St. Thomas Bushwhacker: A Taste of Island Paradise The first time I tasted a Bushwhacker, I was convinced I’d found bottled sunshine. It was a scorching afternoon in St. Thomas, the air thick with the scent of salt and hibiscus. We ducked into a tiny beach bar, seeking respite from the heat, and the bartender, … Read more
Gundy Cruzan Style (Herring Balls): A Taste of Caribbean Heritage I remember the first time I tasted Gundy. It wasn’t in a fancy restaurant, but at a family gathering under the shade of a sprawling mango tree. My great-aunt, her hands weathered by years of cooking, proudly presented a platter of these intriguing herring balls. … Read more
Fish and Fungi: A Taste of the Virgin Islands The memory still dances on my palate: a sun-drenched afternoon on St. John, the air thick with the scent of salt and spice, and the rhythmic thump of dominoes from a nearby porch. It was Ms. Eudora, the matriarch of our small resort’s kitchen staff, who … Read more
Virgin Islands Style Banana Fritters: A Taste of Island Sunshine The scent of ripe bananas frying always takes me back. Back to my childhood summers spent with my grandmother on St. Croix, the aroma drifting from her tiny kitchen window, a sweet siren call promising a warm, comforting treat. We’d sit on her porch swing, … Read more
Guavaberry Wine: A Taste of the Caribbean Christmas The scent alone transports me back to Christmas in St. Thomas – not the manufactured, snow-dusted holiday of mainland department stores, but the vibrant, sun-drenched celebrations of my grandmother’s home. The air, thick with the scent of salt air and hibiscus, always carried a unique, spicy perfume: … Read more
Asparagus Pudding from the U. S. V. I. My grandmother, a woman of seemingly boundless energy and even more boundless love for eccentric recipes, had a well-worn, handwritten cookbook filled with culinary adventures. One particularly curious entry, scrawled in faded ink, always caught my eye: “Asparagus Pudding – U.S.V.I.” As a child, the idea of … Read more
Orange Colada: A Taste of the Virgin Islands Sun The first time I tasted an Orange Colada, I was on a small sailboat just off the coast of St. Thomas, the turquoise water gently rocking us as the sun dipped below the horizon. The air was thick with the scent of salt and tropical flowers, … Read more
Cruzan Rum Cake: A Taste of the Islands in Every Bite The first time I tasted Cruzan Rum Cake, I was miles away from any beach, tucked away in a cozy Vermont kitchen during a blizzard. My friend Sarah, a St. Croix native, had baked it, filling the room with the warm, intoxicating aroma of … Read more
Shrimp With Smoked Andouille Sausage: A Taste of the Islands The first time I tasted shrimp with andouille sausage was not on the bayou, but overlooking the turquoise waters of St. Thomas. I was barely old enough to order off the adult menu, but the rich, smoky aroma wafting from a nearby table was irresistible. … Read more