Getting a Taste of Caribbean Cuisine

When you're dreaming of the beautiful Caribbean islands, you probably imagine the deep blue waters, the white sandy shores and the lush tropical interiors. However, there's good reason for your stomach to get excited as well! In the Caribbean, luxury items here in the United Kingdom, such as lobster, crab and specialty fish, are actually the norm - and your taste buds will begin tingling as soon as you arrive.

Every island has it's own speciality when it comes to the cuisine of the Caribbean. Luxury dining can be simpler than you might expect, and with the range of spices and use of vegetables and simple curries, you'll be taken on a true culinary adventure at every turn.

Jamaican cuisine

One of the most popular island cuisines to make leap over the Atlantic is that of Jamaica, in the Caribbean. Luxury cuisine here is tinged with jerk spices, curries and locally grown produce - but whether you're dining in a five-star establishment or a roadside stall, the defining factor is flavour. Jerk spice in Jamaica is usually a dry rub and cooking style used on chicken and pork. The jerk spices used on the island are traced back to Africa, as is the method of ‘jerking’ or smoking the meat. As the tastes of the island have evolved, so have the methods of cooking jerk meals, and now you can find good jerk chicken and pork all over the island, and even further abroad in all manner of high-class restaurant.

Rice and peas is a more traditional meal and it is spicy, piquant and ever so tasty! Made with rice and kidney beans (known in this region as pigeon peas), this simple dish is often very intricately flavoured and served as a side dish to something else - often a goat curry or another kind of stewed meat.

Bahamian cuisine

If you hop over to other islands in the Caribbean, luxury seems to be more in your face, with the prevalence of seafood, lobsters, crab and other items that are considered pricey and special back at home. But "when in Rome", so to speak, you should dive right in and experience some of the other incredible seafood too. From the fine dining restaurants to tiny cafes, there are multiple variations on dishes that spring from similar roots.

Somewhat influenced by South America, Bahamian cuisine includes plenty of seafood and tropical fruits. But if you want a true taste of what the locals dine on, head out of the big cities and resorts and indulge in the island’s simple, but tasty version of the regional specialty of rice and peas – it's unbeatable. You can't help but be tempted to indulge in the myriad fresh seafood and you should definitely be brave enough to try the local conch, which is eaten every way from raw to fried. For the even more adventurous, you may even get the chance to try a bit of iguana.

Olivia Chetham works for the Essential Hotel Collection. For a stay in romantic Caribbean luxury hotels, we have a handpicked portfolio of privately owned hotels offering superb accommodation. We have an intimate knowledge of every property and can provide the perfect accommodation to make your island dreams a reality.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.