Opening of the Churchill-Roosevelt/Uriah Butler Interchange, May 1 2009
August 31st is Trinidad’s Independence Day. This year’s menu is a trifecta of the new, the old, and a new twist on an old favourite What will yours be this year?

• Sarina’s Spinach-Ginger Salad
• Bertie’s Trinidad Pelau
• Sarina’s Independence Day Sugar Cakes
To learn more about Independence Day Celebrations in Trinidad, as well as the Independence Day Movement visit the Independence Day portal at the National Library website.
Trinidad & Tobago’s flag is raised for the 1st time …

August 1st is Emancipation Day in Trinidad and Tobago, a public holiday. Trinidad and Tobago was the first country in the world to commemorate the abolition of slavery with a national observance, and since that time several other countries (mostly in the Caribbean) have followed suit.
For quite a few years now the last week in July, building up to the holiday (August 1), has been set aside for a series of festivals, lectures, films and fairs in honour of the occasion.
This year the African Food Festival is …

“June 19, Sir, is a day which, in the minds of the workers, marks a landmark in the history of the working class movement.” – Adrian Cola Rienzi

June 19 is Labour Day in Trinidad and Tobago, a public holiday
Labour Day marks the labour uprising on 19th June 1937 which is generally recognised as the start of the modern trade union movement in Trinidad and Tobago.
From Gov.tt:
Labour Day in Trinidad and Tobago is held annually on June 19th, the anniversary of the day of protest in 1937. This …

May 30th is Indian Arrival Day, a public holiday here in Trinidad and Tobago. Indian Arrival Day commemorates the arrival of the first East Indian labourers to our shores.

From the National Library Website:
Indian Arrival Day, celebrated on 30th May, commemorates the arrival of the first Indian Indentured labourers from India to Trinidad, in May 1845, on the ship Fatel Razack. The Fatel Razack brought not only a new labour force to assist in the economic development of Trinidad, but also a new people with a new culture.
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While this momentous …

Gnocchi Pomodoro (recipe linked below)
Shavuot is an annual Jewish festival of dual significance. Agriculturally, it commemorates the time when the first fruits were harvested and brought to the Temple, historically, it also celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. To mark Shavuot I always prepare a dairy-based menu that incorporates honey in some form or fashion.
This year Shavuot is being observed from sunset May 18 – nightfall May 20, I don’t think I’ll be holding an actual seder but I will be cooking up a storm. …

Photo: Sookdeo Baney
March 30 is Spiritual Baptist/Shouter Liberation Day in Trinidad & Tobago.
From Wikipedia:
Spiritual/Shouter Baptist Liberation Day is an annual public holiday celebrated in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, on March 30. The holiday commemorates the repeal on March 30, 1951 of the 1917 Shouter Prohibition Ordinance that prohibited the activities of the Shouter or Spiritual Baptist faith.
It seems hard to believe or to fully understand the idea that practicing a faith could be considered illegal here in T&T where we pride ourselves on religous tolerance and diversity, however …

Passover 2010 falls this year on the evening of March 29th. Even though it is some time aways I have already receiving requests for recipes, as well as for local seders. At the moment I am not sure if my health currently allows me to pull off a repeat of last year’s successful Reggae-Jazz seder, but we’ll see
I traditionally have a vegetarian dinner at Pesach, and this year will be no exception. Here is one menu combination that I am toying with
• Sarina’s Spicy …

Chive Blossoms – our garden
Tonight marks the start of Tu B’Shevat, one of my favourite holidays on the Jewish calendar. There’s something whimsical and life-affirming about having a New Year’s celebration for the environment and the seder (religious) service which accompanies it has a focus on our role as stewards of the planet, as well stewards of our own ever-evolving personal natures that I find inspirational. Traditionally this holiday is celebrated with vegetarian fare, and my centerpiece for many years has been eggplant lasagna.
I think it’s time to shake …

I am definitely in denial about the High Holidays this year. I barely scraped into Rosh Hashana and am now getting ready for the start of Yom Kippur (I am writing this before it has begun). This year I am prepping my ‘break-the-fast’ menu as much as possible beforehand and am focusing on no-cook recipes.
Coconut-Raisin Challah
Easy Vegan Spicy Peanut Soup with Fresh Mung Bean Sprouts
Open-Faced Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Sandwiches
Challah, Cream Cheese and Smoked Salmon Sandwiches
Banana Mylkshakes
Hibiscus (Sorrel) Granita

Not only does this approach relieve a lot of post-fasting stress …

This blog is on the brink of entering it’s 4th year and I’ve never done a Republic Day post! For shame! This is probably because Republic Day comes so quickly after Independence Day and is by its own nature quieter in terms of pomp and circumstance. It is so nondescript that it was even removed, from 1999-2001, from the list of national holidays (it was reinstated in 2002). Still, a public holiday is a public holiday. And any time off is a good reason to cook. This vegetarian menu …