Island Cooking: Recipes from the Caribbean

Caribbean cuisine blends West African, French, Portuguese, East Indian, Spanish, English, Dutch and Chinese heritages. In serving portions from this melting pot, Harrisa native Jamaican and an importer of Caribbean foods to the U.S.offers ``everyday fare and tasty bits and pieces'' ranging from party beverages (e.g., tamarind drink) to main courses (pot roast calypso). In addition, Harris traces a brief history of Caribbean cookery. His book is a good place to test your mettle on highly spiced foods and flavors. However, some recipesrequiring the entrails, head and feet of lambs, and pigs' tailswill appeal only to devoted followers. And if you live in an area where fresh shark, conch, chayote and callaloo are hard to come by, you may have to do some nimble improvising, though the author does suggest alternative ingredients and lists Caribbean food distributors in this country. (Dec.)