Possible Clues:

• Clare embraces fantastic role in Caribbean restaurant
• Cuisine that includes gumbo
• Merry monarch about to be introduced to spicy cookery
• One of mixed descent
• Emeril specialty
• 'King --', 1958 film starring Elvis Presley
• Southern language
• Actor's second part involves energy in a mixture of languages
• Is there an old king round about in the West Indies?
• Haitian ___