This March, after the hustle and bustle of Carnival had started to die down, I was delighted to be invited to Jaffa At The Oval by an old friend. I have had the opportunity to eat there before but something always came up to change my plans. This time however it was smooth sailing and I am delighted to say that I not only had a wonderful culinary experience taste-wise but in terms of ambience and... 

Sarina’s 30 Minute Vegetarian Chili – get the recipe over at Macaroni Kid Trinidad Hey everyone, it’s been a few months since I’ve posted one of these and I’m not really sure why! I’ve been busy lining up guest contributors, giveaway sponsors, and a few other things that I’m not yet ready to reveal, so maybe that has distracted me from this monthly compilation... 

Last month I was excited to receive a review copy of Aaron McCargo Jr’s debut cookbook “Simply Done, Well Done”. I even took to Twitter to share my delight I am not ashamed to state that I have been a fan of his ever since he competed in (and won) the 2008 run of “The Next Food Network Star”. I have also thoroughly enjoyed each episode of “Big Daddy’s House”... 

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to our winner, Barbara of Vino Luci Style! Last month I was excited to receive a review set of Microplane’s 5 pc Grater set. Hand-grating is probably one of the kitchen prep tasks I loathe the most and I use the grater attachment of my food processor for most things. For the odd things that do require hand-grating J makes a great manual operator *chuckle*.... 

Last year I was delighted to be included in the November/December issue of Caribbean Beat magazine. The article by Franka Phillip called “Gifts for Foodie Friends” included my recommendation of a “butane torch”, along with the suggestions of several other Caribbean foodies across the diaspora. Now, for the first time, I am sharing the complete list of items which I had presented... 

The Real Taste of Jamaica by Enid Donaldson, Ray Chen (29)Buy new: $16.95 23 used & new from $10.03 (Visit the Most Wished For in Caribbean & West Indian list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.) Description: This new edition of Enid Donaldson’s popular cookbook, completely re-designed with additional photographs and a brand new cover, takes food lovers and cooks... 

Recently I was delighted to receive a review copy of “Caribbean Vegan: Meat-Free, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free Authentic Island Cuisine for Every Occasion by Barbadian food scientist Taymer Mason. This giveaway has ended I first became aware of this insanely talented young woman last year via Twitter and since then I have followed her blog Vegan In The Sun, with a mixture of respect and awe. I’m... 

The Spice Necklace: My Adventures in Caribbean Cooking, Eating, and Island Life by Ann Vanderhoof (16)Publication Date: February 7, 2011Buy new: $14.95 $9.96 7 used & new from $9.74 Description: While sailing around the Caribbean, Ann Vanderhoof and her husband Steve track wild oregano-eating goats in the cactus-covered hills of the Dominican Republic, gather nutmegs on an old estate in Grenada,... 

Paradise Kitchen: Caribbean Cooking with Chef Daniel Orr by Daniel Orr Publication Date: May 12, 2011Buy new: $29.95 $19.77 (Visit the Hot New Releases in Caribbean & West Indian list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.) Description: Chef Daniel Orr spent years working in high-stress Manhattan kitchens before shifting gears and heading to the calm, turquoise waters... 

Rainforest Roll – Kaizan Sushi Bar, Movietowne (my writeup of my search for a new sushi home will be up in coming weeks) The first month of 2011 is barely over and I’m already I’m in the middle of a whirlwind of activity! I can’t complain, and I hope that everything is treating you well on your side of the screen as well The winds of change are not just blowing offline, but... 

Delicious Jamaica: Vegetarian Cuisine (Healthy World Cuisine) by Yvonne McCalla Sobers (6)Buy new: $14.95 $10.10 24 used & new from $2.27 Description: From pre-Columbian times to the present, Jamaica has been a melting pot of many cultural influences. Nowhere is this better reflected than in its wonderful food. From the delicious barbecue style of the Arawak Indians (the inhabitants of the island... 

20 Best Jamaican Recipes Dee Phillips at Landmark Press Publishing (Author) Download: $2.99 197 used & new from $2.99 Description: If you love the spicy island flavour that is typical of Jamaican cooking then you will love this cookbook! This cookbook features 20 all-time favourite Jamaican recipes, including Jamaica's National Dish - Saltfish 'n Ackee. Have you been craving something spicy... 

J’ouvert Morning Bachhanal – a woodwork by Anthony “Chinman” Trotman Happy New Year again! It’s time for the first Amazon Hotlist of 2011! You’ll see a lot of shakeups on the list this time around due to some changes that I’ve made via Twitter re: promoting new and currently popular cookbook releases. Already it has exposed many of you who follow me on there... 

New Year, Same Resolutions! Happy New Year all ! I hope that you are transitioning into the regular work week better than I am! Have you ever felt that you need a vacation to get over your vacation? Yup, that’s me right about now Still, a New Year is a wonderful thing to usher in in my book, and I am excited for all the opportunities which have presented themselves to me over the last... 

Over at SupermarketGuru.com you can find answers to frequently asked questions about storing wine. Questions include: • Should I be storing the wine I drink everyday in a special way or place? • Where should I store wine I don’t plan to drink immediately? • Where should I store wine after it is opened? • How long will an open bottle of wine keep? Thanks to their answers I have decided... 

The hills of Paramin, where much of Trinidad’s seasonings are grown Hey everyone, I think there is a national conspiracy against my waistline. It started with Divali, continues through Hanukkah and will reach its peak once all those Christmas eats start arriving with friends and neighbours in tow. I see a treadmill in my not too distant future! This month Sweet Hands: Island Cooking from Trinidad... 

Divali deeyahs, Adam Smith Square, Woodbrook 2008 Hey everyone, still catching up on my blog posts, Divali really snuck up on me this year! By the time you read this post I’ll probably be sleeping off the inevitable food coma that follows consumption of that many carbs and candy! This month Sweet Hands: Island Cooking from Trinidad and Tobagocontinues its dominance but Rita Springer’s... 

This Tridoshic dal comes from a cookbook that I’ve been using for years called The Ayurvedic Cookbook. I’m always interested in learning about the culinary traditions and philosophies of other cultures. Eastern cuisines in particular often fixates on the concept of warming and cooling foods. Maintaining a balance of the two within a meal, or strategically stimulating or calming ones... 

Divali is fast approaching and with it shall come my recipes for Kheer (Indian Rice Pudding) and Parsad. Stay tuned, I know you all have been looking! Wow! Can you believe it’s mid-October already? Maybe it’s just me but I swear time accelerates as each calendar year draws to a close! I’m a little bit late posting your fave purchases (and clicks) this month, but better late than... 

1. Trinidad Doubles – recipe Trinidad doubles is the ultimate local street food. It’s cheap. Usually hot/warm. Hearty. Filling. You can view the recipe here. 2. Ciabatta Bread – recipe This recipe for Ciabatta Bread creates a very light loaf, soft and chewy on the inside with a thin crunchy rustic crust. I made it for my mom’s birthday and it was a huge hit. I hope...