This post was originally published on June 16, 2009. It has been updated once since then and has been featured on Wellsphere.com.

When Trinidad was all abuzz with preparations for the Summit of the Americas I got the wild idea to feature the foods of the member nations as part of a buildup to the actual event. Except for one entry unfortunately that didn’t happen as things got unexpectedly busy on my side. I did however cook up a storm though and those regional specialties will eventually all see the light …

This post was originally published on June 18, 2009. It has been updated once since then.

I’ve fallen off my raw food adventure wagon BADLY. And I do mean BADLY. With all of the stress of the past 2 months and the nonstop up and down around the island it’s been hard to keep any kind of routine, health or fitness-wise. Maybe it’s telling that this post is now being written as my stresses have begun to wind down. My body fortunately hasn’t succumbed to flus the way it would have …

Carib Brewery, Eastern Main Road, Champs Fleurs

Ask any Trinidadian to complete the following phrase. A beer is a … and you’ll instantly hear a loud uproarious ‘Carib’.
For over 50 years the Carib Brewery has been producing Carib beer to the delight of Trinis both at home and abroad. I know that for myself seeing a Carib sign in a pub or a bar abroad was enough to make me scream, grab a camera and patronise the establishment
Carib doesn’t only produce beer however, they also are behind the …

Malta Carib has been a staple in my home since I was a child. Growing up I felt like quite a ‘big woman’ drinking it from the bottle (I had no idea it was non-alcoholic ). During the 80’s it was promoted not just as an energy booster, but also as an aid for students preparing for exams!

From CaribBeer.com
Malta Carib is a full-bodied, refreshing non-alcoholic malt beverage that is rich in vitamins.
Malta Carib has a pleasant, sweet taste enhanced by a hint of bitterness derived from …

In the 80’s there were no two bigger rivals in the local Beer trade than Stag and Carib. Both had ad campaigns using local musical icons and slick marketing campaigns. In the above minimalist ad, Calypso King of the World, The Mighty Sparrow waxes poetic on its virtues Although in random talks with people Stag seemed to be the sentimental favourite, at the end of the day it was Carib though that reigned supreme when it acquired the Stag brand, ending the back and forth, once …

As promised, here is the Basil Lemonade recipe that I made for Stephanie’s 43rd edition of Blog Party! One of the things that I love about adding basil to beverages is the muted herbal flavour that it imparts. This lemonade is no exception. It softens the acidity of the lemon/lime juice, and also mellows out the overt sweetness. Be sure to blend the basil leaves and lime juice completely before adding the water. That way there are no bits of leaves floating around

Basil Lemonade
Source: Adapted from …

Chocolat (2000): Nominated for 5 Academy Awards(R) including Best Picture, Best Actress (Juliette Binoche — THE ENGLISH PATIENT), and Best Supporting Actress (Judi Dench — SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE), CHOCOLAT is the beautiful and captivating comedy from the acclaimed director of THE CIDER HOUSE RULES! Nobody could have imagined the impact that the striking Vianne (Binoche) would make when she arrived in a tranquil, old-fashioned French town. In her very unusual chocolate shop, Vianne begins to create mouth-watering confections that almost magically inspire the straitlaced villagers to abandon themselves to temptation …

Beets. You either love them or hate them. This vibrant, juicy root vegetable seems to polarize people whenever I bring them up for discussion. As a kid I grew up drinking (and loving beet juice), but as an adult I find myself less and less able to enjoy it in cooked form. And, Jason? Well he just can’t stand them. Not even in juice form This recent concoction really hit the spot for me, and because of its status as a nutritional powerhouse I think it probably …

Since mid-December I have spent my weekdays consuming mostly raw dishes and drinks. Smoothies in particular have become my staple breakfasts (and sometimes stand in for lunch and dinner as well!). They can be simple, just 2 or 3 ingredients, or elaborate, containing everything but the kitchen sink. This recipe for a Banana-Basil smoothie veers towards the simpler side of the spectrum which is why I like it so much. Submitted by a reader to GoneRaw.com (one of my favourite sites for raw recipes), I was first a bit wary …

This entry was originally published on December 14, 2006. I am reposting it today for your holiday enjoyment For other Traditional Trinidadian Christmas recipes, visit my post In Trinidad Christmas is Parang!
Punch de Creme, is another of Trinidad’s traditional Christmas drinks. It is a rum drink, basically our version of eggnog. Unlike sorrel and ginger beer it’s taken me a while to get around to posting this recipe because it’s not something that has ever been made in my house. I have really been taken by …