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Introduction
to Caribbean Cuisine
Many
people are pleasantly surprised when they have their first
Caribbean Dish. The tastes are brilliant. Favourite meals
such as Curry Goat, Rice & Peas, Plantain, Fried Chicken,
Jerk Chicken, Oxtail Stew, Dumplings, Roti and Patties are
welcome varieties to any dining table. Caribbean cooks add
special touches to accompaniments such as Coleslaw, Potato
Salad, or Green Salad. You'll be dreaming about the meal for
a long time to come.
Caribbean
Foods which are widely available in supermarkets tend to be
a few fruit and vegetables, such as mangoes, coconut, melons,
pinapples, papaya, bananas, oranges, ginger and sweet potatoes.
Various condiments such as hot pepper sauces and seasonings
are also frequently seen on the supermarket shelves. There
are manufacturers producing ready prepared meals, but retailers
have been slow to make these available to consumers.
The
variety of Drinks available is well worth an afternoon tasting
session. Both the soft drinks and the alcoholic offerings
are delightful. Soursop punch - oh please, pineapple punch,
peanut punch, tropical fruit punch - oh pl-eeze. The dazzling
array of beautiful juices is something to write home about.
The variety of alcoholic drinks, will have many dancing for
joy. Some specialities are still only available in the Caribbean,
but we are working on that.
The
health benefit of Caribbean herbs is well documented. Our
grandparents had cures for everthing growing on their land.
Non-processed organic foods enabled older generations to live
strong into old age. The vitality offered by fresh fruit and
vegetables, and herbal (bush) teas cannot be underestimated.
Talk
about extra with the seasonings - that's Caribbean Cuisine.
The thought of just putting chicken to cook without any seasoning,
or just using salt and pepper would send us stir crazy. After
washing the meat many times over, and using vinegar or lemon
to wash further, then a long list of seasonings is added.
After allowing time to marinate, preferrably overnight, the
meat is cooked to perfection. Don't make the mistake of thinking
rice and peas, is just rice and peas. It's the additional
spices and seasonings which take you out of this world. (and
its not green peas either)
The
long list of seasonings used in Caribbean Cuisine can include
any of the following (and more). Allspice (pimento), annatto
seeds, bay leaves, black pepper, chives, chilies, cilantro,
cinnamon bark, coconut, cooking butter, curry powder, garlic,
ginger, lemon, mace, nutmeg, onion, oregano, scotch bonnet
peppers, sugar, thyme, coconut, lime, orange, skellion, tamarind,
tomato paste, vanilla, white pepper.
Caribbean
Cuisine has a wide range of flavours and tastes. Each island
in the West Indies have their own national dishes, and methods
for cooking. Some dishes are hot, others not. Jerk seasoning
is hot, but if used sparingly, you can give the spicy flavour
without the dish being too pepper. Most Caribbeans do cook
moderately, then add hot pepper sauce to the table, so that
adults can spice up the food even more. Some have been known
to take a bottle of hot pepper sauce with them when they are
going out to eat. Some use it like kids use tomato ketchup.
Ketchup on everything for some kids - the same for some adults.
Pepper on everything.
A
few dishes are designed to be eaten as accompaniments - ie
with something else, for they would be quite bland on their
own. Like eating a plate of white rice on its own. Give someone
a plate of sliced boiled yam, and they will wonder what the
fuss is about. Serve it with a well-seasoned fish or meat
dish, then you have a meal.
It
can be safely assumed that you will like many Caribbean dishes
but a few dishes will not tickle your fancy. There is something
for everybody. Who does not like fried plantains, or a pattie,
a crab salad, or guinness punch? I can only encourage you
to taste and see.
We
at Caribbean Food Emporium would like to encourage you to:
-
Enjoy Caribbean Food and Drinks as often as you can.
- Have
Caribbean Cuisine at your celebration, wedding, party, function.
If you cannot prepare it use a Caribbean Caterer, or hire
a Caribbean Chef.
- Support
your local Caribbean Food Restaurant or Take Away. Encourage
them.
- Request
Caribbean Cuisine from your favourite restaurant, pub, hotel,
club. This is a good excuse for a themed night, or themed
weekend. Hire a steel band or reggae band to round off the
event.
- Tell
your supermarket you want a good selection of Caribbean
Food and, in addition to Indian, Chinese, Italian, English,
Jewish, Mexican.
If
you have any queries about Caribbean Cuisine, you should find
many answers on this website. Failing that, or if you are
in a hurry, give us a call on 0870 286 1700.
(C)
D. Grant February 2002
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