Caribbean & West Indian Books - Page 6

Latin & Caribbean Grocery Stores Demystified: A food lover's guide to the best ingredients in the traditional foods of Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina, ... Rico, & Jamaica (Take It with You Guides)

Linda Bladholm

List Price: $16.95 By: Renaissance Books Amazon Marketplace: 34 new & used starting at $0.61

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Regional & International -> Caribbean & West Indian
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Regional & International -> International
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General

Editorial Review:

With 400 entries and over 200 illustrations, plus stories about the ingredients used in every major Latin cuisine, this guidebook identifies and tells you how to use the vast array of herbs, chilies, fruits, sauces, meats, beans and prepared foods at your neighborhood mercado. A bonus section of the author's favorite Latin recipes will help you create delicious authentic dishes.

Caribbean Light

Donna Shields

List Price: $25.95 By: Broadway Amazon Marketplace: 22 new & used starting at $5.38

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Baking -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Baking -> General AAS
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Regional & International -> Caribbean & West Indian

Editorial Review:

Caribbean Light brings you vibrant, good-time, home-style island food that's not only exciting, but healthful and nutritious as well.

Caribbean food is a medley of brilliant colors, bold flavors, and lush presentations.  The cooking techniques combine European, African, Indian, and Chinese influences, and the result is a cuisine with a big, assertive personality.

Using selective but authentic ingredients and lighter cooking methods, Donna Shields harnesses that boldness and, without dimming the color or diminishing its assertiveness, interprets Caribbean cooking for the healthy American lifestyle.

The more than 125 recipes--for such exotically named but easy-to-cook dishes as Coo-Coo (the Caribbean answer to polenta), Suds 'n' Snapper (a tasty poached fish that lets you have your beer and eat it too), Stuffed Banana Lime Voodoo Chicken (the only magic is in the taste), and Pi±a Colada Custard Pie (featuring pineapple and coconut, just like the drink)--are accompanied by notes on their origins, descriptions of tropical ingredients, and short essays on island customs and festivals.  Each of the recipes includes a nutritional breakdown of calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium.

Donna Shields writes with a touch of whimsy befitting the carefree mood of the islands, and Caribbean Light is an invitation to savor these lusty tropical flavors in a collection of healthful, down-to-earth dishes designed to please American tastes.


Donna Shields, who is a registered dietitian with a master's degree in nutrition communications, lives in Key West, Florida, where she operates Key West Culinary, a consulting firm for restaurant chains and food manufacturers.  She is a former faculty member at the Culinary Institute of America, and her articles on healthful tropical cuisine have been published in Cooking Light, Better Homes & Gardens Low Calorie, Weight Watchers, Caribbean Travel & Life, and Restaurants USA magazines.  She promotes healthful Caribbean cuisine through special events on cruise ships, speaking engagements for the Caribbean Culinary Federation, and on television.

Sugar Reef Caribbean Cookbook

Devra Dedeaux

List Price: $13.95 By: Dell Amazon Marketplace: 13 new & used starting at $11.32

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Regional & International -> Caribbean & West Indian
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great cookbook 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

If you can get your hands on this cookbook buy it I was lucky enough to find it in the used section. I had seen it when we were in the Caribbean & found some great recipes in it.Very well done.

Foolproof 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I bought this cookbook when it first came out, and have been using it for years. It's my favorite cookbook -makes reliably delicious dishes. The key lime pie and stewed chicken are two recipes which are fabulous!

Editorial Review:

From the hit Manhattan restaurant the New York Times calls "hotter than a Havana afternoon" comes this cookbook of Caribbean cuisine that features over 200 of Sugar Reef's most requested recipes. In the tradition of The Pink Adobe Cookbook, this festive and entertaining title contains recipes for peppery stews, complete dinners and luncheons, sultry sweet treats, and more.

Caribbean Cocktails

Jennifer Trainer Thompson, Kristen Brochmann

Amazon Price: $10.85 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Ten Speed Press Amazon Marketplace: 37 new & used starting at $3.95

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Baking -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Baking -> General AAS
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Bartending

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

I Need One For Each Hand!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
15 of 15 people found this review helpful.

Caribbean Cocktails is filled with tropical drink recipes that will have you smelling the ocean and feeling the warm breezes no matter where you may be located. They are done with fresh juices and easy to find ingredients. There are sections on eats and even one for your non-alcohol drinking guests. The added bonuses are the bits of triva placed thoughout the book as well as the "recommended listening" for each drink. I was very impressed with the book when I received it. It will be one I grab often thoughout the summer, winter, spring, and fall to entertain and to just fix something to relax and take me to that little tropical place in my mind. Well, any season is a good season to escape into one of these drinks.

