Her paradise is sweet and spicy
Creative condiments rule
Maura Curley
Some like it hot. Others like it hotter.
Cheryl Miller caters to both, and also to those who want sweetness and spice in their life.
Miller created A Taste of Paradise about a decade and a half ago in St. John.
She produces and markets a variety of award winning sauces and condiments.
She's the 'hot mama' behind the internationally award winning Mango Mama Jam, Caribbean Sunburn, and an assortment of other piquant products.
Newer products like Caribbean Mustango Marinade, fuses mustard and mangos with jalapeno peppers.
She uses fresh fruits, locally grown habanera and chili peppers, herbs, and a secret blend of seasonings in all her recipes.
You can eat her jams by the spoonful, but she cautions the hot sauce is meant to enhance the flavors of dishes during the cooking process.
She suggests scrambling eggs with Caribbean Sunburn or adding it to spaghetti sauce. She says it's wonderful with the scent of basil and tarragon.
Over the years, A Taste of Paradise has won awards for spicy jams, chutney and hot sauce from the Fiery Food Challenge, the Oscars of the hot food industry. And , Food Network came to Miller's tiny kitchen in St John and filmed one of its more popular segments.
The Taste of Paradise began humbly in St.John with her first product- Caribbean mustard.
Now Miller has a line of foods and non-food products, which include an apron with her hot lips logo.
A few years ago Miller moved her expanded operation to St. Thomas's Compass Point and now distributes internationally through mail order and in stores throughout the Virgin Islands.
Though A Taste of Paradise has grown, each batch is still made by Miller's hand. She estimates she whips up 50 gallons a week of her culinary creations, and says she can fill all orders within two weeks - without a frown. Miller is exactly the type of person you might expect to be behind her products.
She's bright, savvy, and saucy too!
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Maura Curley is publisher of virginvoices.com
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