What is Caribbean Cuisine? The first Caribbean civilizations were made up of Carib and Arawak Indians.  Many of these Indians were farmers and raised root vegetables.  There is also a cooking legacy for which every backyard chef owes these early settlers a profound salute.  The word barbecue comes from a grate made of thin green sticks, called a barbacoa, upon which the Arawaks grilled meat over an open fire When Columbus had discovered the Caribbean Islands, people from all over Europe followed him, bringing with them their familiar cuisines along with new fruits, vegetables and meats. Then slaves were brought in from Africa to tend cash producing crops like the sugar cane.  These slaves brought with them new crops to the Caribbean Islands such as okra, calalloo and ackee. The foods from Europe were incorporated with the foods from Africa into a style of cooking that became basic throughout the Caribbean and it still exists today. After slavery was abolished in the Caribbean, the ex-staves opted to leave the fields and other forced labor positions which resulted in a desperate need for plantation workers.  The owners of the plantations brought in large numbers of indentured laborers from China and India.  The influence of both of these cultures on the Caribbean Cuisine was dramatic and long lasting.  The East Indians brought the curry powder and the Chinese brought the rice and Chinese vegetables.  From Cuba to Trinidad the blended influence of South American, Aboriginal, European, Africa, East Indian, and Chinese cuisines can be seen in Caribbean Cuisine as we know it today. The excitement over Caribbean foods is not confined to the islands.  Jamaican meat patties, coco bread, calalloo, curries, pelau (chicken & rice), roti (flat bread filled with various meats and or vegetables) soups and stews scented with fresh scallions, parsley, coriander leaves, cumin, thyme and cilantro, have become favorites in many countries including the United States and I believe that this vibrant, tasty, sometimes spicy and colorful culinary style called Caribbean Cuisine will interest the people in the great Northwest and have them coming back for more!