Dorinda Hafner was born in Ghana, West Africa. She came to Australia from England as a dispensing optician and registered nurse. She has since worked as a storyteller, actress, dancer, choreographer, public speaker, writer and television chef. Hafner currently lives in South Australia, but divides her time between Australia, Great Britain, and the United States. She is the mother of Nuala Hafner. She was the State Ambassador for Australian Citizenship week in 1997, and has represented Australia at various Women and Earth Eco-Conferences.[1]
Dorinda's Taste of the Caribbean is organized by island. It represents Dorinda Hafner’s effort to examine the influence of African cuisine throughout the Caribbean. She assures us that the Ghanaian [3] influence endures, as does innovation of the polyglot peoples who have crafted unique traditions.
Each island-chapter has several glossy close-ups of dishes and is prefaced with a brief island history. The islands chosen for her research are: Cuba, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Trinidad & Tobago, Curaçao, and Jamaica.
Recipes are prefaced with facts, anecdotes, and tips, often noting the African ancestry of dishes when relevant. This is one of the more interesting cooking books for traditional Caribbean dishes. The dishes are truly authentic.