[[Image:||right|thumb|]] The people of São Tomé and Principe trace their roots to a great number of races that came to the island or were brought here in order to be transformed into slaves. The local cuisine is based mainly on seafood, fresh fish, Chicken, and tropical fruits, such as avocado, pineapple, and bananas. In this region, the cuisine tends to be very spicy as fish and Chicken are usually marinated in a spicy sauce. Santomeans have a great respect for their cooking tradition, especially for their former masters who taught them the art of baking bread and cakes. The cuisine of São Tomé and Principe has also been influenced by the Portuguese cuisine. As a snack, Santomean people have bread rolls stuffed with canned salami or sausages from Portugal.