Calypso Island Chicken is highlighted by key seasonings of the West Indies: tomatoes and red peppers. West Indians often make a condiment out of hot peppers by steeping diced ones in vinegar. Tabasco sauce is the closest equivalent readily available in America and is used in this recipe. The dish also includes plantain, a cousin of the banana that is larger and not as sweet. Plantains must be cooked before eating, and only ripe fruit will have the proper texture for this dish. To select a ripe plantain, choose a finger that is deep yellow and speckled with black or one that is entirely black. If a green plantain is purchased, it may take several weeks to ripen at room temperature. Do not refrigerate the fruit, for this will halt ripening. From the newspaper.