By Maggie Shi Dining in the Caribbean varies greatly depending on where you are, so sample the cuisine of as many islands as possible to get a true sense of the area's rich culinary offerings. A Caribbean meal is a social, leisurely time, with plenty of hearty, home-cooked food.
Traditional meals are family-style, with very little formality.
All the dishes are set on the table at once, and everyone helps themselves to whatever they like. A typical meal is simple yet satisfying. Naturally, a Caribbean meal wouldn't be complete without a taste of the islands' famous rum, which nearly every major island produces. If you're dining in a restaurant, dishes' names and preparations vary according to island. In Antigua, it's a thick vegetable soup, with okra, squash, chiles, yams and spinach.