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Take Home a Taste of the Virgin Islands: Spices, Sauces and Seasonings

By Carol M. Bareuther, RD

Fiery fare is the hot trend in island-made food products, literally.

Virgin Jerk, a dry spicy rub, is the latest addition to the Cheryl's Taste of Paradise line of tropical fruit jams and jellies, hot sauces and seasoning mixes. It's full of flavor, with a peppery punch and a pinch of brown sugar for sweetness. Cheryl Miller of St John suggests, "Use it when marinating chicken or pork, the amount depending on how spicy you feel. It also tastes great sprinkled over scrambled eggs, shaken into pasta and stirred into cream cheese and spread on crackers as an hors d'oeuvre." A 4-ounce tin of Virgin Jerk costs $8. It is available locally at the Native Arts & Crafts Cooperative in St. Thomas and the St. John Trading Post on St. John, or by ordering online at www.cherylstasteofparadise.com.

Sweet and heat are the taste treats in Caribbean Specialty Food's newest product, Island BBQ Sauce. This mildly hot sauce is made with roasted scotch bonnet peppers, a splash of tamarind and a touch of cocoa. Doug Ackley, who owns the St. Thomas-based specialty food manufacturer with wife Rachael, recommends, "Try a little, or lot, on everything you grill, bake or broil. It makes a fantastic marinade, wing sauce or glaze." A 12-ounce bottle, priced at $5.68, is available locally on St. Thomas at Plaza Extra, Gourmet Gallery, Food Center and the Natural Foods Grocery, or by ordering online at www.caribbeanspecialtyfoods.com.

Miss Anna's Hot Pepper Sauce is prepared from a century-old recipe. What's new is that Miss Anna has passed her sauce-making torch onto four energetic entrepreneurs who have formed Crucian Sauces, LLC. The result? A handful of new sibling products still made with old-time attention to every detail of flavor. Now, there's Miss Anna's Garlic Habanero Sauce, heat with a kick that's ideal on poultry, and Miss Anna's Caribbean Shake — original hot sauce ingredients in a powdered form perfect for sprinkling on steaks, French fries and even over salads. "This year," says Tony Gatti, Miss Anna's general manager, "we'll also introduce Miss Anna's Mango Habanero Sauce and Miss Anna's Bloody Mary Mix." The partners are working with local farmers to secure a steady supply of hot peppers, thus assuring customers truly do get a real taste of The Virgin Islands. Miss Anna's products are available at several locations throughout the Virgin Islands or by ordering online at www.missannashotsauce.com.

Kick it up a NOTCH! Where to buy...

Cheryl's Taste of Paradise
6300 Frydenhoj #42
St. Thomas, VI 00802
(340) 998-1669
cheryl@mangomomma.com or mangomomma@yahoo.com
www.cherylstasteofparadise.com

Caribbean Specialty Foods
PMB 75, Suite 310
168 Crown Bay
St. Thomas, VI 00802
(340) 715-4136 or 866-819-3246
sales@caribbeanspecialtyfoods.com
www.caribbeanspecialtyfoods.com

Miss Anna's Hot Sauce
P.O. Box 25689
Christiansted, VI 00824
(340) 715-7904
tony@missannashotsauce.com
www.missannashotsauce.com