No comments about Bermuda Travel Map (Globetrotter Travel Map).

1 comments about Lonely Planet World Food Caribbean (Lonely Planet World Food Guides).

1. 11/4/2002

   World Food Caribbean,

   "For people who live to eat, drink & travel"

   by Bruce Geodes

   This compact guide features a colorful history of the region, even etiquette, and each food group is addressed under:

   Staples & Specialties and includes Drinks,

   Home Cooking & Traditions,

   Food festivals

   Caribbean region cultures

   Shopping and Markets

   Where to Eat and Drink

   Caribbean Banquets

   Caribbean Culinary Dictionary.

   Although the Caribbean region, the West Indies, is one group of islands, their remoteness has caused each island to reflect the ways of whoever conquered them in the past. The major conquerors were the English, the Spanish, the Dutch and the French. Each island's blend also represented the ethnic background of imported laborers to work their back-breaking sugar fields. These workers came from India, Asia and Africa and each brought their eating habits and usually some seeds for the future. Additionally, the Amerindians, or original inhabitants, had simple fare which mixed in with the ways of conquering cultures and in-coming laborers. This three-way juncture created foods and ways available no other way. The book contains some recipes.

   Fruits, often beautiful and exotic, grow abundantly on the islands, and the book goes into some detail about many of them. A rum factory is usually found on many islands, for it is an important byproduct of sugar, so is the manufacture of a local beer. The many fruits lend to signature Rum Punches. Fruit shows up frequently in main dish recipes, as well.

   In a land of islands, it stands to reason fish and seafood figure highly in the Caribbean region diet. Herbs and spices grow abundantly too which causes the people to depend upon them for medicinal reasons and bush teas in addition to seasoning food. West Indies grown nutmeg, mace, ginger and garlic add to the flair of local cuisines. Chile peppers, coconut and island-grown spices dress up local foods, while basic beans, rice and tubers balance a rich diet.

   Look up festivals and carnivals which are big in the islands, some named "Crop Over," celebrating the completion of the sugar harvest. Others are cook-offs and those associated with the Lenten season. A quick catch-up is the book's green inserts entitled, "Don't Miss," which line out sights as well as foods to try. Some random samplings:

   Dutch:

   Curacao, Aruba, Bonnaire and Sint Maarten - Dutch cheeses, iguana soup, Indonesian and Papiamento cuisines.

   French:

   Guadeloupe, Martinique and Haiti, French-influenced with wines from France, spicy Creole fish dishes, fresh baked goods. Hatian music is especially lilting.

   English:

   Jamaica, ackee & salt fish, jerk pork with recipe

   Barbados, its coo-coo and flying fish

   Trinidad, roti, hot curries, callalloo soup, cou-cou (cuscous),

   Nassau, conch

   Spanish:

   Cuba, pizza, jamon (ham) chorizo sausage and onion

   Puerto Rico, sofrito

   The Food Directory is broken down into upscale, pubs and mid-range, fast food/cheap eateries, street food and bars. Catchy island music is to be savored on each island from Jamaica's Bob Marley to Trinidad's Mighty Sparrow.

   The book's Fit and Healthy chapter discusses your health and what to look out for particularly if allergies, diabetic issues and diarrhea intervene.

   Just reading World Food Caribbean's "Eat your Words," quick 30-page Culinary Dictionary will put the visitor way ahead of the Caribbean food game. This handy, small, informational book with outstanding photography is a must for your next West Indian trip.

   Enjoy!

   © Marty Martindale, 2002, Largo FL

No comments about Insight Fleximap Puerto Rico (Insight Fleximaps).

No comments about Insight Guide Jamaica (Insight Guides Jamaica).

No comments about Adventure Guide Barbados (Adventure Guide to Barbados) (Adventure Guide to Barbados) (Adventure Guide to Barbados).

No comments about Culture Shock! Cuba: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! Guides).

5 comments about The Naked Truth about Hedonism II: A Totally Unauthorized, Naughty But Nice Guide to Jamaica's Very Adult Resort, 2nd Edition.

1. I might never get the opportunity to go to Hedo, but I'm certainly prepared if I ever do! This book is just packed with tips and tricks of preparing for your trip. It's also full of crucial information regarding the not-so-well-known etiquette of getting wild and crazy with a bunch of like-minded folks. And the stories are just hysterical. So, even if a trip to Hedo isn't in your future, you can have a great time just reading Chris' book.



