No Cruises or cuisine today – but it’s definitely all things Caribbean. Of course, I have to talk about what everyone is talking about -  World Cup, 2010 and the big game tomorrow: Honduras v. Chile.  

In the last World Cup qualifying match, Honduras squeezed itself into the World Cup needing a win against El Salvador and for Costa Rica not to win against the USA –even though Costa Rica was up 2 goals at the half Honduras may be the only Caribbean nation at the World Cup. In fact, Honduras is generally thought of as a Latin American country more so than a Caribbean country. However, like all but one Central American nation (El Salvador) and all of northern South American, Honduras has a Caribbean coast and culture on its northern shore. Honduras faces the clockwork defense of Switzerland, the sizzling talent of Spain, and a rising Chile. Predictions are close to nonsense, but Spain is likely to pass. This leaves the true drama for the second second-round slot. It is not impossible to imagine some last minute cunning putting Honduras through. If so, Honduras will be, at that moment, the most glorious parcel of planet earth.

      Tomorrow, June 16, Honduras plays Chile at 7:30 AM EST. The winner of this match is likely to take second place behind Spain and advance to the second round. I’ll be watching – will you? 

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I cruised by Fisher Island the other day and thought, “I wonder what it would be like to live there.” Imagine… an entire Island all to yourself. Well – there are 200 or so other families. But it’s so exclusive, so private, so quiet you would feel as if it’s all yours.

Fisher Island is a part of Miami Beach. But don’t think for a second Fisher Island is anything like Miami Beach.  South Beach is a hot spot for Miami Visitors. But if you happen to be in the Fisher Island vicinity, don’t even think of just dropping by. Only confirmed guests are allowed to stop on the Island. Furthermore, the only way in or out of the Island is by ferry or boat. There is even a ferry for cars. 

Or you can just do what I did – cruise by on a boat and hope to get a glimpse of Julia Roberts or Oprah Winfrey – just a few of the celebrities that own a home on Fisher Island.  

Of course you can experience private Island living – in the Caribbean. Check out one or even all of the Top Caribbean Islands for 2010.

Meanwhile, summer is right around the corner so that means great weather  for cruising. Cruising + good food = Cruisine…Our favorite past time.

I’ve been going through some of my favorite cookbooks to decide what recipes to prepare. If you have any favorite Caribbean dishes, please pass them along.  Caribbean food is so much better when shared among friends.

I love this book. It’s big, colorful and a great coffee table accessory.  An extensive cookbook saturated with love for the Keys, this book also shows an eye for informative, low-key illustration using historical photos in ingredients sections like “The Dooryard Garden,” which notes that home gardens were, for much of Keys history, the main source of fresh produce because of local soil conditions and infrastructural isolation from the mainland.

Faithful to Key West perspective on food, the drink section comes first. First in that section is Calomondin Brandy (Vodka with Calomondin oranges).  If you feel weary to lookup what the heck a Calomondin is, fear not. Each recipe has a sidebar section explaining ingredients, history, or offering charming trivia relevant to the dish.  A common them in these informative snippets are the challenges Keys residents traditionally faced in obtaining ingredients plentiful on the mainland and ethnic origins of dishes and ingredients imported from nearby islands or faraway realms.

This book, in short, will make you an expert in “Conchfusion” cuisine, without ever visiting.

The Florida Keys Cookbook:
Recipes and Foodways of Paradise, Author: Victoria Shearer