Christmas Cake

As the holidays get closer, what lovely memories I have of Christmas in St Kitts; for It is not only Christmas.... It's Christmas and Carnival. From the eyes of a Child it was a time for special privileges, festivities and lots and lots to eat and drink. All the houses in the village were filled with different aromas; from some came the sent of roast pork others had the smell of ham and rice and pigeon peas. There was definitely no mistaking the sent of fruit or rum cake in the oven and fudge on the stove. During the festivity of Christmas and carnival we would go from house to house each one offered us a bit of fruit cake and sorrel. Sometimes we would go home with food and sweets from several different homes all in the merriment of the season.

Cake:

1 lb butter, room temperature 2 cups raisins

1 cup brown sugar 2 cups currants

8 eggs (soaked in warm water) 1 cup dried cherries

4 cups flour 1 cup candied citrus peel

2 tsp baking powder 2 cups mixed dried fruit

2 tsp nutmeg 2 cups rum

1 tbsp cinnamon 2 cup ginger wine or port wine

1 tsp ground cloves 1 cup brandy

1 tsp ground allspice

2 1/2 tsp. almond essence

2 1/2 tsp vanilla essence

2 lime peel

3/4 - 1 cup dark molasses or cane syrup

1 cup rum, brandy or Stones Ginger Wine

Fruit: At least two days before baking, combine raisin, currants, cherries, citrus peel, dried fruit, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, rum, wine and brandy in a glass jar, cover tightly. When ready to bake, using a food processor or a blender to grind the soaked fruit and spices to a rough paste.

Cake: Preheat oven to 250F. Line four 8" round cake pans with two layers of waxed paper, greasing both layers. In a larger bowl cream together the butter and sugar till light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time beating well between each addition. Sift the flour and baking powder together. With a wooden Spoon, fold in the fruit alternatively with the flour and essences. Add browning to a deep brown color. Pour mixture in prepared baking pans and cook for 3-4 hours or till a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove cakes from oven, pierce with a skewer and pour a 1/4 of rum, brandy or ginger wine over each cake while still warm. Wrap cake in several layers of waxed paper then in foil and store for a month for best flavor. During the month, skewer again and pour rum, brandy or ginger wine over, re wrap.

The most popular drink throughout the Caribbean during the Christmas holidays is sorrel. I can clearly remember the weeks leading up to the holidays when I would cut the sorrel stems. We would tie them up in parcels to sell to the neighbors, dried some for later use and replanting and the rest we used to make our own sorrel drink. Here is a recipe.

2 lb sorrel sepals 2 gall boiling water

2 orange peel dried 5 lbs sugar

2 oz ginger handful whole cloves

6 cinnamon sticks handful rice

1/2 pint rum

Put the dried sorrel, crushed ginger, orange peel, cinnamon and clove in a large pot or jar and pour the boiling water over it. Allow to cool and cover for three days. Strain the liquid and add the sugar, some more clove and cinnamon sticks, rice and rum. Cover for another three days. Using a Sieve and cheese cloth, strain and bottled Refrigerate and served with crushed ice.

Extremely tasty with black cake and a must have during the Christmas time in the Caribbean.

Great Caribbean Cookbooks

Just the name, “Spiced Bun,” sounds wonderful amidst the cold winter air. Spices that are mixed into these special buns really create quite an enjoyable taste. Throughout Jamaica, spiced buns are quite common, though you may not find them in many restaurants. Many Caribbean dishes come from the very heart of family recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation, and unless you know someone that cooks authentic home style Caribbean meals, you may never have the pleasure of tasting a spiced bun. Of course, you can try to make some from a recipe that you acquire, but asking a professional Caribbean chef to make hot spiced buns for you is the way to go.

So, what makes spiced buns so special? Well, other than the fact that spiced buns consists of the softest bread you will ever taste, these buns are also laced with some very tempting spices. Jamaican spiced buns do not really look like North American buns at all. In fact, Jamaican buns usually come in the form of a loaf, and the loaf is usually very dark in color due to all the spice. Each family tends to have their own special concoction of spices that create an authentic spiced bun, but nearly every spiced bun is served with an accompaniment.

