L♥ve Meh Belly!

Meat? You do not need it my dear. Vegan Caprese , Cashew cream in a Ciabatta bread sandwich Source:  The Youthful Vegan I am what we say in Trinidad , a meat mouth.  If the meat done, the food done!  At this Green place, I didn't miss the meat. The Youthful Vegan is a delightful spot for vegan, vegetarian and gluten free, health conscious lovers and there are stark differences between these three options.   Vegan, emanates from strict vegetarian, therefore they will not use nor eat any animal products, including clothing.   Vegetarianism is further broken into 3 distinct types: Vegetarian : a diet that excludes all meat or flesh but may consume eggs and some animal by products such as diary. Lacto-Vegetarian : will consume diary products with vegetables and fruits Ovo-Vegetarian - will eat eggs with vegetables and fruits Then we have the gluten-free observers who by choice or health issues will not consume gluten found in flour. These terminologies

Ah Drinking. . Source of Pictures :  Hog and Whistle A conversation with one of my male friends gave  a simple outlook of a good time with friends: Visit a bar with no fuss nor fanfare.  On the Wood-brook Strip in Port of Spain, the 'drinking holes' begins with Frankie's, Mary's, Roscoe's, Brooklyn alongside Smokey and Bunty.  However, the bar that piqued my interest was The Hog and Whistle Rum Bar at the corner of Ariapita Avenue and De Verteuil Streets .  The name of this liming spot gives the relaxed vibe of a cold beer or glass of rum in hand and a few finger foods to sample such as Geera Pork, curry Duck and BBQ Wings.  All were tasty and to borrow from Colonel Sanders, 'Finger lickin' good'. Local Soca Artiste - Kees Diffenthaller Besides yourdrink of rum, the Hog and Whistle, periodically provides live entertainment of local artistes, such as Kees Diffenthaller from Kes the Band and an Open Mike performance for budding poets and p

Ponche a Creme  Source: Uncommoncaribbean.com J+M Dairy Delights on Ariapita Avenue. Located on 'the Strip' on Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook,  this quaint ice cream parlour is pushing the traditional ice-cream tolerance level. J&M Dairy Delights on the 'Strip' Ariapita Avenue, Wood-brook Recently, Miranda, half of J+M, introduced some of their products such as  Guinness, Nutmeg, Angostura Bitters and Pistachio flavours, with a promise to perfect their Sorrel Ice Cream. Sorrel is a local flower that blooms in late November and locals would create a drink from its extract. This beverage counts as one of the Trinidadian Christmas traditions.  Another is Ponche a Creme. Usually a milk based, alcoholic drink, J+M realised that it held the basic properties for ice cream and decided to innovate.   They made Ponche a Creme Ice-cream.  Not only did I enjoy the sample, I ordered the one size tub of the ice cream as well.  Miranda gently advised me

V ideo source: Caribbean Pot Callaloo .. A signature Trinidadian dish. What really is Callaloo? Is it a soup? Is it a sauce? It is both based on the consistency of the dish. Growing up in Trinidad, there are certain dishes that were considered staples for a big Sunday lunch - Stewed Chicken, Macaroni Pie, Spanish rice, stewed Pigeon Peas, Callaloo with a tall glass of Mauby or Orange Juice.   The initial sight of it, is a green, runny liquid with crab legs, but I assure you that the smell and taste will have you asking for second servings. Originated from West Africa, the Trinidadian version of Callaloo is made of heaping bundles of Dasheen bush leaves boiled with ochroes (okra), seasoning, Coconut milk, Pumpkin, salted Pig tail (yes, the tail of the pig),  an occasional hot pepper and Blue Crab in the shell. The aromatic smell of those ingredients is delicious.   This dish can be parceled into containers and frozen. It reheats very well and some cases reported that

