One of my favorite snacks when mango was in season as a kid on the islands was mango chow. Even today, whenever we meet at family gatherings, there’s usually a bowl of chow in the midst. I can still recall eating away at this piping-hot combination of tart fruit, garlic and herbs… balanced with the…
Shadow beni is a leafy herb native to the West Indies and Central America. It is widely used in the cuisine of these regions, and it also appears in Asian foods. This herb can sometimes be difficult to obtain outside these regions; sometimes specialty stores will stock it frozen or in cans. If shadow beni…
On our last vacation to Trinidad and Tobago for carnival 2009, my sister had made reservations at the Hyatt Regency for our group to have breakfast. After all the amazing food we’ve been enjoying thus far on our trip, this day was going to be my BEST culinary experience on the island yet. Eddie my…
This one can work both ways, with or without the chicken so you can enjoy just the same if you’re a vegetarian. Some of you are probably saying that this is just a plain salad, but when you kick-in the bbq or jerk sauce to the chicken pieces, your taste buds will be asking questions……
Kieana our eldest daughter is hooked on anything stewed, while Indy our youngest will not touch the stuff. She’s more into curry chicken, but Kieana will only tolerate curry… no real love there. To try and please or ensure they both eat, I’ve gone back to making a dish that my mom used to make…
The one key ingredient when it comes to cooking any meat or fish dish in the Caribbean, is the green seasoning mix that’s used in the marinating process. Before we go on I’d like to mention a couple things. This recipe usually calls for 2 key ingredients “shado beni” and “Spanish thyme” (aka podina), both…
Though this recipe was not passed down from my mom, the technique and basic principles I did learn from watching her prepare this amazing dish. Quite honestly, this is my favorite dish and it’s cooked at least once a week at home. Served with sliced avocado, cucumber and tomato on a heaping bed of brown…
When you think Caribbean cuisine you automatically think heat. But as with any dish you’re preparing, you have control over how much heat you’d like to experience. Personally I like things fiery hot, but there are times when you don’t get the true flavor of the dish because it’s overwhelmed by the heat factor. Here’s…
A punch with no booze? Yup! This one can be enjoyed by the entire family. But for those wild “fete” nights, be sure to add your favorite rum or whiskey (make sure it’s a cheap whisky though, so you’re not wasting it). You’ll need… * 3 cups apple juice or sweet cider * 2 cups…
My mouth is water just thinking about this wonderful, full-of-flavor recipe. This one was inspired by my daughter Tehya who’s love for spicy food is just like her dad’s. Remember if you’re pressed for time or just feeling lazy, you can always pick up a bottle of Grace Jerk BBQ sauce from your local grocer…
With or without some homemade coconut ice cream, this one will surely be a huge hit at your next BBQ. Maybe it’s just a casual weekend “lime” with friends and you want to wow them with a simple but outstanding dessert. You’ll need: 1 ripe pineapple 2-3 tablespoons of dark rum 1 teaspoon of granulated…