Many Jamaicans love to eat spiced buns with cheese, and sometimes people pair spiced buns with butter as well. If you prefer your buns crispy, you can ask to have your bread toasted, which will give it an entirely different flavor. The spiced bun is almost like a dessert bun throughout the islands, and many Westerners have compared it to hot cross buns – but, a Jamaican spiced bun has a flavor all its own. If you even get the chance to try this type of bread, don’t turn it down! The mere though of a hot, spiced bun is enough to make anyone’s stomach rumble.

Chorizo

One thing can be said for sure – Caribbean cooks really love their spice. It seems that the spicier a food is, the more popular it becomes, and nothing gets quite as spicy as chorizo. Chorizo is a type of meat that is ground and spiced according to style. Different meat manufacturers tend to create different types of chorizo, but this meat is a favorite all over the Caribbean. You will find chorizo in stews, in the form of sausages, and even packaged as loose meat in grocery stores.

Usually, chorizo is made from the fatter parts of pork, but sometimes you may be able to find beef, venison, kosher, and vegan chorizo as well. Chorizo is a reddish color, and though most people within the United States eat chorizo for breakfast, this meat is eaten at all hours of the day throughout the Caribbean. Chefs love to use this spicy meat in stews, on top of chicken dishes, and as a filler for many different sorts of fish and pastries. Some chefs have even used chorizo to fill Jamaican patties, and this type of patty will really hit you with a lot of spice from the first bite.

Though many people are slightly intimidate to try Caribbean chorizo, if you have a penchant for hot and spicy foods, this meat is not to be missed. Cooks throughout the Caribbean tend to add their own special blend of spices to each type of chorizo dish, so be prepared to be surprised. Chorizo is also popular throughout Europe and Mexico, though Spanish (European) chorizo is drastically different from the Caribbean variety. If you want to be “wowed,” ask for a bit of chorizo on your next Caribbean plate.

Caribbean Cooking: The Spices of Jerk Specialties

Caribbean cuisine is known for its robust, spicy flavors. One of the most widely-known specialties is jerk meat. “Jerk” is a reference to the way the meat is cooked and seasoned. Jerk dishes showcase the unique herbs and spices of the Caribbean.

Jerk seasoning varies from area to area and from cook to cook. However, the basic core ingredients of jerk meat seasoning are allspice, thyme, and the powerful Scotch bonnet pepper. Cooks then expound upon the core ingredients to create their own unique rubs. Nutmeg, black pepper, brown sugar, cloves, garlic, marjoram, and cinnamon are other popular ingredients found in jerk rubs.

Jerk meat dishes are native to the island of Jamaica. Throughout the history of the island, blends of spices and hot peppers helped to preserve meat which was then dried. Today, a variety of meats are used in jerk dishes including beef, pork, chicken and even fish. The spices in jerk seasoning are most flavorful when lightly toasted and then ground. A bit of fresh citrus juice can be added to the spices and blended to form a paste which is rubbed into the meat. The meat is then scored with a knife and the paste is rubbed into the meat and left to marinate overnight. The meat is then slowly roasted on a barbecue grill over low heat. Caribbean spices are often added to the flames of the grill to add even more delicious, exotic flavor.

The flavors of the Caribbean are full-bodied, adventurous, and delightful. Integrating the herbs and spices of the Caribbean into your cooking will bring the hearty flavors of paradise into your own home.

Cherimoya

Imagine biting into a fruit that tastes of an exotic pineapple, mango, and strawberry custard – sound good? The Cherimoya fruit is quite common throughout the Caribbean, but this fruit originally came from Peru and Ecuador. Cherimoyas have a flavor all their own, and Mark Twain himself once dubbed this tasty fruit “deliciousness itself.” If that description isn’t enough to appeal to you, perhaps the ways in which the Cherimoya is used throughout the Caribbean will.

Many tropical drinks are made with the Cherimoya fruit, but islanders tend to eat this “bit of deliciousness” all on its own. In fact, the Cherimoya is one fruit that rarely needs any other added ingredient. Due to its heavenly taste, this fruit has been a favorite within the Caribbean for quite some time now, but it is not a fruit easily grown. The Cherimoya must live in tropical places though it needs to have a cold spell once in awhile in order to thrive. Some parts of the Caribbean are just right for growing Cherimoyas, and within these areas this fruit is highly coveted.

