Caribbean Beat — September/October 2018 (#153)

need to know
courtesy barbados food and rum festival/visitbarbados.org
Must Try Foodie Bliss
Barbadian mixologist David Barker
serves up a cocktail that changes
colour before your eyes: a mojito
with red cabbage mint puree, John D.
Taylor’s Velvet Falernum, and fresh
lime juice dancing in harmony with
Four Square Spice
Cuisine is a satisfying way to explore a country — and not just for dedicated
foodies. The inspiration and stories behind traditional or innovative recipes can
take you on a culinary escapade into the unknown. And with three major food
festivals happening across the Caribbean in September and October, there’s no
better time to work up an appetite.
Trinidad and Tobago
Restaurant Week
28 September to 7 October
trinidadtobagorestaurantweek.com
Doubles in Debe,crab and dumpling
from Store Bay, kebabs on Ariapita
Avenue, Sunday dim sum: T&T’s
cuisine reflects the country’s multiethnic
roots. Spanish, African, Creole,
Chinese, and Indian influences borrow
from and hint at each other. Hints of
Italian also infuse the Thai. The food
completely engages your senses as you
try to identify flavours. This is a foodie
nation (and possibly a gym instructor’s
dream). And for ten days each year, you
can enjoy prix fixe menus with reduced
prices at participating restaurants
during Restaurant Week. So grab
your aperitifs and feed your culinary
curiosity.
Must try: callaloo, Trinidad style —
rich, spicy, and dense with flavour
Barbados Food and Rum
Festival
18 to 21 October
visitbarbados.org
Every day in Barbados brings a new
gastronomic adventure. It seems like
the entire island is made up of chefs
— whether formally trained or self
professed. It’s no surprise so many
Barbadian restaurants have earned
Michelin stars and Zagat ratings. At
the Food and Rum Festival, you’ll
understand why some call Barbados
the culinary capital of the Caribbean.
From a Thursday night cook-off in
Oistins to the Signature Rum Event on
Friday, plus fine dining events pairing
international and local chefs, the vibe
ranges from down-home to elegant —
and everything is delicious.
Must try: the classic, cornmeal
coucou and flying fish, with a tall glass
of Bajan rum punch
Jamaica Food and Drink
Festival
20 to 28 October
jafoodanddrink.com
From the high mountains to deep
in the valleys, Jamaican food
connoisseurs, their neighbours, and
grandparents turn out for this annual
all-inclusive festival. The extravaganza
kicks off with Pork Palooza, featuring
top-secret sauces, and even desserts
with “a dangerous porcine twist.”
Another night, dance with the dragons
at Chopstix: a smorgasbord of sizzling
favourites from all corners of Asia. And
come back to the land of wood and
water with Crisp: an event centred
on fried fare coupled with ice-cold
international and local beers. Imagine
jerk fried chicken kicked up a notch
with scotch bonnet and balsamic
vinegar . . . Your mouth’s already
watering.
Must try: escoveitch fish, roast
breadfruit, and festival, Jamaica’s
unmistakeable sweet fried bread
Shelly-Ann Inniss
22
WWW.CARIBBEAN-BEAT.COM