Local Fort Lauderdale chef / author Michael Bennett has written a Caribbean-style cookbook of his years living on the “Islands.” Chef Bennett is the Executive Chef of Bimini Boatyard in Fort Lauderdale; his first book is titled “In the Land of Pirates, Misfits and Cooks”, a “taste of life” firsthand in the Caribbean.

Bennett has coined the term “Caribbean” as a cross between Caribbean and American food preparation styles. Stimulating the palate and experimenting with new cooking methods and innovative ingredients makes old new again. Chef Bennett takes the reader on fun culinary journeys across the many islands of the Caribbean, showing them that with a little ingenuity you can dazzle your palate by taking tropical inspiration from what Mother Nature has already given us.

The recipes are easy to read, easy to follow, and easy to prepare. This book was designed with simplicity in mind to appeal to the most novice home cooks while intriguing the seasoned cook. Ingredients are readily available at your local grocery store, making this exciting style of cooking accessible anytime without much plan other than having the ingredient list with you while you shop. On most pages there are boxes highlighting cooking tips, prep tips and “insider information” when it comes to healthy eating and variations in dish preparation or at the Bimini Boatyard in Fort Lauderdale.