For the second year, the celebrity chef hosts of national culinary and travel series “Taste the Islands” will cater, and grace the demo stage of, food and spirits event The Taste the Islands Experience. Hugh “Chef Irie” Sinclair of Jamaica, has taken the lead of the series since season one, sharing gourmet Caribbean recipes and cooking techniques with audiences in over 40 states on the show distributed by American Public Television and produced by Blondie Ras Productions. Cynthia “Chef Thia” Verna of Haiti, joined him on screen in the second season of the show, sharing a more home style approach to the region’s cooking with their PBS and Create TV viewers around the country.

This year, along with other Caribbean chefs and mixologists, plus local restaurants and caterers, they’ll be serving up their unique brand of Caribbean culinary entertainment on plates and on stage. Both chefs will be featured in the ‘Taste the Islands Pavilion’, serving buffets representing their home islands. And both will take the demo stage, where they’ll show the live audience why they’re so very beloved by fans around the country. Stay tuned to sample bites and sips like Chef Thia’s famous Poulet Creole (Creole Chicken), and Chef Irie’s one of a kind Mango Gazpacho. More to come! #ttix2018

Learn more and get your tickets at http://ttiexperience.com.

Flavorful and delightfully aromatic nutmeg is showcased in this velvety nutmeg ice cream from the “spice isle”, Grenada. For the best flavor, use freshly ground nutmeg.

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(Serves 4)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ cups whole milk
• 1 ½ cups heavy cream
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp. grated fresh nutmeg
• Dash of salt
• 1 ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large saucepan, heat the milk and cream. When it begins to boil, turn off the heat.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients. Whisk half a cup of the heated milk and cream into the egg mixture, and then pour that into the remainder of the milk mixture in the saucepan.
3. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it begins to thicken and reaches 175 degrees. Transfer the mixture to a metal bowl and set it in another, larger, bowl filled half way with ice and water. Stir until the cream is cold.
4. Pour into an ice cream maker and finish according to manufacturer’s instructions. If you don’t have an ice cream maker, pour the mixture into a freezer-safe dish and freeze, stirring vigorously by hand or with an electric mixer every 30 minutes until it is completely frozen (about 2 hours).

Adapted from Wanderlust and Lipstick

Throughout the Caribbean where coconut trees abound, each island has its own unique variations of coconut bread. This simple and sweet version with shredded coconut and cinnamon comes from St. Kitts and Nevis.

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INGREDIENTS

• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup shredded coconut
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line an 8″ x 4″ loaf pan with parchment paper.
2. Lightly whisk the eggs, milk and vanilla in a bowl.
3. Sift flour, baking powder and cinnamon into a separate, large bowl. Add sugar and coconut and stir until just combined.
4. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and gradually stir in the egg mixture until just combined.
5. Add melted butter and stir until mixture is just smooth (do not over-mix).
6. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Set aside in the pan for 5 minutes to cool, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
8. Serve in thick slices.

Adapted from Nevis Blog

Pineapple upside down cake is popular throughout the Caribbean and especially during the holidays. In this Haitian-style recipe, pineapples, cherries, and prunes become caramelized in brown sugar at the bottom of the pan while the cake bakes to golden perfection. The juices from the fruits seep into the cake and the result is super moist and delicious. 

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(Serves 10-12)

• Nonstick cooking spray or butter to grease pan
• 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups flour, sifted
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 3 eggs (room temperature)
• ¾ cup pineapple juice
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• ¾ to 1 cup brown sugar
• 20 oz. can sliced pineapple, or fresh pineapple sliced into rings
• 1 tbsp. dark rum
• Maraschino Cherries
• Dried Prunes (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10″ round cake pan.
2. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla, rum and pineapple juice.
3. In a separate bowl sift together the flour and baking powder. Gradually add this to the butter mixture while stirring to incorporate.
4. Add the brown sugar to the prepared pan. Arrange the pineapple slices, prunes and cherries over the brown sugar. Reserve remaining pineapple slices and cherries for another use. Pour batter into pan and spread evenly.
5. Bake in the oven for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Turn cake out onto a platter and serve at room temperature.

Adapted from Caribbean Green Living