It’s Christmas season here in Trinidad & Tobago. The sounds of parang are in the air and cheer and food abound! That’s why episode 2 of “Sweet Han: Caribbean Cooking With Sarina” was all about adding a dash of Holiday Glam to your table this year. The Menu:(click here for all the recipes) • Butterflied... 

November 3rd, 2012 was the launch of Souk: Trinidad & Tobago Drinks Festival, mistakenly billed by some as the first in Trinidad & Tobago (I seem to be the only person that remembers More Vino’s first and only deVine festival). Pesky details aside, Souk was nevertheless a multi-sensory feast for all... 

Stand up all you lovers in the world Stand up and be counted every boy and every girl Stand up all you lovers in the world Starting up a brand new day (“Brand New Day” – Sting) Last Thursday was the debut of my G+ series “Sweet Han’: Caribbean Cooking With Sarina” and it really... 

Can you believe this time last week I was a nervous wreck counting down the moments until the debut of my new Google+ Hangout on Air series “Sweet Han’: Caribbean Cooking With Sarina”? Now it’s all over and done with, the replay exists for all to view at their own leisure, and I’m hard... 

Such a simple recipe. Steaks of fish, lightly poached in an infused wine and tomato sauce, studded with sweet chunks of pineapple, and redolent with the aromatics of Trinidad Green Seasoning. I created this recipe for my upcoming ebook “Holiday Glam: 30+ Festive Caribbean Recipes” and was happy to cook... 

This entry is part 9 of 10 in the series Trini ChristmasWell you know how Trinis like how to do everything las’ minute? If you don’t have enough time to try my mother’s ginger beer recipe, here is a Quick Ginger Beer recipe from Epicurious.com that needs only 24 hours fermentation. Best of luck!... 

This entry is part 8 of 10 in the series Trini ChristmasIt’s December and the sounds of parang are filling the air around the clock. The streets are jam-packed and people have that frenzied look that comes with too much shopping still to do, and not enough time. Whether you are a Trini, or looking to add some... 

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... 

This entry is part 7 of 10 in the series Trini Christmas As promised, here is a recipe for Paime (pron. PAY-me)! Paime is basically a sweet version of the savoury pastelle. I only recently discovered that Paime is also a traditional Xmas dish. Well that explains why it seemed I never could find it lol! No one in... 

This entry is part 7 of 10 in the series Trini Christmas When I first made this in 2006 it was my first time using a pack of dried sorrel for a recipe. I was pleasantly surprised. If you allow it to steep overnight the results are pretty good. The below recipe is my adaptation of the Jamaican Sorrel Rum Punch Recipe... 

This entry is part 6 of 10 in the series Trini ChristmasPunch de Creme, is another of Trinidad’s traditional Christmas drinks. One thing that I really like about punch de creme (as opposed to traditional eggnog) is the use of citrus flavors like lime and Angostura bitters (which has orange extract). This gives... 

I first met musician/producer Navid Lancaster in 2001 when a demo cd of homerecorded tracks of mine landed in his possession. Out of our first collaboration a long-standing and true friendship arose. So, when I needed a composer for the opening sequence to my series “Sweet Han’: Caribbean Cooking with... 

This entry is part 5 of 10 in the series Trini ChristmasOne of Trinidad’s seasonal delights, pastelles are a steamed cornmeal pie wrapped in banana leaves and filled with stewed meat, olives, and raisins. I’ve been told that they are very similar to Latin American tamales, and indeed Venezualan foodblogger... 

This entry is part 4 of 10 in the series Trini ChristmasChristmas in Trinidad is a diverse multicultural affair. Not just for the Christian population, but also through the secular participation of the nation at large through the enjoyment of our local christmas songs (called parang) and especially the creation and... 

This entry is part 3 of 10 in the series Trini Christmas mom’s ginger beer brewing in the sun The above scene and bottle feel as though they have always been with me, they occur with such comforting regularity. Ginger beer is something that is enjoyed by both Trinis and Jamaicans however in my experience... 

For my second appearance on “Learning To Cook Caribbean With Larry Fournillier” I was inspired by a tablescape that I found on Pinterest. I used its color scheme of white, silver and natural woods to guide my own vision. Ivory plates and white dessert plates, were accented by white seaside votive holders,... 

This entry is part 2 of 10 in the series Trini ChristmasLike sorrel, Black Cake in Trinidad is a Christmas institution. Made predominantly of alcohol drenched prunes, currants and raisins, variations abound (and I love taste testing when we make the visiting rounds). Still, the best black cake is always the recipe... 

This entry is part 1 of 10 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... 

Well the days are counting down to the December 6th launch of my G+ series “Sweet Han’: Caribbean Cooking With Sarina”! But before that happens, I made one more guest spot on Larry Fournillier‘s show “Learning To Cook Caribbean”. Conducted on Sunday, November 18, I whipped up a... 

For my Google+ cooking debut (see below) I decided to go with an all-white motif. Symbolizing new beginnings in many traditions I thought it would be a great way to kick my online video presence off with a bang! When creating a monochromatic motif, it’s important to combine a variety of materials and textures... 

It’s with great pleasure that I’m announcing that I made my Google+ debut last week on the weekly Hangouts program “Learning To Cook Caribbean With Larry Fournillier”. Larry is a local Trinidadian chef and online media wizard. I’m also excited to state that starting December 6th I’ll... 

Deyas flickering in the wind during Divali celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago, Adam Smith Square Woodbrook Tuesday November 13 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,... 

Butter loaf has been a Trini staple for more generations than I can count. It certainly was already the de facto sandwich bread when my 80+ year old father was a boy. Stories of neighbours passing fresh loaves over fences to each other is something firmly in our past now, however the bread remains both as a fixture... 

Ever since watching the documentary FForks Over Knives last year I have actively been conscious of keeping my animal protein intake (both meat and dairy) to a minimum. It’s been quite a revelation for both my mother and myself in terms of the improvements that we have found in our overall well-being. As a result... 

Cornmeal based dishes are common fare in the Caribbean. Although their popularity is often challenged by rice and wheat-based compositions many are turning back to them for the added benefit that they are naturally gluten-free. ‘Tun Cornmeal’ is a rich polenta-like Jamaican recipe, which transforms into... 

Corn soup is a street food favorite here in Trinidad, especially at carnival time when vendors ply large pots of it that they spoon into styrofoam cups outside of fetes and clubs. It’s also popular as a Saturday lunch. Chopped pieces of corn on the cob are often included, however in the variation I prepared...