When you try a Cherimoya, look for a fruit that is similar in resemblance to the avocado, and if you spot a brown Cherimoya do not eat it. When this fruit turns a dark shade of brown it is over-ripe. Also, do not eat the seeds of the Cherimoya since they are poisonous, and try to avoid the skin as well. Otherwise, the flesh of this fruit is well worth a try, and those who first bite into a Cherimoya cannot often put it down. There are so many delicious foods that come from the Caribbean, it is nearly impossible to eat them all. But, if you love sweet fruit, the Cherimoya is something that you will never forget.

Breadfruit

When you ask for meat and potatoes in the Caribbean, you might not recognize the type of starch that winds up on your plate. There are many different substitutes for potatoes throughout the Caribbean, and some of these things are not vegetables at all. One of the most common potato-like items is the breadfruit, and this fruit is one of the most interesting things that you may try while you are visiting the Caribbean.

Breadfruit is actually native to the Malay Peninsula, but it is also rather abundant throughout the Caribbean as well. This type of fruit is green in color and rather fleshy inside, which makes it a perfect side dish. Breadfruit is high in starch, and it can only be consumed once it has been baked, broiled, roasted, or fried. Some people believe that the taste of a breadfruit is similar to homemade bread, which is why this peculiar fruit has been named “breadfruit.” Breadfruit trees only produce a certain amount of breadfruits each year, so people that harvest these fruits often keep them underground for quite awhile. Sometimes, a breadfruit will turn into a sticky paste that is often used in cooking.

One common breadfruit dish consists of mashed breadfruit combined with coconut milk and baked inside a banana leaf. Some chefs even add breadfruit to meat mixtures in order to create a hearty filling for a pastry shell. In many ways, breadfruit is one of the most versatile foods within the Caribbean, which makes this fruit a necessary part of any Caribbean diet. If you have the chance to sample some authentic Caribbean cuisine, try some breadfruit and discover why so many people simply cannot live without this tasty fruit.

Crack That Coconut

They’re round, they’re hairy, and they are entirely frustrating if you are attempting to open them. The coconut is a never ending enigma to many westerners that have tried in vain to crack, split, drop, and bludgeon a coconut in order to eat the sweet meat that is inside of its hard shell. But when it comes to Caribbean cuisine, the coconut is an integral part of the culture, and coconut meat is used in many different ways throughout the Caribbean. If you want to try a few different island recipes, but you are afraid of the ever difficult coconut, try these coconut cracking tips.

First, gather a screwdriver and a hammer. Then, use the screwdriver to puncture a hole into the coconut while you hammer the end of the screwdriver into the shell. Then, pour the liquid from the coconut into a bowl or cup, and save this for drinks and stews. Once the juice is drained, you can easily break the coconut into many pieces by tapping it with the hammer (lightly!). In order to eat the coconut meat, or use it for a recipe, you can either place the small pieces into an over than has been heated to 400 degrees, or you can freeze the pieces of coconut for a few hours until you are able to pull the skin away from the shell.

Coconuts have a lot of meat to them once you are able to separate the shell from the inside of the coconut, and a truly fresh coconut is well worth the trouble. And, just in case you don’t know how to pick out the perfect coconut, choosing a coconut is just as simple as cracking one. Make sure that you listen to your coconut (you should hear water sloshing around inside), and never pick a coconut that is wet where the three “eyes” are located. Also, if you happen to visit an ethnic market, look for green coconuts, which are a true delight and can be eaten with a spoon.

What Can Your Caterer Do For You?

It may sound like a silly question, since the answer seems obvious: Caterers provide food, right? Yes, but caterers can also do many other things that will make your event run smoothly. If you hire the right caterer and take advantage of their skills and knowledge, your event will be a hit.

For instance, caterers know where to find a lot of the equipment you need to set up the event. That includes tables, chairs, dishes, silverware, napkins, glasses, linens, decorations, and all the other things you need to make this event complete.

A good caterer will ask lots of questions so that he or she will know how many guests you'll be having and exactly what sort of event you want. Is this a formal wedding or a wedding with a tropical theme? What sort of theme or personality do you want for this retirement party? Once you can help the caterer see your vision, they can make your vision a reality.

