‘East End is Open for Business’
Off The Beaten Path
Tipsy Sisters Maggie Leathen
EAST END, GRAND BAHAMA By Yolanda Hanna Photographs courtesy of Matthew Wildgoose
Tipsy Sisters
I
Tipsy Sisters Wings and a Sands Beer
heard about an interesting restaurant located in East Grand Bahama that is serving up the best-tasting Bahamian food, in a warm, friendly atmosphere with the ear-catching name that I found delightful, Tipsy Sisters. I went in search of this quaint little establishment with my good friend and fellow Grand Bahamian, visual artist Matthew Wildgoose, and we embarked on a 45-minute drive to the settlement of McLean’s Town in East Grand Bahama, the location of Tipsy Sisters Restaurant & Bar. Tipsy Sisters is the wonderful creation of six sisters from Grand Bahama, who came up with the idea to start a business based on their mutual interests—good food and having fun! The daily operation of the restaurant and bar is managed by one of the six tipsy sisters, Maggie Leathen, and her husband Kendal, who also owns a bonefishing lodge nearby.
Tipsy Sisters Minced Crawfish, Peas n Rice, Crack Conch
47
up and away
“The idea came from me and my five sisters and, yes, a few of us do get a little tipsy sometimes! We like to have fun, we like to party, and I love to cook, so we decided to open a restaurant together and we came up with the name ‘Tipsy Sisters’,” explained Maggie. Tipsy Sisters reopened in McLean’s Town less than a year ago and, according to Maggie, business has been better than they could imagine. Residents and visitors to Grand Bahama travel the eastern end of the island to enjoy their delicious Bahamian menu offerings, comprised of fresh seafood—conch, fish and lobster (the Bahamian trio), good old Bahamian breakfast favourites like stewed conch and boiled fish, and a plethora of other dishes that are available seven days a week. A new conch stand is under construction on the outside and almost near completion; Maggie brags that she will be in command of the conch stand and preparing fresh conch salad daily when the stand is completed.
