It’s the stuff of which daydreams are made. Beautiful tropical islands, balmy sea breezes, sandy beaches as far as the eye can see, a slow and delightful pace of life, cocktails by the shore, dramatic rain forests, stunning scenery, picturesque villages and local boutiques.
Welcome to the French territories in the Caribbean, part of the West Indies: Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Barthélemy (St Brats or St Barth), St Martin, French Guiana, Les Saintes and Marie-Gal ante. They’re are all part of France, something you might not have realised. Each has its own unique character yet they all offer a delightful French flavour and joie de vivre.
Independent nations that are also predominantly French-speaking and/or French Creole-speaking are Haiti, Dominica and Saint Lucia, although the last two are predominantly English-speaking with French widely spoken, having gained independence from Great Britain.
Exhibiting a combination of French and Caribbean cultural influences not only in language but in music, cuisine, style, architecture, and more, in this blog we look at French Caribbean cooking to tempt your palate.
The word creole, taken in its meaning of “mixture,” fits most Caribbean cooking. Pre-Columbian Arawak and Taino people subsisted on the fruits of the sea and starchy cassava root. Imperial designs, slavery and merchant immigration brought succeeding influence from the British, Spanish, French, Dutch, African, Indian and Chinese.
Each island has signature dishes reflecting its own history. Seafood is widely eaten, as are chicken and goat. Okra, greens, taro and yams are popular, as well as plantains, limes, sour oranges and other tropical fruits.
Taking Guadeloupe as an example, here’s a selection of what might be on offer:
Accrats de Morue (Codfish fritters)
Calaloo (Soup with taro leaves)
Pâté en Pot (Goat’s head stew)
Féroces d’Avocat (Avocado and salt cod salad)
Jerk Chicken (Spicy grilled chicken)
Pineapple Chicken Rundown (Grilled chicken with a pineapple-cream sauce)
Mechoui (Spit-roasted lamb)
Huile de Rou-Cou (Annato oil)
Sauce Chien (Hot pepper sauce)
Souskaï de Mangues Vertes (Mango appetizer)
If you’d like to know more, see http://www.whats4eats.com/caribbean/caribbean-island-cuisine
Don’t forget to learn French with The Language Guru before you visit. It’s so useful when:
- Booking a hotel and communicating complaints or appreciation
- Negotiating a taxi fare
- Understanding the menu and ordering a meal
- Getting about and sight-seeing
- Dealing with any customs or airport scenarios
- Buying goods
- And so much more
Book your French language classes here
With thanks to Wikipedia and whats4eats for some of the information in this blog post.