Caterers can also hire skilled staff to help with the catering. They are in the best position to pick people who are skilled and experienced. Also, the caterer will handle the responsibility of any staff member who gets sick and doesn't show up. While it might be tempting to let family members help the caterer serve the food and hors d'oeuvres, this is probably not the best idea. Caterers and trained staff will know what to do. Letting untrained volunteers handle some of the workload could introduce problems and liability issues for the caterer.

However, you still have a very important role to play: You're the one with the vision, and it's your job to make sure everything is flowing the way it should. If you work harmoniously with your caterer, you will have an event to remember.

Blue Marlin

While the rest of the world happily munches away on salmon, within the Caribbean Blue Marlin is king, and this fish is truly a delicacy to behold. On the island of Jamaica, in particular, Blue Marlin is served in many different ways, and this fish is often a prized part of any Caribbean menu.

Blue Marlin tastes a lot like salmon, which is why the Caribbean rarely imports any form of salmon from other countries. Most Blue Marlin that are caught are immediately sold in steak form, but many pieces of this fish are brought to smokehouses in order to become smoked Marlin, which is really quite wonderful. Smoked Blue Marlin is very thin, somewhat tough, and entirely tasty. Marlin has a way of holding in smoke flavor unlike any other smoked fish on the market, and many people serve smoked Blue Marlin as part of a top notch menu.

Each island within the Caribbean has a different way of preparing fresh Marlin, but in Jamaica, Blue Marlin steaks are often cooked with a rum and spice flavoring. Sometimes, a traditional jerk recipe is used in order to flavor Marlin, and if the jerk has been done correctly, this way of eating Blue Marlin is incredibly authentic. If you are planning on hosting an event full of Caribbean food, Blue Marlin is a must have dish when it is in season. For a true taste of island flavor, try Blue Marlin – the fisherman’s jewel of the islands.

The Plantain

Have you ever seen those peculiar looking miniature bananas at your local supermarket? Although plantains look a lot like regular bananas, these baby bananas are really much sweeter than the average eating banana. Throughout the Caribbean, the plantain is a necessary cooking ingredient, and this small, yellow, fruit is also something of a Caribbean tradition.

While you can simply peel a regular banana and munch away, plantains must be cooked in order to be consumed, but they do not have to be ripe in order to taste delicious. There is nothing quite as delicious as a battered, fried, and moist plantain that has been cooked to perfection. You can find cooked “fritters” all over the islands, and these tasty treats are a great way to delve right into the heart of Caribbean cooking. Another way to cook plantains that you might encounter is to pound green plantains, slice them, fry them, and pound them again in order to create a form of crispy banana chip; these tempting chips are called “tostones,” and they are a popular favorite.

Plantains throughout the Caribbean are often not considered to be a sort of fruit, although technically they are, and many cooks treat plantains in the same manner that North Americans tend to treat potatoes. It is not uncommon to find cooked plantains on your plate, or to see some variety of baked plantain on a restaurant menu. When you are in the Caribbean, opt for a tasty plantain in place of your average starch, and you will see why these little bananas are such an important part of the Caribbean diet.

Guava

The guava fruit is native to the Caribbean, and it is also known as a superfruit. Far from being a caped defender of oppressed fruits, a "superfruit" is a recent term that describes any exotic, flavorful fruit that's rich in vitamins and antioxidants. The guava certainly qualifies: It's bursting with vitamins A, B, and C. The rind alone contains five times as much vitamin C as an orange!

As far as its appearance goes, the guava looks a little like a pear or an apple. Some varieties are pale green or yellow, others are pinkish or red. The pulp can either be creamy-white or salmon-pink.

The guava is a sweet fruit with a unique scent that is difficult to describe. Its fragrance could be compared to a fresh apple or rose petals. Though the pulp is very good, it's full of seeds. Although you can safely eat the seeds, many people choose not to eat the middle of the guava. This is a shame, since the outer layer is not as smooth or sweet as the center. The rind is rather bitter, but it has the highest concentration of vitamins.

What all can you do with the guava fruit? There are Caribbean recipes for making a tasty guava jam. You could also use the fruits to make guava mousse, a Caribbean punch, or even make a uniquely sweet barbecue sauce.