Hot Chocolate Tea anyone? Ladies, it's all about 'Me' time at Dianne's. While everyone else I know would opt for tea or coffee for breakfast,  I haven't graduated from Hot Chocolate and  don't intend to give it up either.  Luckily at Dianne's, I can get my Hot Chocolate, topped with love and a smile. For Breakfast, Dianne's Tea Shop approaches ingredients traditionally and in new and creative ways. You will enjoy baked goods, breakfast delights and  beverages to satisfy any palette.  They have an array of teas such as  Oolong , Herbal, Black  and Green Teas for you to savour with in a teapot. Coffee types are abundant here as well, Espresso, Americano, Cafe Latte, Short and Long Macchiato beans wait to be brewed.  The breakfast spread is heavenly.  The presentation of meals epitomises dainty ladies who appreciate quality food, quality time, and 'Me' time in a harmonious setting.  I thoroughly enjoyed my custom two egg om

The 'star' of the show Aioli… I did some reading on the word ‘Aioli’ and discovered that the general meaning is a Mediterranean mayonnaise with garlic or simply called ‘the dressing’.  However, the French say that ‘it is the SOUL of the salad’.  This restaurant mirrors the SOUL of a meal.   The lounge is sophisticated and ideal for a meeting of the minds or moments when you just want to be spoiled.  Our server, Marvin advised on the meals that supported the SOUL and solved my silent mystery as to why he was highly recommended. A suggestion of sushi, pizza, ravioli, dessert and cocktails, seemed simple enough for me.  What we received exceeded my idea of simple. It was clear that Chef Johnny took great pride in his craft and as a benefactor, I felt compelled to save the moments digitally.  Duck Sushi I am a lover of Sushi, but served duck, that was a first. It was delightful and of course, I used chopsticks!  Drunken prawn pizette was a no-

Bake and Shark   Who say Beach?! Bake and Shark.. Another street food. This is a staple when heading to North Coastal beaches such as Maracas, Las Cuevas and Toco.  Your first 'beach stop' will be at Maracas, then make a bee line to Asha's Bake and Shark, next to the parking lot. Now, picture this view, with a Bake and Shark in hand and possibly a soft drink/soda or our local Carib Beer, as Trinis usually do it (though I do not encourage alcohol consumption when driving).   Maracas Beach from Bay View Pub Bake and Shark is simple and elegant.  At Asha's, the bake is always freshly fried as well as the shark, not catfish!! Hmm.. want to work yourself up to eating shark? A vegetarian, perhaps?  Asha's  menu extends to shrimp, chicken, salmon meals and king fish and vegetarian meals. They also provide a buffet styled layout of quite a range of vegetables such as pineapple, lettuce, tomatoes and others. The condiments bar, consists of garlic sauce,

Doubles... Easy Street Food! Doubles is an inexpensive street food, usually purchased as breakfast on the go.  As Trinidad is called home to many ethnic groups, the East Indian diaspora, contributed doubles, roti and Indian sweets to the pot.  I thank you ♥. The 'Doubles' is made up of two Bara or type of bread, so its a 'double' and it holds the curried channa, cucumber chow and sauces.  A strong indicator of  'good' doubles would probably be long lines at the cart at 7 a.m.!  Due to its low capital outlay and unwavering demand, you would find a Doubles cart at strategic business corners or where there is heavy foot traffic. Recently, there has been some product development to the once meatless dish.  Innovators are now adding meat such as chicken, goat and shrimp.  Trinis coined this upgrade as 'Gourmet Doubles'.  The price of course is higher, but they seem to have a following.  On Cipriani Boulevard, has there is such a Gourmet vendor

Carrot Cake stuffed with Cream Cheese ♥ Who doesn't like Cake?! Borrowed  from Carlsbad Cravings , this recipe was, actually, there are no words for this dessert!  Yup, it was that good. The preparation process took 20 minutes but baking for this delish dish took 80 minutes at 350 degrees Celsius.  Long baking period, yes, but then again, all great things take time! I found it to be appropriate for tea and brunch parties and I even served it at breakfast.  The sweetness level was moderate and paired quite well with a cup of espresso. It is my belief that all meals should create a symphony in your mouth but desserts, they hold a special section leader that should stand alone to be admired and adored.  Expect the spice, pecans, and orange zest to shine through in this cake along with a 'cheesecake' thrill! One little thing, go easy on the glaze as it is fluid and might give a 'wet' cake if you aren't careful.  Other than that, enjoy yu

