There are small Jewish and Muslim communities. In the Bahamas the comparable set of beliefs is called Obeah, although Obeah does not have priests, gods or saints. The flavour of Bahamian food is influenced by a number of cultures, mainly African, Asian and Creole as well as British and North American. Its distinctive spicy flavour is achieved by using a mixture of thyme, pepper, lemon and lime. Vegetables available are breadfruit, cassava, plantains, sweet potatoes and yams.
Popular dishes are peas and grits, peas and rice, salads, and pudding-like macaroni cheese.
Stews are even eaten at breakfast. Steaming is another favourite cooking method. Christopher Columbus made his first landing in the New World in the Bahamas, landing on the island of Guanahani, which he renamed San Salvador, on October 12th 1492. The inhabitants of the island were Arawak Indians who had migrated from South America some five hundred years before and now called themselves Lucayans. They told the Spanish that their few gold ornaments came from the South and Columbus soon sailed away in search of its source.