| Those who believe the Dominican Republic | | | | Dominican Republic as a poor area, but |
| serves typical Caribbean cuisine, guess | | | | despite this image, their food is rich and |
| again. With a plethora of fresh seafood, | | | | hearty. The lack of wealth for some does not |
| fruits, vegetables, and meats, the Dominican | | | | cause the dinner table to go empty. Full |
| Republic blends culinary styles from Latin | | | | lunches together still occur five days a |
| America, Spain, and France. As a result, the | | | | week. Many wealthy families in other |
| dishes are an amazing blend of flavors, mild | | | | countries cannot boast having so much quality |
| spices, and varying textures.Unlike the chain | | | | family time!Sancocho, a delightful soup |
| stores in many countries, the Dominican | | | | filled with huge chunks of meat and |
| Republic prides itself on selling fresh | | | | vegetables, is served for many meals. The |
| ingredients from their local markets. Typical | | | | soup usually contains pork or beef and then |
| foods are sweet potatoes, goat meat, pig | | | | onions, sweet potatoes, potatoes, yucca root, |
| meat, fresh saltwater fish, shellfish, | | | | plantains, cassava root, and broth. For |
| mangoes, papayas, plantains, cassava melon, | | | | celebrations, seven meats are mixed to |
| coconuts, citrus fruits, tomatoes, and | | | | enhance the glamour of this dish.Pastel en |
| passion fruit. Given the abundance of high | | | | Hoja blends marinated meat cubes with other |
| quality foods, it is not surprising that | | | | ingredients and then slowly steams the |
| locally prepared dishes are delightful | | | | mixture inside banana leaves. Fish steamed |
| treats.Pigs are an important aspect in the | | | | with vegetables in coconut milk is also |
| Dominican Republic's meat markets. Spicy | | | | served in many homes. For dessert, fried |
| longaniza sausages hang from racks in many | | | | portions of dough similar to Churros or fresh |
| butchers. Pork is slowly roasted over a spit | | | | fruit are both extremely popular.Chicharrones |
| to a tender state of perfection.The Dominican | | | | de Pollo is the Dominican Republic's answer |
| Republic follows a traditional Spanish custom | | | | to fried chicken. Chicken pieces are coated |
| in which workers leave their jobs at noon and | | | | in a mildly spiced flour mixture and then |
| go home for a leisurely meal with their | | | | fried to golden perfection.The food of |
| family before returning to work two or three | | | | Dominican Republic is a culinary treat that |
| hours later. This leisurely break is called | | | | no person should miss. Even if one is not |
| La Bandera. During these lengthy meals, bowls | | | | traveling to the area, it is easy to make |
| of rice, meats stewed with beans, vegetables, | | | | some of these dishes in the comfort of your |
| fried plantains, and pitchers of water or | | | | own home. What a way to celebrate a fabulous |
| other beverages are shared. The family enjoys | | | | country's cuisine.Gregg Hall is an author |
| time together, clean up, and then return to | | | | living in Navarre Beach, Florida. |
| finish their work or school day.Many see the | | | | |