Editorial Review:

With Jennifer Trainer Thompson's Caribbean Cocktails, escape to an island paradise is just an ice cube's throw away. You will find yourself in libation nirvana with this thirst-quenching collection of over 60 delicious cocktail recipes, including Mojitos and Le ti'Punch, and tangy tequila quenchers. Pair your tasty tonics with tropical appetisers such as Papaya and Lobster Salad or Caribbean Samosas with Coconut and Ginger Mojo, and you will soon be sailing the seas of your next great island holiday.

Food of Jamaica: Authentic Recipes from the Jewel of the Caribbean (Food of the World Cookbooks)

John DeMers, Eduardo Fuss

List Price: $18.95 By: Periplus Editions Amazon Marketplace: 6 new & used starting at $14.67

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Baking -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Baking -> General AAS
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Regional & International -> Caribbean & West Indian

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Missing recipe 5 out of 5 stars.
49 of 54 people found this review helpful.

As a native of Jamaica I knew exactly what to look for in this book. Although this book contained many wonderful recipes from my country I was dismayed to find that it did not contain the recepe for Jamaican rum cake or any kind of fruit cake recipes. This cake is a tradition in most Jamaican households during the Christmas holidays and is very popular at weddings. A Jamaican wedding is not complete without rum cake or fruit cake.I hope the author will take this into consideration when writing the international edition.

Where is my curry goat? 3 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

My mommy is jamaican and the books is ok. It has some of my favorite meals and deserts. But it does not have the curry goat recipie ! It does have oxtail, lamb, roti(thank goodness), pati and more. The book does a great job on explaining the history of the food, people and culture of jamaica. From the Maroons and the famous jerk chicken (by the way that recipie is in there) and the various influence of other cultures (india). Its worth buying..but still looking for a giant recipie book of the down home food from JA. Perhaps I'll have to write it! If its out there already someone please let me know.
I also recommend:
A Taste of Haiti

Editorial Review:

These beautiful books offer complete information on ingredients, utensils, and cooking techniques. Each volume presents the best authentic recipes and detailed explorations of the cultural context in which dishes are created and enjoyed. Each title contains 70 to 90 beautiful full-color photographs and a range of mouth-watering recipes by some of the area's best chefs.

Puerto Rico: Grand Cuisine of the Caribbean

Jose Luis Diaz de Villegas

Amazon Price: $60.00 List Price: $60.00 In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. By: La Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico Amazon Marketplace: 11 new & used starting at $40.00

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Regional & International -> Caribbean & West Indian
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Nice Coffee Table Book 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is a beautiful book, with lots of nice pictures and plenty of narrative about Puerto Rico. The recipes are from San Juan's star chefs and showcase their fusion cuisine. This is not a book of recipes of typical Puerto Rican cuisine--in fact, the number of recipes is pretty low.

unique cuisiine 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I love this book. It is about time that people open their eyes and palates to such a tasty cuisine especially that the United States has been involved with the gorgeous island of Puerto Rico since 1898. It is like no other Latin cuisine.

Five Star Dining 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

As an avid reader of Puerto Rican cookbooks, I am always on the look out for an interesting new title. This cookbook, is beautifully photographed and has wonderful stories about the chefs. The recipes are really interesting and have ingredients that I would not normally have seen in my mom's kitchen, look at the pasteles recipe and you will see what I mean. Can't wait to show off our new recipes at a dinner party.

Editorial Review:

Throughout five centuries, Puerto Rico has developed an internationally renowned cuisine, which incorporates Caribbean ingredients and a long tradition of culinary culture. In this book, the profiles and recipes of nine great chefs demonstrate human and professional aspects of their careers, and how by their efforts-and that of many of their colleagues-Puerto Rico has turned into the gastronomic capital of the Caribbean.

Lucinda's Authentic Jamaican Kitchen

Lucinda Scala Quinn

Amazon Price: $14.00 List Price: $17.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $10.16

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Regional & International -> Caribbean & West Indian
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Regional & International -> International
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Can't believe the ignorance 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I must say, I'm floored by some of these negative comments. But then again, I shouldn't be -- idiocy is alive and kicking. Do you have to be Italian to write an Italian cookbook? Or French to write a French one? As someone who is intimately involved with cooking and restaurants, I can tell you the notion that good cooking is "in the blood" is a bunch of nonsense. Some Jamaicans (my parents were born there)appeared to be captivated by this notion.

I've scoured this book, and the recipes are enticing. Judge the author on the quality of her work. If not, go live in a cave and take your hidebound ideas with you. By the way, everyone has their ideas of what "authentic" means. I can cite multiple variations of lots of "traditional" recipes. No one owns "authenticity."

