Food of Jamaica. John DeMers
Published by PERIPLUS EDITIONS (HK) LTD.,
with editorial offices at
364 Innovation Drive,
North Clarendon, VT 05759 U.S.A. and
61 Tai Seng Avenue, #02-12
Singapore 534167.
Copyright © 1998
Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
DeMers, John, 1952-
The food of Jamaica : authentic recipes from the jewel of the Caribbean / text and recipes by John DeMers ; photography by Eduardo Fuss ; with additional contributions from Norma Benghiat.
p. cm. — (Periplus world cookbooks)
Includes index.
ISBN 962-593-228-3 (hc). - ISBN 962-593-101-5 (plc.)
ISBN 978-1-4629-1643-6 (ebook)
1. Cookery, Jamaican. I. Benghiat, Norma. II.
Title. III. Series.
TX716.J27D46 1997
641.597292—dc21 97-40523
CIP
Photo Credits:
Photos on pages 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 21, 23, 25 by Mark Downey. Photo of boats at Port Royal on page 128 by Jeremy Francis. Prints on pages 6 and 7 reproduced courtesy of Hi-Qo, Kingston. All other photos are by Eduardo Fuss. Painting on page 2 reproduced courtesy of Wolfgang Höhn. Detail on front cover from “Two Daughters” by Margaret Robson. Painting of a Jamaican scene and painting of a Jamaican kitchen on page 30 are by Fiona Godfrey.
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Email: [email protected] Web site: www.periplus.com
First edition
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PRINTED IN SINGAPORE
Contents
PART ONE: FOOD IN JAMAICA
Introduction
Native Soil
Out of Many, One Nation
The Rastafarians
From the Field to the Table
Eating and Cooking
The Joys of Jerk
The Spirit of Jamaica
Blue Mountain Bounty
A Jamaican Dine-Around
PART TWO: COOKING IN JAMAICA
The Jamaican Kitchen
Cooking Methods
Jamaican Ingredients
PART THREE: THE RECIPES
Basic Recipes
Appetizers
Soups and Stews
Fish and Shellfish
Meat and Poultry
Vegetables
Desserts
Drinks
A typical island breakfast of Run Down (recipe page 62), boiled green bananas and potatoes.
Part One: Food in Jamaica
Beneath misty mountain peaks lies a land of infinite complexity
Jamaica is a lush tropical place offering intense adventure amid one of the most tangled cultures on the face of the earth. It vibrates with the rhythms of reggae, is enlivened by the spices of pepperpot and jerk and shimmers with the bright colors of flowers and paint.
To think of Jamaica is to picture an island paradise of steep; cloud-bedecked mountains and jewel-like blue lagoons—a land of holidays and relaxation. But there is much more to this island.
Jamaica stands out among the islands of the Caribbean for several reasons, first for its sheer size: it is the third largest island in the Caribbean. With more than 4,000 square miles, Jamaica is one of the few Caribbean islands with agriculture, thus adding depth and variety to its cuisine while liberating its