The Spice Necklace: My Adventures in Caribbean Cooking, Eating, and Island Life

While sailing around the Caribbean, Ann Vanderhoof and her husband, Steve, track wild oregano-eating goats in the cactus-covered hills of the Dominican Republic, gather nutmegs on an old estate in Grenada, make searing hot-pepper sauce in a Trinidadian kitchen, cram for a chocolate-tasting test at the University of the West Indies, and sip moonshine straight out of hidden back-country stills.

 

Along the way, they befriend a collection of unforgettable island characters: Dwight, the skin-diving fisherman who always brings them something from his catch and critiques Ann’s efforts to cook it; Greta, who harvests seamoss on St. Lucia and turns it into potent island-style Viagra; Sweet-Hand Pat, who dispenses hugs and impromptu dance lessons along with cooking tips in her Port of Spain kitchen.

Back in her galley, Ann practices making curry like a Trini, dog sauce like a Martiniquais, and coo-coo like a Carriacouan. And for those who want to take these adventures into their own kitchens, she pulls seventy-one delicious recipes from the stories she tells and presents them at the end of the relevant chapters.

 

The Spice Necklace is a wonderful escape into a life filled with sunshine (and hurricanes), delicious food, irreplaceable company, and island traditions.