USVI-On-Line

I would love to know what you experts recommend as "must buys" for a first-timer. I love reading all the recipes that include these wonderful sounding ingredients, but I have yet to get there to try any of them.
I won't be there until May, but would love to get some suggestions!
Ruth, please feel free to chime in! I would love to hear your recommendations! Thanks!!

St. John Jerk Rub
Cruz Bay Grill Rub
Jerome's Hot Sauce
Idiot Boys Hot Sauce
Miss Anna's Hot Sauce

ohhhhhhhhh
I like the West Indian Pumpkin Spice sauce. Great in chili.
The Voodoo spice is great for blackening fish.
Hubby has a secret love affair with Jerome

jerk spice
steak spice
cruz bay grill rub

and coffee, did I mention coffee???
oh and coconut patties! LOL

don't ask what our first shopping spree cost

You can not forget:
Kiss of the Jumbie coffee
Trinidad Charlies hot sauce

Ohhhhhh, this is great!

Rick, you're going to have to let me know how to use all of the different hot sauces if I'm going to be buying all these various kinds!! I can't wait to try your shrimp recipe that you posted earlier!
Coffee is definitely on the list! Thanks for the specific recommendation, Xislandgirl! I will try it
Mary beth, I'm glad I won't be the only one! I need to be prepare hubby for this excursion!! Of course, this is all up his alley!

and there's even a tasting bar where you can sample many of the sauces!

and just so you know there will be at least 2 visits. one when you arrive to get your staples for the week and the one where you really SHOP and Ron packs up a big box for you that you will be waiting for when you get home!

Oh - and the mango jam! you need that when you first get there.

I'm hungry now!!!

St John Spice sells a sampler of 4 different rubs, which worked well for us as novices last year. One night we stayed at the villa grill all kinds of seafood throughout the afternoon and evening using the different rubs, great fun!

We also get out coffee from St John spice.

Great thread, kygirl! I'm taking notes! I do bbq sauce, hot sauce and rub trades with guys around the country from the BBQ group that I belong to, so I'm going to grab extras for future trades.

Blind Betty Pineapple hot sauce is great on grilled fish. Mango too!

Kiss of the Jumbie ground by Ron, 1/2decaf, 1/2 caff

Storemade vanilla

Tropical Mango Tea is great Iced

Garlic and Herb is great mixed in Cottage Cheese/Sour Cream for a dip

Ruth carries the best natural bug repellent around, try her patches.

Ruth doesnt just sell foodstuffs

The house we were renting didn't have playing cards, but Ruth did I bought a deck that had tropical drink recipes on them and was too distracted by looking at the drinks to play hearts

Ruth also carries a books about St John, I bought my husband a book about moving to St John for his birthday, hoping he would get the hint

Also forgot my insulated coffee mug and bought a USVI one from Ruth

Ruth also carries great little gifts to bring back for people that help us while we are away, that won't break the bank.

Bought a cute sarong in January and she carries a line of pottery by a local artist and I bought myself a little keepsake dish with a shell imprinted on it.

As you can see I love Ruth's shop! Ruth and Ron are excellent people!

Betty wrote: Ruth doesnt just sell foodstuffs

That reminds me, our boys picked out some great t-shirts at St John Spice.

All the Blind Betty sauces...Blind in the Rind; Pinapple Pizazz; and Original. Yum.

Last night it was grill rub on cod broiled for ash wed, Just ordered jeromes for ricks dish

Thank you all! This is great! I am printing this and taking it with me!

Ooooooohhh, I like this one!

I'll be repeating some of the other suggestions:

1. Trinidad Charlie's hot sauces, esp. the West Indian Pumpkin Pepper Sauce

2. Blind Betty's hot sauces (are good with eggs)

3. Kiss of the Jumbie coffee

4. natural bug repellant (I can't think of the brand name but it smells like coconut & lemongrass & goodness)

5. V.I. mousepad to bring home

6. V.I. calendars and guide books and recipe books

7. Local made pottery- mugs, bowls, etc

8. A true feeling of welcome from Ruth and Ron!

Have fun!

That's what I can come up with on a Friday morning