And, of course, the guava fruit is great to eat on its own. It tastes great, and you get to reap all kinds of health benefits from it. Regardless of how you prepare it, this is a good fruit to keep stocked in your kitchen.

Special Requests for Caterers

Food is a very personal thing, and most people often take religious and moralistic values into consideration when they decide what sort of food to consume. Therefore, as a caterer, you must understand certain special requests, and you should be able to accommodate these requirements without wondering what they entail. Below are some of the most common food needs that clients will often ask of you, and you may want to do further reading concerning each topic.

Halal: Muslim clients will request that their food be halal. Literally, “halal” means “permissible,” and all halal foods must be marked “halal.” In general, forbidden foods include pork (this includes any sort of pig based item including gelatin); blood; animals slaughtered without the presence of a halal butcher; carnivorous animals (some Muslims believe this, others do not); and any sort of alcohol.

Kosher: although halal and kosher are similar, they are not the same thing. Jewish people cannot eat pork; birds of prey; fish that do not have fins and scales (no lobster, crab, or other shellfish); meat and dairy cannot be mixed (and they cannot be eaten during the same sitting); and all animals must be slaughtered in by a kosher butcher. There are many other kosher restrictions, so make sure to check with your client.

Vegetarian: contrary to popular belief, vegetarians cannot eat any form of animal – including chicken and turkey. Some vegetarians can eat eggs and dairy products, and some cannot – it is best to check with your client in regards to this topic.

Vegan: vegans do not eat any sort of animal product including eggs, dairy, honey, and anything else that comes from an animal. Vegan recipes are hard to come by, but they are not impossible to find.

Most likely, you will also be faced with people that are diabetic, have health concerns, and are on special diets. Other religions tend to have their own set of rules pertaining to food, so always check with you clients. In fact, it is a good idea to have a sheet of foods listed on a piece of paper, and ask your customers whether or not they can eat each food.

Types of Serving Styles

As a client of a caterer, you will want to know the different types of serving styles that caterers offer, and as a caterer, you should make sure that your client has the option of choosing from many different serving styles. Both parties should be clear on what sort of style will be used, and all serving types should be outlined prior to any sort of booking. Below are the most common types of serving styles, and a brief explanation of each.

Seated Meal: seated meals are the most typical, and they consist of guests sitting while wait staff serves each course. There are three types of seated meals including, plated service (meals are brought on portioned plates); Russian service (trays are brought to tables, and food is placed upon plates that are already upon the table); and French service (two waiters serve each guest from a platter).

Buffet: buffets can include hot and cold items, or simply one or the other. Buffets can also include a carving station (kitchen staff carves certain cuts of meat), and elaborate ice sculpture displays.

Passed Tray: this is what you should choose if you do not want a full meal service. During a passed tray service, waiters simply circulate throughout the room with hot and cold foods.

Each type of dinner service will assume a different price level, and all types of service can be classy, sophisticated, and elegant. No matter what type of service you choose, the best events include decadent cuisine. Make sure to talk to you caterer about each type of service before booking any sort of event.

The Jamaican Patty

Searching for the perfect Caribbean food for your next lunch gathering? Jamaican patties make superb lunch time favorites, and these tasty little pastries are just what you are looking for when it comes to great, fast, Caribbean cuisine.

Throughout Jamaica, you can find patties formed form crispy pastry shells and stuffed with various fillings nearly anywhere you turn. Since Jamaican patties are largely portable, they are easy to pick up and eat on the go, which means that they are perfect for any sort of business meeting or casual lunch time event. Usually, Jamaican patties are stuffed with ground meat, but they can also be filled with other substances as well. Although the origin of the Jamaican patty is largely unknown, each town and household tends to create a unique blend of spices to go along with the meat, and these patties are childhood favorites for nearly every Jamaican born person.

In Jamaica, patties marked with a red dot usually indicate that the filling is chicken; no dot at all means that the patty is filled with meat; and a green dot usually depicts a vegetarian filled patty. Jamaican patties have become so popular with tourists that they can be found in abundance throughout England and Canada, and they even come frozen in some parts of the world (though fresh is always best). Why opt for regular sandwiches when you can serve tasty, crispy, Jamaican patties at your next event? For the ultimate Jamaican patty experience, ask your caterer to create these delicious treats for your event and experience the real food of the islands.

