User talk:Trinimama

Hi: I just thought that I would add some facts to the Trinidad and Tobago recipes page. I note that you have written that the recipes of this area are derived from European, Indian and Muslim. While this is true, I must inform you that African recipes also have a great influence on the foods of this area. Remember that Africans (slaves) were in the West Indian islands long before the Indian, Chinese, Portuguese and other peoples arrived. Due to the interaction of other cultures, i.e. the French and Spanish, these were also part of the food influence to the islands. To this end and with the arrival of the Indians, Chinese, etc, there was a blend of all the cultures thereby making the foods of Trinidad, in particular, very unique. Coo Coo, made with cornmeal, is very much an African dish, called foo foo in West Africa, although made with cassava. Pastelles, or Hallacas, very popular at Christmas in Trinidad (cornmeal with meat, wrapped and steamed in banana leaves) is very much Spanish in origin. Trinidad is one of the most cosmopolitan of all the West Indian islands and the foods show this. Our seasonings are interchanged between the different cultures and no where else in the world does a Roti taste the same as from Trinidad, nor does Chinese Fried Rice, Souse or black pudding. I could go on and on about the various recipes, but just wanted to bring this point up. I am a Trinidadian who has lived abroad for 40+ years and am widely travelled, so have tasted food from many countries. I shall continue to check out the recipes on this site. With best wishes. Trinimama.