Bites Nearby: Island Taste

So far with this feature, we've  offering a dining .

This week, something a little different: , a little West Indian take-out joint on Easton's Northampton Street.

But that seems sort of appropriate, given the home-cooked quality of chef Sam Stone's food. It's a menu born from her background: mother from Grenada, father from Trinidad, childhood in St. Martin, a career in New York as a chef to the rich and famous (she won't reveal the names of her A-list clients).

Cooking was a large part of her family; it seems like she's always been cooking.

"I never played with no dolls. I never played hide and seek," said Stone, who lives in Palmer Township.

A brief, personal history lesson: early in my career with Patch -- four months ago -- I got into a debate with Ryan Cantor, our regional director, after Island Taste was labeled as an Indian restaurant in our directory.

I insisted that was wrong, and he said the photos we had showing their menu -- with things like roti and curry goat -- seemed to suggest Indian cuisine.

I'd driven by a few times, but never stopped until that day. I came away very happy. The three meals I've had -- two goat dishes and the jerk pork -- have been delicious: heavy on flavor and spice without being overpoweringly spicy. 

It turns out we were both right, sort of. Stone said the Indian population of Trinidad has led to some cross-cultural cuisine. 

It's Thursday afternoon as she's explaining this, the smell of curry filling her tiny, yet clean, kitchen. As she talks about her background, I notice the wooden spoon she'd been using to stir the potatoes had fallen into the pot. That was intentional, Stone said, to add to the flavor.

Assisting her in the kitchen was Mercy Mbevi, who lives in Easton but was born in Kenya. Again, an interesting bit of cross-cultural mixing: Mbevi grew up eating roti as well, only she called it "chapati." Kenya, she says, also has an Indian population.

Already featured at the  and Movies at the Mill, Stone hopes to bring her skills to even more locals starting next month, as she hosts a series of cooking classes.

Prices at Island Taste vary, but few entrees cost more than $10 or $12. Stone also makes an amazing ginger tea, as well as several seafood dishes, including a wonderful conch fritter served with mango chutney. They're open until 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.