French Guiana
By
Jason Brady
Latin Cuisine
Chef Wilson
French Guiana is a Nation that is located on the North Eastern corner of South America. It is currently a colony of France. Originally it was inhabited by native American tribes. The French began inhabiting this nation in the seventeenth century. In 1763, France attempted to colonize this region. Diseases ravaged the settlers and they were unable to succeed. They were eventually able to make it a colony. France also made Devil’s Island a penal colony. Devil’s Island is located just off the coast of French Guiana. In 1809 Portugal took over the country. They eventually gave up control in 1814 and handed ownership back to France. Since it’s existence there have been many cultural influences on this nation.
Because there have been many influences on this nation, French Guiana is a very diverse nation. Along with the French, Portuguese, and Native influence, Brazil has also had an effect. Hmong refugees from Laos have also had an effect as well as the Chinese. Other Asian influences come from East Indians, Lebanese, and Vietnamese. Along with the Asian influences, the largest influences come from the Creoles and Haitians. Some estimate that about sixty to seventy percent of the population are either Creole or Haitian.
French Guiana cuisine reflects all the influences. Much of the food reflects not only the French influence but also the Caribbean. The French influence shows itself in the attention to detail with food preparation. There is also a great deal of Caribbean influence when it comes to flavor profiles as well as cooking techniques. The most common bread of the area has it’s roots in Southeast Asia. This bread is called roti. It is an unleavened bread that is used to wrap up ingredients and then consumed. It is very similar to a tortilla.
Because of their proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, seafood plays an important in local cuisine. Bouillon d’aoura is one such dish. This is a dish made from smoked fish, crab, prawns, vegetables and chicken. It is served with aoura, the fruit of Savana trees. Catholicism is the largest religion in the area and as such, religious ceremonies are a large part of the French Guiana culture. Food is a large part of these ceremonies. When celebrating, the local people pull out all the stops and usually prepare local dishes that may be reserved for special events.
French Guiana is a diverse nation that takes pride in it’s origins. It also takes pride in the many influences that have helped to shape it into the Nation it is today. French Guiana is a melting pot of many different cultures. French, Portuguese, Hmong, Indian, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Creole, and the Cayenne have all made their mark on this South American nation.
http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/French_Guianese_Cuisine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_guiana
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roti
Jason Brady
Latin Cuisine
Chef Wilson
French Guiana is a Nation that is located on the North Eastern corner of South America. It is currently a colony of France. Originally it was inhabited by native American tribes. The French began inhabiting this nation in the seventeenth century. In 1763, France attempted to colonize this region. Diseases ravaged the settlers and they were unable to succeed. They were eventually able to make it a colony. France also made Devil’s Island a penal colony. Devil’s Island is located just off the coast of French Guiana. In 1809 Portugal took over the country. They eventually gave up control in 1814 and handed ownership back to France. Since it’s existence there have been many cultural influences on this nation.
Because there have been many influences on this nation, French Guiana is a very diverse nation. Along with the French, Portuguese, and Native influence, Brazil has also had an effect. Hmong refugees from Laos have also had an effect as well as the Chinese. Other Asian influences come from East Indians, Lebanese, and Vietnamese. Along with the Asian influences, the largest influences come from the Creoles and Haitians. Some estimate that about sixty to seventy percent of the population are either Creole or Haitian.
French Guiana cuisine reflects all the influences. Much of the food reflects not only the French influence but also the Caribbean. The French influence shows itself in the attention to detail with food preparation. There is also a great deal of Caribbean influence when it comes to flavor profiles as well as cooking techniques. The most common bread of the area has it’s roots in Southeast Asia. This bread is called roti. It is an unleavened bread that is used to wrap up ingredients and then consumed. It is very similar to a tortilla.
Because of their proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, seafood plays an important in local cuisine. Bouillon d’aoura is one such dish. This is a dish made from smoked fish, crab, prawns, vegetables and chicken. It is served with aoura, the fruit of Savana trees. Catholicism is the largest religion in the area and as such, religious ceremonies are a large part of the French Guiana culture. Food is a large part of these ceremonies. When celebrating, the local people pull out all the stops and usually prepare local dishes that may be reserved for special events.
French Guiana is a diverse nation that takes pride in it’s origins. It also takes pride in the many influences that have helped to shape it into the Nation it is today. French Guiana is a melting pot of many different cultures. French, Portuguese, Hmong, Indian, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Creole, and the Cayenne have all made their mark on this South American nation.
http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/French_Guianese_Cuisine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_guiana
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roti