was a three-bedroom house in Zion Hill, which came with a long patio, ample living space, and, most importantly, a grill. There were decisions to be made regarding price, convenience and comfort, but driving back into town, the Beaconites were comforted, at least, that they had options.