Caribbean Rum Cake

Rum and the Caribbean go hand in hand. Actually, the Caribbean is believed to be the birthplace of rum. Is it really any wonder that pirates used to love spending time down in the Caribbean? Most rum is still distilled in the tropical islands today, and the drink that they are perhaps most famous for is Malibu Rum. Although rum is a great complement to any Caribbean dish, it's also the chief ingredient of the Caribbean Rum Cake.

It's thought that Caribbean Rum Cake actually originated from European settlers who introduced some of their favorite dishes to the islands. Specifically, rum cake probably evolved from what is known as English pudding. The people of the Caribbean islands decided to put their own spin on it, and today we have what is called rum cake.

Caribbean Rum Cake is especially popular around Christmas time. A good rum cake is very sweet, dense, moist, and decadent. It will last for quite a while; in fact, it "ages." One of the better rum cake recipes calls for chopped walnuts as well as vanilla pudding.

If you see a recipe for rum cake that doesn't mention what kind of rum to use, always go for the dark rum. It's the best default. Most recipes will specify if you should use some other kind of rum.

Don't put in more rum than is called for in the recipe. Although it might seem that "more is better!", too much rum could lend an overpowering or even unpleasant taste to the cake.

Customary Caribbean Wedding Cake

Are you planning to throw a Caribbean themed wedding? If so, you will need to know all about the way that wedding cakes are made in the islands, so that you caterer will be able to concoct a delicious cake for your perfect day. Throughout the Caribbean, wedding cakes are filled with flavor, bursting with freshness, and dripping with that quintessential Caribbean taste.

Common flavors included in Caribbean wedding cakes include rum, fruits, Indian spices, and all around fantastic flavor. Some great cakes consist of Jamaican Rum Cake, regular Rum Cake, Black cake, West Indian Fruit Cake, and Caribbean Fruit Cake. The basic thing to remember when searching for the perfect Caribbean wedding cake is that rum is nearly always part of a Caribbean wedding cake tradition, and that fresh fruit is another additive that should not be left out. Most cakes incorporate a frosting that is sweet, but doesn’t compare to the sweetness of most North American cakes, so you may want to play around with this portion of the cake.

As far as decoration goes, Caribbean wedding cakes should be vibrant and full of live. Since life within the Caribbean is colorful, do not be afraid to include various colors throughout your cake. Layer you perfect cake with fruit, rum, and coconut, or opt for a chocolate and spice combination. If you choose the right caterer, your Caribbean wedding cake desires can easily come true. Take the time to taste many different cakes, and sample some original concoctions as well. Weddings within the Caribbean are festive, so go ahead and have fun with your ideal cake.

Things Every Caterer Should Know

Starting a catering business is really quite a difficult task. Although your food may be the best in the world, clients will not know about it until news about your business has had time to circulate. Then again, time seems to slow down when you have bills to pay and when your business is just beginning to take off.

Every caterer should be aware that it takes a lot of time to get a new business “off the ground.” You must market your product, advertise your services, and you will also play the role of a cook, banker, baker, and cleaner when you first start out. There is no doubt that running your own business will become exhausting, but it will be worth it after a little bit of time getting used to the life of a business person. It is also very important to remain up to date when it comes to food. Read about the newest techniques, the latest types of parties being thrown, and general things such as food presentation – don’t make the mistake of believing that you know everything about your business. Finally, make your business special. Include a unique service twist, a signature dish, or something else that set you apart from the competition.

After a year or so, your catering business should start to take real form. You will build a reliable clientèle, money will begin to flow in, and people will start to realize that your tempting food cannot be matched. It may be more than frustrating to begin a business at first, but when you’ve worked really hard in order to make something grow, you can always carry with you the satisfaction that you’ve done your best – and you’ve been successful.

What to Drink WIth That Dish

This site is just full of wonderful things that make Caribbean cuisine so great, but what about those fruity drinks served throughout the islands? If you decide to have your next event catered by some professional Caribbean chefs, you will want to ask whether or not your caterer can provide you with a few drink options. Of course, to find the perfect drinks to go along with your Caribbean cuisine, you will want to select beverages that reflect Caribbean culture. Here are a few drink concoctions that will work perfectly with any Caribbean dish.

