Nyam Caribbean Food!

In the islands we have a cooking style that, in the past few years, has leaped into popularity and greater recognition. Suddenly there’s a buzz. I have become quite caught up in this revolution by virtue of my involvement in the Caribbean food industry. This has fired up a latent passion for good food and cooking, which started in Jamaica, years ago, in my mother’s kitchen.

The Caribbean has a lot to offer. There is a tremendous cultural infusion, which has influenced its food over centuries. This mélange of sometimes exotic, arresting ingredients, spices and flavours has produced some memorable dishes. Some of the regional recipes are considered ‘Creole’ or ‘Criolla’, which refers to the cooking style that evolved in the West Indies (and the southern US and Latin America) as European recipes became heavily influenced by Africans and indigenous peoples. However, many of the signature dishes have little to do with Europe and are more rooted in West Africa, India and the East.