Modern Caribbean Cuisine
Caribbean cuisine since the advent of the first island-hopping European explorers in the sixteenth century has been a curious mixture of tropical and Continental traditions. Importation of slave labor to operate the sugar plantations added African influence. Now the region finds itself transformed by contemporary world cuisine, passing mangos and papayas in profusion to northern chefs and receiving in return sophisticated new ways of combining old ingredients and novel flavors. Trinidadian fish sandwiches get a smear of cilantro pesto. Cinnamon-scented dumplings float in meaty oxtail soup. Mexico contributes a tamale pie. Mangos and apples combine in a midwestern-inspired cobbler. Grenada's spice markets yield up their aromas for a spice cake glazed with the region's ubiquitous rum. Traditionalists may frown at this gussied-up food, but the maturing Caribbean kitchen shows that it can grow and adapt to changing tastes as well as any other in the world.Mark KnoblauchCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.