Chef Mayra Transition to Veganism in Mid 2006 Making it a Lifestyle. Caribbean cooking is based on hot and fruity sauces, coconutty flavors, seasoned rice and marinates.Tastes and cooking styles differ from island to island, with each island boasting its own special dishes. Some popular Caribbean products include jerk seasoning, hot pepper sauces, tropical fruit juices, tostones and rice and beans. Soups and stews such as sopito, conch chowder, bebele, pepperpot, quimbomba, caldo gallego and sancocho are staples of the Caribbean diet