| The first inhabitants of the Caribbean were the
Arawaks and Caribs; who used such fruits and vegetables as papaw,
guavas, yams and cassava. When the Europeans came, introducing
slave labour after exterminating the local Indians, the eating
patterns changed. The slaves were prevented from eating fresh
fish or meat. They depended on salted fish, and those parts
of the animal their owners did not want. Thus we have such dishes
as Fish Cakes (Barbados), Ackee and Saltfish (Jamaica), Mettagee
(Guyana), (B)Oil Down (St Lucia), Pudding and Souse, Pickle
Chicken Feet….. and the list goes on. When slavery was abolished,
the Europeans turned to China and India for labour, introducing
yet more cooking styles. Out of our past has developed a style
of cooking that is rich and colourful in its creativity. |
