I have said before that I like the Caribbean Beat magazine. As a frequent traveler in the region, it’s a regular read. Sometimes it’s the only magazine I have time to read as I refuse to do work on a plane, where for a few brief moments, the world outside the plane cannot get in contact with me. So, happily, it’s well-produced and has interesting content. And the food articles - Anu Lakhan’s writing and perspective are always entertaining, although I have to say I haven’t really tried any of the recipes. The artwork is cool, though.
It was, consequently, a great feeling yesterday to pick up the Caribbean Beat for May/June 2007 and see that Franka, Ms. TriniFood herself had 2 articles in the magazine. Her Herbal Remedies article in particular is a great resource for West Indians living in the London area, and asserts something I personally believe - that as nostalgic as it may be to pack up suitcases full of goodies from home, it isn’t always necessary. Or indeed cost effective, as one of my neighbours found out when she was fined heavily on arriving in Toronto, for her suitcase of minimal clothes layered with zaboca, dasheen-bush, fried carite, plums, chennet etc etc…You know the drill. People pack as if de fam’ly up in foreign cyah get no food up dey in de cold, and they does grieve for these things. I know, sometimes your mother, or tantie han’ is the best, but pack in moderation. After all, fresh foodstuff is always going to taste much better than stale frozen food carried in a airplane hold across the seas. Although, the smell of food traveling in the cabin with visiting family (all the curry and doubles and anchar, kuchela etc) does remind you where you are 
Anyway, back to the Caribbean Beat. You can always catch up here on current and past issues. But, if anyone responsible is reading this, you may want to vet the HP advertisement a little more carefully next time.
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