Caribbean Dream (foreground) with Sashimi and Nigiri Hyatt Regency Sushi Bar.  I affectionately call the Hyatt Regency as my 'forwarding address' because of the familial service I get there..♥ I must also say, that the Hyatt Regency Trinidad did a yeoman service by opening the Sushi Bar. Why?  The Sushi Bar offers delectable dishes, maintains its high quality standard and has a fantastic view to boot!  In a time where Japanese cuisine gained momentum, circa 2008, I consider the 'Hyatt experience' as a treasure that keeps on giving by creating bellyful memories! My passion and voraciousness for food, urged me to learn and master the use of chopsticks.  So much so that I abandoned traditional cutlery for my own wooden chopsticks.  Picture the perplexed looks when I would eat Creole food such as Pelau and Callaloo with my new gem!  I paid them no mind, and two months later, I finally honed my skill! The Sushi Bar is open for business from Mond

Spinach and Pineapple Stuffed Salmon with creamy Cheese Potatoes in Spicy Chili Sauce My Question to you is : What do you KRAVE? As a food enthusiast, enjoying a good meal, excellent service and glamour equates to a great day.  At KRAVE, I got all three!!  Located in Marabella, I felt the Southern hospitality at KRAVE with their  reserved parking, the staff of the restaurant and the decor. Oh the decor!!  From ceiling to floor, the chandeliers, candelabras and furniture exude a mix of  modern  design and creativity that was stunning.   The amorous smells of Pumpkin Spice aromatherapy and fresh flowers also added the right touch of reception. To my surprise, KRAVE opens every single day and offers  'themed'  buffet service at least twice a week for all courses.  Feeling for Cuban cuisine or a scrumptious steak?  THIS is the place to go! Soup of the day - Pumpkin Sauteed Chicken Strips in Guava BBQ Sauce with Scalloped Potatoes a

Trini Sponge Cake using  1-2-3-4 method. Happy Saturday everyone!! You simply can't outshine a Trini Sponge Cake with Coconut Ice-cream.  They represent the Tan-Tan and Saga Boy characters in my Carnival, prominent and always together!  Recalling my childhood weekends, my Mother would announce that today is sponge cake day..Yipee!!! For the sponge cake, I had the 'important' role to monitor the creaming process.  My reward, was 'licking the spindle and bowl.'  Who would have thought that raw eggs, butter, flour and sugar would taste so good! Not to mention, the anticipation. When baking, the aroma that filled the kitchen, escaped to the rest of the home and filled the nostrils of the neighbours. Every seasoned baker knows when a cake is almost finished and like clockwork, our neighbours would come over to 'share time or lime with us'.  It's a Trini thing.   Coconut ice cream is equally coveted as a homemade delectable.

Thi s walk-in venue offers a organic food and a relaxed vibe for business in St. Clair with breakfast, lunch and after-work 'lime' (hangout space) on 'cheat nights'. The daily breakfast offerings of crêpes , pancakes, and omelettes cheese among other goodies.   Lunch is a larger spread of dishes with local name twist.. One that I like is the grainbowl called Trinbago which is  a rice blend with grilled veggies, local fruit chutney  and yummy Tambrind sauce. Last Friday, they had  'cheat night' serving tacos.  There were throngs of patrons who emptied into the street well after 7 pm.  My heart was set to try the pulled pork, but to my dismay, it was sold out by that time.  The event started at 6 pm.  The chef offered the Tempura shrimp, creamy chili garlic sauce, togarashi edamame with sesame seeds. I must admit that there was a long wait and when I received my 'tacos', it did not live up to my expectations.   Stay tuned folks, I will

Hi Again!! Hope that your day was loaded with awesome-sauce!!! So, my latest find of pay-per-pound kitchens on Maraval Road, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. May I introduce, Lemon Grass.  This quaint kitchen offers Indian Cuisine with a variety of dishes for the lunchtime crowd.  The scent lures you in!! At just TTD36.00 per pound, they offer the standard Naan in the least 3 flavours available daily.  Then you can select from Basmati Rice, Samosas, Chili flavoured Cauliflower, Ochro melee, Chicken prepared with tumeric and various curries. That is the basic offering, seems to me that they try something new every week to keep customers!   I appreciate the latest gem.  Lollipop tandoori Chicken ♥ Take a look for yourself.. Salud! Curried Fish, Naan bread and Basmati Rice