First, you should know that beer and rum are true staples of the Caribbean islands, so most drinks will include one or the other. Then there are a few unknown Caribbean drinks including, “Mauby,” which tastes similar to sarsaparilla; “Irish Moss,” which is made from seaweed and combined with milk and ginger; “Coconut Water,” which is actually an additive (not a drink), but it is added to nearly every drink; “Ginger Beer;” and “Ting,” which is a drink derived from sweet grapefruit. Rum is usually added to most drinks, and you will have a choice of dark, amber, white, or spiced rum when you concoct the perfect drink mix.

Most Caribbean caterers should be able to mix up a bath of punch containing quintessential Caribbean flavors, and creating your own drink is quite the experience. Contact your caterer and ask about adding a drink to your next event. Consider the ingredients mentioned above, and sample a few mixes before choosing the one that works for you. Nothing says “exclusive party” quite like the inclusion of a “signature drink.” Caribbean food is all about spice, and now you have something to wash it all down with.

Common Jamaican Dishes

While you are in Jamaica, you may come across a few dishes that you are less than familiar with. Of course, it is important to try as many different types of food as possible, for this is an excellent way to jump right into a culture, but before you go you may want to look at this list – just in case you are less than sure about what to order.

· Ackee and Saltfish: this is actually a breakfast dish in Jamaica, and it tastes a lot like scrambled eggs.

· Bammy: this is a friend bread that is made from cassava flour, and some people liken the taste to Indian “nan” bread. Bammy is usually served with some sort of fish, and it is very popular throughout the Caribbean.

· Christmas Cake: this is sort of a Jamaican twist on American fruitcake. Christmas cake contains raisins, cinnamon, cherries, and even a few dried fruits.

· Curried Goat: this dish is, well, curried goat. Largely taken from the Indian tradition of curried meats, curried goat is widely popular and it is nearly every menu.

· Duckanoo: if you get the chance to try this dessert, you will certainly love it. Duckanoo is a combination of cornmeal, coconut, spices, brown sugar, and banana.

· Fish Tea: no, it doesn’t come in a small tea saucer. Fish tea is really more like a fish broth, and it is actually quite nice.

These are just some of the things that you will encounter on your Jamaican vacation. Remember not to be afraid of a dish simply because you aren’t sure what it is. Cooks within the Caribbean are well seasoned when it comes to their own cuisine, and the food is simply divine.

Best Caribbean Cookbooks

So, you’ve decided to venture into the world of Caribbean cooking – good for you! You are about to embark on a culinary journey that your taste buds will be singing about for months to come. Still, you will want to prepare the spices, aromas, and ingredients just right, and in order to do that you should consider reading up on Caribbean cooking just a bit. There are some great Caribbean cookbooks on the market (since Caribbean cuisine is quickly becoming a worldwide favorite), and you can really learn a lot from the following list of suggested Caribbean cookbooks.

· The Sugar Mill Caribbean Cookbook: authors Jinx Morgan, Jefferson Morgan, and Dorothy Reinhardt (illustrator), have come together in order to bring you a superb collection of Caribbean recipes straight from the Sugar Mill resort. This book is creative, fun, and easy to follow – a great choice for the beginner.

· Caribbean Cooking: author John Demers will show you how to create make Caribbean cuisine with a distinct Indian influence. You will learn all about different types of fish, rice, and even some delectable desserts.

· Eat Caribbean: this is a great choice simply for the illustrations and colorful designs that this book encompasses. Recipes are easy to follow, and the paperback version really allows you to take this book anywhere with you.

· Jerk: if you decide to give this book to a loved one for the holidays, make sure that you explain exactly what “jerk” is. This book is all about that favorite Caribbean dish, jerk. Smoked, spiced, and flavored to perfection – can’t you just taste all those flavors right now?

The best way to become acquainted with a different type of cuisine is to get in the kitchen and allow your hands to become immersed in the wonderful world of Caribbean cuisine. Experiment, taste, and try out different recipes. You will be surprised at the number of family favorites these books hold for you, so go ahead and try one of these cook books out today.