If it's destined for a salad, the conch had better be fresh.
You're more likely to find "The Conch Man" at Goldie's restaurant in Nassau, Bahamas, or at its namesake in Miami. In New York, he told me, it's difficult to find fresh conch, so don't expect to see him or his salad ($12) except at this annual festival. That's one serving on the chopping board: onion, green bell pepper, tomato, and the meat from two conchs, ultimately zinged by some non-bell pepper and the juice from a whole large lime. Two other festival vendors prepared conch fritters, as well as typical jerked and curried island standards, though at 2:00, one stand was still setting up, and the musical entertainment was nowhere to be found.
Today as always, Pier 66 was also home to a bar and grill that serves burgers, steamers, and beer, as well as soft drinks that are surely more innocuous than suggested by the photo below. Be that as it may, I hit up the Bahamian drink stall for a pineapple-y Goombay soda ($2) and took in the riverside view.
Bahamas Culture Day
Pier 66, West 26th St. at 12th Ave.
www.BahamianAmericanCulturalSociety.org
Typically held on the Sunday before Labor Day
