Cookbook offers new twist on Belizean cuisine

Coinciding with the Culinary Gala was the launch of “Mmmm… A Taste of Belizean Cooking.” The project was inspired by previous competitions and features recipes from resorts and restaurants from all across Belize. The publishers hope that this cross section of creative cuisine will add some zip to familiar Belizean staples.

Hector Martinez, Marketing Director Cubola Productions

“The concept actually came up in the first culinary gala in 2001…At the gala we learned that a lot of chefs are using these traditional dishes and just adding more stuff, being a bit more creative. And we figured having a cookbook like this would show that there are creative ways of doing stuff, especially with the influence of different cultures that have come into Belize.”

“The whole thing is to promoting creativity. Moving from rice and beans and adding that little extra touch, moving from tamales and dukunu and just adding a little bit of spice to it. Chefs out there will feel much more comforted to say go ahead and do stuff like that. We have a lot of different vegetables that we are growing now in Belize that we never had before and now having all these recipes will influence people to be a little bit more creative with what we have around us.”

“Mmmm…A taste of Belizean Cooking” is available in gift shops and restaurants throughout Belize, or from Cubola Productions in Benque Viejo. Suggested retail price is twenty dollars.