Simeon Hall, Bahamas
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF CARIBBEAN COOK-OUT SHOW
Q How did you come up with the idea for the Caribbean Cookout Show?
We wanted to create a platform that would elevate and celebrate Caribbean cuisine and culture. As Caribbean-Americans, we wanted the narrative to be told by us for us. Often, people think about only beaches and rum when they refer to the Caribbean. We wanted to showcase and honour the rich traditions, diverse culture and succulent dishes of the region. We also wanted to educate our viewers; for example, we wanted them to appreciate that there is more to Jamaica than jerk and to Haiti than griot.
Q Where are your chefs from?
For season 1, we had chefs from Haiti, Puerto Rico, Curacao, Bahamas, Jamaica and Guyana. Plus, the show’s producers, although based in Miami, Florida, are all from the Caribbean.
Helmi Smeulders, Curacao