Book Review
Tortuga Rum Fever &Caribbean Party Cookbook
The Ideal Souvenirand Gift from the Cayman Islands
Tortuga Rum Fever and Caribbean PartyCookbook by Barbara Currie Dailey / Island Fever Press Ltd., GrandCayman (ISBN: 976-95054-0-4) 304 pages, paperback. PublishersList Price: CI$16.00/ US$20.00
Sweet, sultry rum is Caribbean magic! Everysip conjures fantasies of tropical islands and Paradise Found.For centuries, no potion has ignited manís passions orsparked spontaneous urges to party the way rum has.
Rum has also been the secret ingredient of Caribbean cooks forover 300 years. The western world's oldest liquor is now in thespotlight as the New Millennium's hottest spirits - and not justin a cocktail glass! . Bartenders and chefs all over the worldare rediscovering rum's mystique and versatile personality. Youcan too, with Cayman's firstóand the Caribbeanísnewest and biggest - cookbook dedicated to rum, spirited islandrecipes and traditional Caymanian and Jamaican dishes.
Tortuga Rum Fever & Caribbean Party Cookbook is much morethan a cookbook - it's a 304-page a celebration in print of rumin food and drink that will make readers want to host a Caribbeanparty for friends in their own home. Written by Grand Cayman authorBarbara Currie Dailey, the book features more than 400 rum-spikedand island recipes, many using Tortuga rums and Tortuga gourmetsauces among ingredients. It's "generously seasoned"throughout with humor and insider tidbits of island life. Readerswill enjoy Mrs. Dailey's offbeat and often hilarious explanationsof our Caribbean culinary customs and curiosities like conch,gaint land crabs and mango.
Rum Fever is also a tribute to Cayman's Tortuga Rum Company, oneof the most unusual tales in the history of Caribbean rum. Tortugaintroduced Cayman's first quality local label rums to this nearlysugar-cane free island in 1984 and is now the largest duty freeliquor company in the Cayman Islands. But the company's use ofrum has gone far beyond traditional bottled limits and becomea global brand name whose Tortuga Rum Cakes have turned GrandCayman into the Rum Cake Capital of the World.
The book opens with The Rum Shop. "Rum Lore: The Curious,Colorful and Controversial History of the New World's Oldest Spirits"presents an intoxicating mix of rumís colorful historyand quirky folklore. Learn juicy revelations like how Demon Rumalmost scuttled Her Majesty's Royal Navy in the 17th century whensailors were given official rations- for breakfast! Next, aspiringbartenders will discover the basics of mixing perfect drinks in"The Caribbean Party Bartender's Guide," including howto use the different kinds of rumóand forgotten Caribbeansecret ingredients like Falernum and Pimento Dram. "Rum Fete:A 350-Year Celebration of Rum Drink Recipes" presents morethan 190 drink recipes and accompanying anecdotes about drinkorigins - and unusual consequences. The bar menu ranges from long-forgottenColonial era rum potions to sophisticated new millennium sips.You'll find classic rum cocktails like daiquiris and swizzles,legendary party punches, seductive tropical drinks and the latestwild rum concoctions.
Then step into The CookRum: Western Caribbean Cooking and SpiritedRum Recipes. The cookrum, or Caribbean hearth of yesteryear, introducesreaders to Cayman's truly unique culinary offerings and continueswith more than 150 party-ready dishes and original rum-spikeddelights. It opens with "The Island Pantry" which explainsthe basics of cooking with rum and helps readers understand themost important seasonings, spices and staples of West Indian cookery."The Caribbean Market: Amazing Fruits, Curious Vegetablesand Formidable Tubers" takes readers on an offbeat adventurein our typical Caribbean market, filled with tropical odditieslike soursop and yams the size of firewood. "Comfort Food- Western Caribbean Style" offers 32 pages of traditionalCaymanian and Jamaican favorites like Ackee and Saltfish, RedBean Soup, Fish Cayman Style and many more.
Next comes a feast of more mouthwatering recipes, from breakfastspecialties to flaming desserts, all made with a hint of TortugaRum, West Indian spices- or both. The next 16 chapter offer muchmore. Learn how to make perfect Rum Coconut Cream Pie in "GoingCoconuts" and luscious mango recipes in Mango Fever. "ConchPearls" is a mini-conch cookbook in itself. "Rum forBreakfast?" will really wake up your tastebuds. "DrunkenMeats and Tipsy Birds" and "Carnival of Sweets"are just a few of the remaining entertainments awaiting readers.
A Tortuga Rum Fete entertains readers with one of the most unusualstories in the history of Caribbean rum: Cayman's Tortuga RumCompany Ltd. This successful Caribbean-family owned and operatedbusiness created the Tortuga Rum Cake, a family recipe that becamea global hit and made Grand Cayman the Rum Cake Capital of theWorld. This section includes two exclusive, never-before-publishedTortuga Rum Cake recipes.
Whether your menu features traditional Caribbean Rum Punch andStamp and Go, Cayman Mamas and conch fritters, or classic Mojitosand Pina Colada Chicken, youíll find everything you needto plan a real Caribbean party-except the Tortuga Rum bottle.South Florida residents will want to know that Cayman's Tortugarums are available throughout South Florida at Crown Wines &Spirits retail liquor stores.
FOR INFORMATION: Tortuga Rum Fever & Caribbean Party Cookbookis now available throughout the Cayman Islands, including all17 Tortuga Rum Company duty free and retail outlets on Grand Cayman;The Book Nook; Hobbies & Books; the C.I. National Museum GiftShop and other fine stores. On Little Cayman: National Trust House, with proceeds to benefit Trust projects. PublisherísList price is only CI$16.00/ US$20.00,
The book is also available by mail order from Tortuga's US officefor US$19.95 which includes shipping and handling via Fed Ex.ground. To place orders, contact: (800) 444-0625; in Miami, (305)378-6668. E-mail: rumcakes@tortugaimports.com In Grand Caymancall 949-CAKE.