Culinary InformationNo matter the island, good home-cooked Caribbean food always starts with staple local ingredients:– Fresh fish– Vegetables– Tropical Fruits– Chicken– Island Spices & Herbs

Caribbean CookingDistinctive flavor of the region comes alive with addition of:–Spices, coconut, mangoes, passion

fruit, limes, papayas, guava, apples, breadfruit, yams, and peppers–Limes very popular to marinade fish &

chicken

Caribbean Cooking

Food for Thought!• Tamarind, similar to Worcestershire sauce• Allspice for jerk cooking • Spicy peppers in chocolate cake• Dipping sauces use hot peppers + sweet fruit• Coconut milk the base for stews & sauces• Most favorite ingredient for marinades,

desserts, sauces, and soups…..

RUM!

Cooking Methods• Barbeque

– Slowly cooking spiced meat over open fire pit– Absorbs flavors and cooks for 2-4 hours

• Jerk Cooking– Pork, Chicken, and Beef– Hot chili powder & herb rub before cooking– Cooked bare on open flame for 15-20 minutes

• Boil and Fry– Vegetables, plantains– Sauté in pan with oil for 15-20 minutes

• Roasting– Large cuts of meat, vegetables, nuts, fruit– Marinate meat and cook in oven for 50 minutes– Surround with side items to absorb flavor

Meal Manners• Start eating only after the host says

something like “Please begin!” or “Let’s eat!”

• Always hot pepper sauce nearby!• Often served buffet style• Courteous to try a bit of everything• Informal meals, but still use

European or continental style• Polite to finish everything on your

plate• When at home, it is considered

bad to leave the table at any time• 10% tip sufficient in restaurants