P.S. A true Jamaican knows Jamaica is an enormously diverse country.

Editorial Review:

The cohost of the PBS series Everyday Food unlocks the secrets of Jamaican cooking in a gorgeous, gifty full-color package

Where classic Jamaican foods like "jerk" chicken were once unknown to American consumers, today Caribbean food products and restaurants are increasingly familiar and popular. Now this cookbook shares Jamaica's authentic cooking styles, exciting flavor combinations, and lively spirit of island culture. It's filled with soul-satisfying recipes that are easy to make, beautiful food and atmospheric photos, and vivid descriptions of Jamaica's roadside vendors, jerk stops, and other scenes-a must for Caribbean food lovers and culinary adventurers.

Lucinda Scala Quinn (New York, NY) leads the food department of Martha Stewart Living, Wedding, and Kids magazines, and cohosts the new PBS series Everyday Food. She travels regularly to Jamaica to pursue her passion for Jamaican food.

Just Add Rum! Caribbean Cookbook

Angela Spenceley

List Price: $12.99 By: Caribbean Publishing, Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 6 new & used starting at $1.97

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Regional & International -> Caribbean & West Indian

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 2.0 of 5

Disappointed 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I was so disappointed with this book. I was expecting easier recipies with easy to find ingredients, especially with the alcoholic ones. I mean one does not buy expensive liquor just to use one ounce for a recipie.

Editorial Review:

Just Add Rum! Caribbean Cookbook features starters, light fare, appetizers and tropical drinks--all with the addition of rum. From Junkanoo Hot Sauce, Lemon Conch Cakes, Guavaberry Rum Tenders to Bushwackers, Planter's Punch to Big Bamboo there is a little something for everyone interested in Caribbean food and drink.

The Complete Book of Caribbean Cooking

Elisabeth Lambert Ortiz

List Price: $9.98 By: Book Sales Amazon Marketplace: 20 new & used starting at $1.80

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Regional & International -> Caribbean & West Indian
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

"Mrs. Ortiz can always be trusted to treat her subjects accurately because she has lived and cooked in the countries she writes about." -- Associated Press
"An eye-opener for people who are unaware of the diversity of that region's cooking, which draws on European, African and Asian influences. Caribbean cuisine is documented in 450 recipes organized in 14 chapters. The region's distinctive ingredients, cooking methods and utensils are thoroughly explained by Mrs. Ortiz." -- Kansas City Star
"Scores of recipes that will convince you that, yes, there is something new under the gastronomic sun . . . . I wish space permitted me to tell you about the lamb stew with red kidney beans from Guadeloupe, a marvelous recipe for a large Edam cheese stuffed with beef from Curacao, skewered beef kabobs with pineapple, tomatoes, onions and peppers from Anguilla, a pork and spinach dish from St. Lucia and a Camaguey meat salad from Cuba, but I'll have to refer you to the book for those items." -- Josef Mossman, Des Moines Register

Jerk: Barbecue from Jamaica

Helen Willinsky

List Price: $16.95 By: Crossing Press Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $0.40

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Baking -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Baking -> General AAS
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Outdoor Cooking -> Barbecuing & Grilling

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

This is a "use it" cookbook !! 5 out of 5 stars.
14 of 14 people found this review helpful.

I have tried at least 10 of the receipes in this book and find it very hard to move on to others. The ones that I have tried are always repeated in some cases many times over. The Dry Jerk seasoning is a staple which I have prepared and given as gifts in fancy found jars (page 16). "Wid It" is a special treat that is a must. My all time favorite "Jerked Spareribs", that I place in a platter, cut ribs into small chunks, mix well with white rice, yellow raisens, cashews, and pineapple rings cut into chunks, smooth,put a flat layer of yellow corn on top, place pineapple rings on top of corn, spill all of the juice from the can all over the top and add a few maraschino cherries for color!! It's the BEST!!

Absolutely The Best Jamacian Cookbook Ever!! 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

My husband and I have tried numerous recipies from this cookbook and each one has turned out 100% successful!! Helen has captured the true taste and flavor of the Caribbean with each and every recipe in this cookbook! This is our favorite cookbook!! We highly recommend her recipe for Dry Jerk Seasoning on Page 16!!!!! If you try her Jamaican Cole Slaw on Pg. 115, we would suggest adding pineapple. The sweet flavor makes it perfect!!! If you are going to buy ANY Caribbean or Jamaican cookbook, this is the BEST one by far!!!!!!

Editorial Review:

Jerk cooking is the prefect reflection of the Jamaican lifestyle--spicy, sweet, charismatic, and hot. Over 100 recipes provide the secret of jerk cooking in this book--everything from spice blends and marinades to main dishes to drinks and desserts that complement the perfect jerk meal.