Cassava latkes, an idea so simple, so obvious, and yet so left-field, that if it wasn’t for a chance comment from Ramin Ganeshram a year ago on Twitter, I may never have thought of whipping up a batch! I had been on a cassava kick, trying to see how many uses I could find for my favourite provision, besides the tried and true. I had made Vichysoisse Creole, and Cassava porridge, and then, as... 

This entry is part 2 of 11 in the series Trini ChristmasWhat is Parang? Well Parang is the soundtrack to Christmas here in Trinidad. More than that however Parang is also a culture, a way of life that sweeps through my island after the lights of Eid and Divali have been put away. The What is Parang? webpage has a wonderful overview of the history and features of Trinidad Parang. ‘Parang’... 

Deyas flickering in the wind during Divali celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago, Adam Smith Square Woodbrook Tomorrow is Divali in Trinidad and Tobago, a public holiday. Divali (also known as Diwali or Deepavali) is the Hindu festival of lights, and one of my favourite religious celebrations. Growing up, much of the students at my prep school, including myself,would assemble on the evening of the... 

Rosh Hashana Community Dinner 2007 This year the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana begins at sundown on September 28. Normally at Rosh Hashana I have a rather fixed menu, sneaking in one or two new dishes for variety. Two years ago I decided to shake things up, discarding my customary Coconut-Raisin Challah with  Read More →

Trinidad & Tobago celebrates its Republic Day on September 24th. This day is usually quieter and more understated in celebration than Independence Day, but equally looked forward to for it is respite from the work week Here is a menu suggestion for your table! • Grated Carrot and Raisin Salad • Trinidad Callaloo (vegetarian) • Angel Hair Pasta with Pine Nuts and Sundried Tomatoes •... 

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... 

“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... 

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... 

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... 

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... 

Purim Menu 2011 • East Indian Chickpea Salad • Hummus • Pasta Puttanesca • Broccoli Gratin • Haman’s Ears/Orejas de Haman • Sarina’s Rum and Raisin Hamantsachen It always tickles me how close Purim and Carnival fall most years. I especially enjoy Purim because it’s the only time of year to make, and eat, various sugary goodies! For those who don’t know about Purim,... 

Chive Blossoms – our garden Wednesday evening 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... 

1. Trinidad Black Cake (recipe) Black Cake in Trinidad is a Christmas tradition. Made predominantly of alcohol drenched prunes, currants and raisins, variations abound 2. Mango Cake (recipe) This mango cake is very light and elegant in appearance, especially when topped with a dash of icing sugar. The batter is topped with brown sugar and butter which crystallizes to form a delicate streusel... 

Sunset in Maraval Wednesday evening marks the start of Sukkot. Traditionally harvest foods are eaten, as well as dishes that feature stuffed components. It is the theme of stuffed foods that really shaped my menu this year. Omelettes (my new obsession), and stuffed baked apples hopefully won’t disappoint In the past I have traditionally made cabbage rolls, but I felt like ‘shaking... 

In keeping with a ‘tradition’ that I began last year I am once again focusing on no-cook and ‘quick’ recipes for my ‘break-the-fast’ Yom Kippur menu. Cardamom Spiced Coffee Trinidad Saheena Open-Faced Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Sandwiches Crunchy Bran Muffins Not only does this approach relieve a lot of post-fasting stress and preparation on my part, it also... 

Image courtesy Chennette Eid-Ul-Fitr will be observed in Trinidad & Tobago with a public holiday on September 10th (date subject to change). Like most religious holidays in Trinidad it is marked not just by strong community observance but also with warm interfaith participation. Because so many communities share this small space of land it is not unusual to have many religions represented on... 

Birds in my mother’s garden (May 2010) Happy Mother’s Day everyone. Hope it is a happy and safe one Am getting an early pre-dawn start on this year’s menu • Fresh Green Bean Salad • Fillet A La Veracruzana (Rachael Ray Show) • Black Beans in Spicy Tamarind Sauce • Sarina’s Sparkling Ginger-Lime Shandy • Sugar-free icecream Amazon.com Widgets For more recipes... 

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... 

Dessert, Valentine’s Day Dinner 2009 – Chaconia Inn Last year, J and I stepped out in style (or so we thought) to the Chaconia Inn for what we hoped would be a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. Boy were we wrong. Unfortunately we ended up leaving as quickly as we could (the planning was horrible, seating was cramped, tables too small, lighting bright, music system so loud we couldn’t... 

The past two weeks have been a blur, and I’ve fallen behind on food events and posts. Not that I haven’t been cooking, but finding time to sort and edit has been sorely lacking. In due in no small part to my having a heavier workload combined with 2 consecutive ‘truncated’ work weeks. One because of the local Easter Holidays, and the other because of the recently Summit of...