2. We didn't finish the book because we found it completely unerotic and asexual. The author tells you for instance to bring safety pins to hold your toga in place and to bring toenail polish because the sand on the beach will wear it off. Wow!!! The stories told are all childish fun, but there's not a single one titillating. Puritan lack of sexuality. Boring.



3. I went to Hedo for the first time this year and was glad to learn more about the resort before I arrived. highly recommended!



4. Fortunately, I am lucky enough to have Chris as my ENGLISH professor at Elmhurst College this semester!! The book is a must for traveling to Jamaica's famed resort. Chris is the best.



5. my fiance finished this book in one sitting and it took me two sittings. This book is a must have for anyone considering a trip to hedonism 2 (or three). and for those who aren't considering the trip it is still very well written and entertaining. over all well worth the purchase price.

3 comments about Belize : Land of the Free by the Carib Sea.

1. A few months ago I visited Belize with my mom and we had a super great time. It is the most beautiful rainforest and the ocean reef is one of the biggest in the world. The book Belize shows all the natural beauty of the country as well as the many cultural groups including Mayan Indians, Creole, and Garifuna people which is a new culture formed of the mixture of African and American Indian people. The book Belize is full of beautiful color photographs and really gives you a good idea of what the country is like.



2. BELIZE: LAND OF THE FREE BY THE CARIB SEA by Thor Janson is without question one of the most beautiful photographic books I own. I have not visited Belize yet but as I look at the stunning images in Janson's book It has me dreaming of a mid-winter get away to this little country flanked by the Caribbean Sea. The book includes an excellent introductory text which takes the reader all the way from pre-historic times up to the present day and describes in detail all the different cultural groups which make up the rich fabric of contemporary Belezian society. The bulk of the book is comprised of photo layouts including extraordinary shots of wild animals such as jaguars and manatees, ancient Mayan ruins, cultural events (such as the wild Belize City carnaval), peaceful rural scenes, beautiful children, rainforests, savannahs, and pine forests, and plenty of charming, happy, smiling faces giving the impression that Belize must be a very warm, inviting place to visit, indeed. A picture is worth a thousand words, they say, and this excellent book by Thor Janson contains more than 150 extraordinary photos which combined give the reader a real "feel" of what life is like in the diminutive, peaceful nation of Belize.



3. I bought it for my boyfriend who is from Belize and he loved it. Beautiful pictures.

2 comments about South America Mi Hija (Pitt Poetry Series).

1. The poem covers a journey of the poet with her daughter from North to South America. As they travel, the poet attempts to come to terms with her relation to her past, her daughter, and to men. She does so with fresh and striking language, and an unevasive honesty which does not fool itself with the poses of so much contemporary poetry. Doubiago does not write about how people are supposed to feel; she writes about how they do feel, in real and human situations. I highly recommend it.



2. Doubiago does an excellent job at bringing the macrocosm of feminism vs. patriarchy into the microcosm of a mother/daughter relationship, in the setting of a trip to South America. The book is actually a long, narrative poem in and of itself, superbly sustained throughout with deep, emotional images. Well worth the read any day! I have actually written my Masters thesis on this book.

5 comments about Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro's Cuba (Adventure Press).

1. a drunk finnish skipper gives him ze helm of his boat in 15 foot seas, then goes below for a nap. this after showing him how to read the instrument panel and telling him his compas has just been installed and is 10 degrees off. uh huh. then the panel goes dark, who knows why; maybe the 15 foot seas? should he wake the captain, nah, why do that when he can steer by the compass?
   this is just the beginning of the book. this guy is so self absorbed that he writes his own review filled with what? more reviews! skip this work of fiction.



2. Some men buy a red convertible. Some take a mistress. This is not news, nor newsworthy. Another title of this book could be, "A Boy, A Bike and A Penis". White male heterosexuality at it's banal worst. But then again, no one forced me to read it! If you want to know about the conditions in Cuba, this is NOT the book to read. If you want to live vicariously, it's all yours!



3. Although Baker is an unapologetic womanizer and takes avantage of many women who obviously want him so as to escape Cuba, the book is interesting in that it highlights many of the failures of the cuban revolution; the prostitution, bad food. Meanwhile, he catches the friendliness of the people.



4. Mr. Baker's book is riveting, entertaining, and educational. I am Cuban born and had visited Cuba prior to the "special period". Mr. Baker's account is fair and balanced and highlights the Castro regime's failures and accomplishments. For anyone wishing to find out what it is like in Cuba - look no further! It is a fabulous read.



5. I happen to love great travel books and this was fantastic. It has been few years since I read this book but it was a fast and fun read. You get a real sense of the culture and the country. The book was always moving and that is what i like about travel books.