Caribbean Foods

What does food say about a people? Some say that it says a lot because it is a way that a country wants to be seen by the world. Others say that in these ‘globalising’ times it is one of the few ways a people have to identify themselves because it is representative of their culture. Food does indeed reflect culture but it is also influenced by climate and agriculture and national pride.

The Caribbean does indeed have a rich cultural history which is represented in our dishes; however some dishes have evolved which are unique to the islands. Although some dishes are still prepared in a manner similar to the original cultures all have been influenced by the spices and seasonings that are most available and commonly used.

Some of the foods that are popular in Trinidad and Tobago are:

Stewed chicken, callaloo, ground provisions, pelau, ochro-and-rice, cou-cou, breadfruit oildown, pigeon peas, bake and shark, macaroni pie and curried meats, geera meats, curried vegetables, buljol, black pudding and souse. Roti (Dhalpuri, Paratha, dosti, sada), sada roti served with choka etc. Some of these foods can be seen in Andrew Zimmer Bizarre Foods (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVf2GomVBhU)

Jamaica:

Ackee and saltfish, rice and peas (red beans), bammy, escoveitch fish, festival, run down, dumplings (roasted, fried, boiled, cho cho) patty, coco bread, curried mutton, jerk (different types of meat), Solomon gundy, water crackers etc. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkJOOd4jG7U)

Barbados:

Cou cou, bakes, souse and puddings, sea-eggs (sea urchins), bulla cake, coconut-bread, conkies (pastelle in Trinidad and Tobago) etc. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhZwm-N308M)

Guyana:

            Pepperpot, roti and curry, chow mein, meta gee (dumplings made from cornflour, eddoes, yams, cassava and plantains cooked in coconut milk and grated coconut), and cook up, one-pot etc. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjBZhMllHdE)

Have you tried any or all of these dishes?

Well? What are you waiting for? They are right here in the Caribbean waiting for you.